List of rail trails in Michigan explained

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., 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	3miles	Iron	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[2]
Beaver Pete's Trail	20miles	Dickinson	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[3]
Beechwood to Gibbs City Trail	48miles	Iron	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[4]
Bergland to Sidnaw Rail Trail	43.5miles	Houghton, Ontonagon	Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway	^[5]
Bill Nicholls Trail	41.5miles	Houghton, Ontonagon	Copper Range Railroad	^[6]
Coalwood Trail	26.4miles	Alger, Schoolcraft	Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad	^[7]
Crystal Falls to Stager Trail	25miles	Iron	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[8]
Escanaba to Hermansville Rail-Trail	25.5miles	Delta, Menominee	Soo Line Railroad	^[9]
Felch Grade Trail	38miles	Dickinson, Delta, Menominee	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[10]
Freda Grade Trail	8.4miles	Houghton	Copper Range Railroad	^[11]
Gay-Mohawk Trail	27.4miles	Keweenaw	Copper Range Railroad	^[12]
Grand Marais Trail	41.7miles	Alger	Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad	^[13]
Hancock-Calumet Rail Trail	13.4miles	Houghton	Mineral Range Railroad	^[14]
Haywire Grade Trail	33miles	Alger, Schoolcraft	Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad	^[15]
Houghton-to-Chassell Rail-Trail	8.6miles	Houghton	Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway	^[16]
Iron Ore Heritage Trail	47miles	Marquette	Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway	^[17]
Keweenaw Trails	58miles	Houghton, Keweenaw	Copper Range Railroad	^[18]
Little Falls Trail	6.5miles	Ontonagon	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[19]
Ontonagon to Rockland Trail	13miles	Ontonagon	Ontonagon & Brule River Railway	^[20]
Peshekee to Clowry Rail-Trail	6.1miles	Marquette	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[21]
Republic/Champion Grade Trail	7.5miles	Marquette	Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad	^[22]
St. Ignace–Trout Lake Trail	26miles	Chippewa, Mackinac	Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad	^[23]
Soo Strong Trail	32miles	Chippewa	Soo Line Railroad	^[24]
State Line Trail	107.1miles	Gogebic, Iron	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[25]
Watersmeet to Land O'Lakes Trail	8.8miles	Gogebic	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[26]
Western Gateway Trail	6miles	Gogebic	Chicago and North Western Railroad	^[27]

Northern Michigan

Trail name	Length (mi)	Length (km)	Counties	Original railroad	References
Alpena to Hillman Trail	17.8miles	Alpena	Boyne City Railroad	^[28]
Betsie Valley Trail	22miles	Benzie	Ann Arbor Railroad	^[29] ^[30] ^[31]
Boardman Lake Trail	3miles	Grand Traverse	Pere Marquette Railway	^[32] ^[33]
Grass River Natural Area Rail-Trail	2.2miles	Antrim	Chicago and West Michigan Railway	^[34]
Huron Sunrise Trail	11miles	Presque Isle	Detroit and Mackinac Railway	^[35]
Leelanau Trail	16.6miles	Grand Traverse, Leelanau	Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad	^[36]
Little Traverse Wheelway	26.7miles	Charlevoix, Emmet	Chicago and West Michigan Railway	^[37]
North Central State Trail	62miles	Cheboygan, Otsego	Lake State Railway	^[38]
North Eastern State Trail	71miles	Alpena, Cheboygan, Presque Isle	Alpena and Northern Railroad	^[39]
North Western State Trail	32miles	Cheboygan, Emmet	Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[40]
TART Trail	10.5miles	Grand Traverse	Chicago and West Michigan Railway, Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad	^[41] ^[42]
White Pine Trail State Park	92miles	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	11.1miles	Muskegon	Chicago and West Michigan Railroad	^[45]
Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail	15.5miles	Kent, Ionia	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[46]
Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail	5.4miles	Kent	Coopersville and Marne Railway	^[47]
Grand River Edges Trail	5.4miles	Kent	Pere Marquette Railway	^[48]
Hart–Montague Trail State Park	22miles	Muskegon, Oceana	Chesapeake and Ohio Railway	^[49] ^[50]
Interurban Trail (Allegan County)	1.3miles	Allegan	Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[51]
Interurban Trail (Kent County)	2miles	Kent	Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[52]
Kent Trails	15miles	Kent	New York Central Railroad	^[53] ^[54]
Laketon Trail	3.3miles	Muskegon	Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Muskegon Railway	^[55]
Medbery Bike Trail	1.5miles	Muskegon	Chesapeake and Ohio Railway	^[56]
Muskegon Lakeshore Trail	11.2miles	Muskegon	Chesapeake and Ohio Railway	^[57]
Musketawa Trail	25miles	Muskegon, Ottawa	Muskegon, Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[58] ^[59]
North Bank Trail	3.3miles	Ottawa	Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway	^[60]
White Lake Pathway	3.2miles	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	17.8miles	Bay	Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad	^[62] ^[63]
Bay-Zil Trail	5.7miles	Bay, Saginaw	Michigan Central Railroad	^[64]
Cass City Walking Trail	1.4miles	Tuscola	Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad	^[65] ^[66]
Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail	41.4miles	Clinton, Ionia, Shiawassee	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[67]
Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail	21.7miles	Ionia, Kent, Montcalm	Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad	^[68]
Fred Meijer Heartland Trail	42miles	Gratiot, Montcalm	Pere Marquette Railway	^[69] ^[70]
Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail	3.2miles	Ionia	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[71]
Genesee Valley Trail	4.5miles	Genesee	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[72]
George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail	4.2miles	Genesee	Pere Marquette Railway	^[73]
Harger Line Rail-Trail	10.1miles	Saginaw, Tuscola	Michigan Central Railroad	^[74]
Harbor Beach Bike-Pedestrian Path	1miles	Huron	Pere Marquette Railway	^[75]
Linear Park Pathway	2.3miles	Lapeer	Michigan Central Railroad	^[76]
Pere Marquette Rail Trail	30miles	Clare, Isabella, Midland	Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad	^[77] ^[78]
Portland Riverwalk	9miles	Ionia	Ionia and Lansing Railroad	^[79]
Saginaw Valley Rail Trail	11miles	Saginaw	Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad	^[80] ^[81] ^[82]
Southern Links Trailway	10.2miles	Genesee, Lapeer, Tuscola	Michigan Central Railroad	^[83] ^[84]
Trolley Line Trail	2.8miles	Genesee	Pere Marquette Railway	^[85]
Vassar Rail Trail	2miles	Tuscola	Michigan Central Railroad	^[86]

