List of rail trails in Michigan

This list of rail trails in Michigan lists former railroad rights-of-way in Michigan that have been converted to rail trails for public use. A rail trail may still include rails, such as light rail or streetcar. By virtue of their characteristic shape (long and flat), some shorter rail trails are known as greenways and linear parks. As of 2015, Michigan has the most total mileage (2,381) of any state.[1]

Upper Peninsula
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Apple Blossom Trail 3 4.8 Iron Chicago and North Western Railroad [2]
Beaver Pete's Trail 20 32 Dickinson Chicago and North Western Railroad [3]
Beechwood to Gibbs City Trail 48 77 Iron Chicago and North Western Railroad [4]
Bergland to Sidnaw Rail Trail 43.5 70.0 Houghton, Ontonagon Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway [5]
Bill Nicholls Trail 41.5 66.8 Houghton, Ontonagon Copper Range Railroad [6]
Coalwood Trail 26.4 42.5 Alger, Schoolcraft Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad [7]
Crystal Falls to Stager Trail 25 40 Iron Chicago and North Western Railroad [8]
Escanaba to Hermansville Rail-Trail 25.5 41.0 Delta, Menominee Soo Line Railroad [9]
Felch Grade Trail 38 61 Dickinson, Delta, Menominee Chicago and North Western Railroad [10]
Freda Grade Trail 8.4 13.5 Houghton Copper Range Railroad [11]
Gay-Mohawk Trail 27.4 44.1 Keweenaw Copper Range Railroad [12]
Grand Marais Trail 41.7 67.1 Alger Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad [13]
Hancock-Calumet Rail Trail 13.4 21.6 Houghton Mineral Range Railroad [14]
Haywire Grade Trail 33 53 Alger, Schoolcraft Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad [15]
Houghton-to-Chassell Rail-Trail 8.6 13.8 Houghton Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway [16]
Iron Ore Heritage Trail 47 76 Marquette Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway [17]
Keweenaw Trails 58 93 Houghton, Keweenaw Copper Range Railroad [18]
Little Falls Trail 6.5 10.5 Ontonagon Chicago and North Western Railroad [19]
Ontonagon to Rockland Trail 13.0 20.9 Ontonagon Ontonagon & Brule River Railway [20]
Peshekee to Clowry Rail-Trail 6.1 9.8 Marquette Chicago and North Western Railroad [21]
Republic/Champion Grade Trail 7.5 12.1 Marquette Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad [22]
St. Ignace–Trout Lake Trail 26 42 Chippewa, Mackinac Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad [23]
Soo Strong Trail 32 51 Chippewa Soo Line Railroad [24]
State Line Trail 107.1 172.4 Gogebic, Iron Chicago and North Western Railroad [25]
Watersmeet to Land O'Lakes Trail 8.8 14.2 Gogebic Chicago and North Western Railroad [26]
Western Gateway Trail 6 9.7 Gogebic Chicago and North Western Railroad [27]

Northern Michigan
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Alpena to Hillman Trail 17.8 28.6 Alpena Boyne City Railroad [28]
Betsie Valley Trail 22 35 Benzie Ann Arbor Railroad [29][30][31]
Boardman Lake Trail 3 4.8 Grand Traverse Pere Marquette Railway [32][33]
Grass River Natural Area Rail-Trail 2.2 3.5 Antrim Chicago and West Michigan Railway [34]
Huron Sunrise Trail 11 18 Presque Isle Detroit and Mackinac Railway [35]
Leelanau Trail 16.6 26.7 Grand Traverse, Leelanau Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad [36]
Little Traverse Wheelway 26.7 43.0 Charlevoix, Emmet Chicago and West Michigan Railway [37]
North Central State Trail 62 100 Cheboygan, Otsego Lake State Railway [38]
North Eastern State Trail 71 114 Alpena, Cheboygan, Presque Isle Alpena and Northern Railroad [39]
North Western State Trail 32 51 Cheboygan, Emmet Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [40]
TART Trail 10.5 16.9 Grand Traverse Chicago and West Michigan Railway, Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad [41][42]
White Pine Trail State Park 92 148 Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, Wexford Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [43][44]

