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Print Friendly MapThe Chippewa Trail offers a paved 4-mile route from Midland to the Chippewa Nature Center, part of a beautiful 1,200-acre preserve, where you'll find a wildlife viewing area, river overlook and nature-themed programming for kids.
From the unique Tridge bridge at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa Rivers, you'll head southwest through both open and wooded areas. In St. Charles Park, you'll find many recreational amenities, such as playgrounds, a skate park, swimming pool, roller rink, baseball field and picnic areas. As you continue, interpretive signs bring attention to historical, cultural and natural points of interest.
For a longer ride, you can pick up the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail on the north shore of the Tittabawassee River. The rail-trail is listed in RTC's Hall of Fame and extends 87 miles west from Midland.
On the Chippewa Trail's eastern end, park in St. Charles Park (605 Whitman Drive); on its western end, park at Chippewa Nature Center (400 S. Badour Road).
Scenery is beautiful.
The Chippy trail is an extension off the fantastic Pere Marquette trail system. It begins at the "Tridge" in downtown Midland. Stay to the left when crossing over the Tridge. This will take you south and east , past Midland area ball diamonds and an adjacent frisbee golf course. Just after the ball diamonds, you will come across a trail intersection on your left. If you follow this offshoot it will eventually take you to Overlook Park, which is about a mile distant. This park offers a panoramic view of the sprawling Dow/Dupont facility in Midland.
Stay on the Chippewa trail and you enter a semi open natural area. It's not unusual to see deer, herons and other wildlife. About a half mile past the trail intersection, look for an old apple tree on your left that still produces some decent tasting apples! The Midland area R.C. club is just behind the fields in this area and on nice days it's not unusual to see r.c. planes flying about in the open fields just beyond the trail.
Continuing down the trail, in about another 1/4 mile is an abundance of wild raspberry and blackberry vines on your right , just before a road crossing. The trail continues into a more wooded area and over the 2nd bridge you will encounter, eventually passing a parking lot for a Chippewa Natural area. After crossing another road, you enter a marshy area. Look for the turtles sunning themselves on logs on your right. On the left, a footpath takes you around a large marshy area if you want a break from your bikes. ( you can walk them on the trail or ditch them in the woods)
The trail continues past another large pond that has a elevated viewing platform on the far end, accessible by a footpath for those interested. After a quick jot through more woods, the trail crosses another road and enters the Chippewa Nature center area. Here you will find a bike repair station under a pavilion and a heated/cooled building open year around with bathrooms and a water fountain. Visit the center for some great exhibits or walk the beautiful trails in the area. I love this trail, its my local favorite:)
A lovely, peaceful ride on a sunny fall day. The surface is in decent shape, though not as smooth as the Pere Marquette. The landscape is varied, with gentle rolling hills through meadows and woods. The nature center is very nice. Would like to go back to try some of their walking trails.
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