West Michigan
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail 11.1 17.9 Muskegon Chicago and Western Michigan Railroad [45]
Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail 15.5 24.9 Kent, Ionia Grand Trunk Western Railroad [46]
Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail 5.4 8.7 Kent Coopersville and Marne Railway [47]
Grand River Edges Trail 5.4 8.7 Kent Pere Marquette Railway [48]
Hart–Montague Trail State Park 22 35 Muskegon, Oceana Chesapeake and Ohio Railway [49][50]
Interurban Trail (Allegan County) 1.3 2.1 Allegan Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [51]
Interurban Trail (Kent County) 2 3.2 Kent Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [52]
Kent Trails 15 24 Kent New York Central Railroad [53][54]
Laketon Trail 3.3 5.3 Muskegon Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway [55]
Medbery Bike Trail 1.5 2.4 Muskegon Chesapeake and Ohio Railway [56]
Muskegon Lakeshore Trail 11.2 18.0 Muskegon Chesapeake and Ohio Railway [57]
Musketawa Trail 25 40 Muskegon, Ottawa Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [58][59]
North Bank Trail 3.3 5.3 Ottawa Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway [60]
White Lake Pathway 3.2 5.1 Muskegon Chesapeake and Ohio Railway [61]

Central Michigan and the Thumb
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System 17.8 28.6 Bay Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad [62][63]
Bay-Zil Trail 5.7 9.2 Bay, Saginaw Michigan Central Railroad [64]
Cass City Walking Trail 1.4 2.3 Tuscola Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad [65][66]
Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail 41.4 66.6 Clinton, Ionia, Shiawassee Grand Trunk Western Railroad [67]
Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail 21.7 34.9 Ionia, Kent, Montcalm Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad [68]
Fred Meijer Heartland Trail 42 68 Gratiot, Montcalm Pere Marquette Railway [69][70]
Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail 3.2 5.1 Ionia Grand Trunk Western Railroad [71]
George Aitkin Jr. Recreational Trail 4.2 6.8 Genesee Pere Marquette Railway [72]
Harger Line Rail-Trail 10.1 16.3 Saginaw, Tuscola Michigan Central Railroad [73]
Harbor Beach Bike-Pedestrian Path 1 1.6 Huron Pere Marquette Railway [74]
Linear Park Pathway 2.3 3.7 Lapeer Michigan Central Railroad [75]
Paul Henry Thornapple Trail 42 68 Barry, Eaton, Kent Michigan Central Railroad [76][77][78]
Pere Marquette Rail Trail 30 48 Clare, Isabella, Midland Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad [79][80]
Portland Riverwalk 9 14 Ionia Ionia and Lansing Railroad [81]
Saginaw Valley Rail Trail 11 18 Saginaw Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad [82][83][84]
Southern Links Trailway 10.2 16.4 Genesee, Lapeer, Tuscola Michigan Central Railroad [85][86]
Trolley Line Trail 2.8 4.5 Genesee Pere Marquette Railway [87]
Vassar Rail Trail 2.0 3.2 Tuscola Michigan Central Railroad [88]

Southwest Michigan
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail 5.3 8.5 Berrien Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway [89][90]
Kal-Haven Trail 34.5 55.5 Kalamazoo, Van Buren Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad [91]
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail 20.9 33.6 Kalamazoo Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [92]
Main Trail 0.5 0.80 Calhoun Michigan United Railways [93]
Shaver Road Bikeway 1.8 2.9 Kalamazoo Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad [94]
Van Buren Trail State Park 14 23 Van Buren Toledo and South Haven Railroad [95]
Vicksburg Trailway 1.8 2.9 Kalamazoo Grand Trunk Western Railroad [96]

Southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit
Trail name Length (mi) Length (km) Counties Original railroad References
Baw Beese Trail 8.2 13.2 Hillsdale Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway [97]
Bridge to Bay Trail 37.5 60.4 St. Clair Port Huron and Detroit Railroad [98]
Clinton River Trail 16 26 Oakland Grand Trunk Western Railroad [99]
Dequindre Cut 1.6 2.6 Wayne Grand Trunk Western Railroad [100]
Huron Valley Trail 12.2 19.6 Oakland Grand Trunk Western Railroad [101]
Kiwanis Trail 8 13 Lenawee Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad [102]
Lakelands Trail State Park 26 42 Ingham, Livingston, Washtenaw Grand Trunk Western Railroad [103]
Litchfield Nature Trail 2 3.2 Hillsdale New York Central Railroad [104]
Macomb Orchard Trail 23.7 38.1 Macomb Canadian National Railway [105]
Martin Luther King Equality Trail 3.4 5.5 Jackson Michigan Central Railroad [106]
Michigan Air Line Trail 270 430 Calhoun, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Van Buren Michigan Air Line Railroad [107][108]
Paint Creek Trail 8.9 14.3 Oakland Michigan Central Railroad [109]
Polly Ann Trail 34.2 55.0 Lapeer, Oakland Pontiac, Oxford, & Northern Railroad [110]
Riverbend Preserve Rail-Trail 0.1 0.16 Washtenaw Penn Central Rail Road [111]
Wadhams to Avoca Trail 12 19 St. Clair Pere Marquette Railway [112]
West Bloomfield Trail 6.8 10.9 Oakland Grand Trunk Western Railroad [113][114]

Images
  • Dequindre Cut
  • Fred Meijer Heartland Trail
  • Kal-Haven Trail
  • Kiwanis Trail
  • Paint Creek Trail
  • Pere Marquette Rail-Trail
  • White Pine Trail

See also

References
  1. "United States | Rails-to-Trails Conservancy". Railstotrails.org. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. "Apple Blossom Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. "Beaver Pete's Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. "Iron Range Trails - Beechwood to Gibbs City". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. "Bergland to Sidnaw Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. "Bill Nicholls Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. "Coalwood Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  8. "Iron Range Trails - Crystal Falls to Iron River Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  9. "Escanaba to Hermansville Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  10. "Felch Grade Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  11. "Freda Grade Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  12. "Gay - Mohawk Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  13. "Grand Marais Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  14. "Hancock-Calumet Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  15. "Haywire Grade Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  16. "Houghton-to-Chassell Rail Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  17. "Iron Ore Heritage Trail". Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  18. "Keweenaw Trails". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  19. "Little Falls Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  20. "Ontonagon to Rockland Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  21. "Peshekee to Clowry Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  22. "Republic/Champion Grade Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  23. "St. Ignace to Trout Lake Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  24. "Soo Strong Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  25. "State Line Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  26. "Watersmeet to Land O'Lakes Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  27. "Western Gateway Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  28. "Alpena to Hillman Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  29. "Betsie Valley Trail". Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  30. "Northwestern Lower Michigan Trail Guide for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing". ATI Consulting.
  31. "Biking Hiking Northwest Michigan".
  32. "Boardman Lake Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  33. "Boardman Lake Trail | TART Trails, Inc". traversetrails.org. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  34. "Grass River Natural Area Rail Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  35. "Huron Sunrise Trail". Rogers City. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  36. "Leelanau Trail". TART Trails. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  37. "Little Traverse Wheelway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  38. "North Central State Trail".
  39. "North Eastern State Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  40. "North Western State Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  41. "TART". TART Trails. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  42. "Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trail (TART)". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  43. "Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  44. "Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  45. "Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail Map - White Lake Dr. and Cogswell Ave. (Whitehall) to West Guiles Road at Whitehall Road (North Muskegon) | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  46. "Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail Map - Riverside Dr. and S. Montcalm Ave. (Lowell) to creek south of E. Main St. and east of Beardsley Rd. (Ionia) | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  47. "Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  48. "Grand River Edges Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  49. "William Field Memorial Hart–Montague Trail State Park". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  50. "Hart–Montague Trail" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
  51. "Interurban Trail (Allegan County)". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  52. "Interurban Trail (Kent County)". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  53. Grand Rapids Community Media Center (March 20, 2015). "Abandoned Railroads: Kent County, Michigan". History Grand Rapids. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  54. "Kent Trails". accessKent. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
  55. "Laketon Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  56. "Medbery Bike Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  57. "Muskegon Lakeshore Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  58. "Musketawa Trail Map: 8th Ave.Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail between E. Garfield St. and Arthur St. (Marne) to Black Creek Rd. between E. Sherman Blvd. and Olthoff Dr. (Muskegon)". TrailLink. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  59. "Musketawa Trail". Friends of the Musketawa Trail. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  60. "North Bank Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  61. "White Lake Pathway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  62. "Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  63. "Bay City Area Riverwalk/Railtrail, Bay City, MI 48706". GoGreat.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  64. "Saginaw County to Bay County Connector". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  65. "Cass City Walking Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  66. "michiganrailroads.com - Cass City, MI". www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  67. "Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail Map - Prairie Creek (Ionia) to W. Main Street (Owosso) | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  68. "Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  69. "Fred Meijer Heartland Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  70. "Home Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, bicycling, jogging, Alma". FM Heartland Trail. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  71. "Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  72. "George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  73. "Harger Line Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  74. "Harbor Beach Bike-Pedestrian Path". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  75. "Linear Park Pathway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  76. "Paul Henry Thornapple Trail". Kent County Parks. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  77. "Paul Henry–Thornapple Trail". Thornapple Trail Association. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  78. "Paul Henry–Thornapple Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  79. "Pere Marquette Rail Trail". Pere Marquette Rail Trail. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  80. "Pere Marquette Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  81. "Michigan Trails | Portland Riverwalk". mitrails.org. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  82. "Saginaw Valley Rail Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  83. "Michigan Trails | Saginaw Valley Rail Trail". mitrails.org. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  84. "michiganrailroads.com - St. Charles, MI". www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  85. "Southern Links Trailway Columbiaville, Otter Lake, Millington Michigan". Southern Links Trailway. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  86. "Southern Links Trailway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  87. "Trolley Line Trail (MI)". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  88. "Vassar Rail Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  89. "Indiana–Michigan River Valley Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  90. "IN–MI River Valley Trail". SWMPC. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  91. "Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  92. "Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Map - Kal-Haven Trail; E. D Ave. just east of the Kalamazoo River (Kalamazoo) to Galesburg-Augusta Primary School at S. 35th St. and W. Battle Creek St. (Galesburg) | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  93. "Main Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  94. "Shaver Road Bikeway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  95. "Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  96. "Vicksburg Trailway". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  97. "Baw Beese Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  98. "Bridge to Bay Trail". Trail Link.
  99. "Home". Clinton River Trail. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  100. "Dequindre Cut". Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  101. "Huron Valley Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  102. "Kiwanis Trail (MI)". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  103. "Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  104. "Litchfield Nature Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  105. "Macomb Orchard Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  106. "Martin Luther King Equality Trail | Michigan Trails | TrailLink". www.traillink.com. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  107. "Michigan Air Line Trail". City of Wixom. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  108. "Home". MI Airline Trail. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  109. "Welcome to the Paint Creek Trail!". Paint Creek Trail. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  110. "Polly Ann Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  111. "Riverbend Preserve Rail-Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  112. "Wadhams to Avoca Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  113. "West Bloomfield Trail". Michigan Trails. TrailLink. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  114. "West Bloomfield Trail". West Bloomfield Parks. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
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