Southwest Michigan

Trail name	Length (mi)	Length (km)	Counties	Original railroad	References
Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail	5.3miles	Berrien	Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway	^[87] ^[88]
Kal-Haven Trail	34.5miles	Kalamazoo, Van Buren	Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad	^[89]
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail	20.9miles	Kalamazoo	Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[90]
Main Trail	0.5miles	Calhoun	Michigan United Railways	^[91]
Paul Henry–Thornapple Rail Trail	42miles	Barry, Eaton, Kent	Michigan Central Railroad	^[92] ^[93] ^[94]
Shaver Road Bikeway	1.8miles	Kalamazoo	Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	^[95]
Van Buren Trail State Park	14miles	Van Buren	Toledo and South Haven Railroad	^[96]
Vicksburg Trailway	1.8miles	Kalamazoo	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[97]

Southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit

Trail name	Length (mi)	Length (km)	Counties	Original railroad	References
Baw Beese Trail	8.2miles	Hillsdale	Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway	^[98]
Bridge to Bay Trail	37.5miles	St. Clair	Port Huron and Detroit Railroad	^[99]
Clinton River Trail	16miles	Oakland	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[100]
Dequindre Cut	1.6miles	Wayne	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[101]
Huron Valley Trail	12.2miles	Oakland	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[102]
Kiwanis Trail	8miles	Lenawee	Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad	^[103]
Lakelands Trail State Park	26miles	Ingham, Livingston, Washtenaw	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[104]
Litchfield Nature Trail	2miles	Hillsdale	New York Central Railroad	^[105]
Macomb Orchard Trail	23.7miles	Macomb	Canadian National Railway	^[106]
Martin Luther King Equality Trail	3.4miles	Jackson	Michigan Central Railroad	^[107]
Michigan Air Line Trail	270miles	Calhoun, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Van Buren	Michigan Air Line Railroad	^[108] ^[109]
Paint Creek Trail	8.9miles	Oakland	Michigan Central Railroad	^[110]
Polly Ann Trail	34.2miles	Lapeer, Oakland	Pontiac, Oxford, & Northern Railroad	^[111]
Riverbend Preserve Rail-Trail	0.1miles	Washtenaw	Penn Central Rail Road	^[112]
Wadhams to Avoca Trail	12miles	St. Clair	Pere Marquette Railway	^[113]
West Bloomfield Trail	6.8miles	Oakland	Grand Trunk Western Railroad	^[114] ^[115]

See also

• List of rail trails in the United States
• List of Michigan state parks
• Rails with trails

Notes and References

1. Web site: United States | Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Railstotrails.org. August 18, 2016.
2. Web site: Apple Blossom Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
3. Web site: Beaver Pete's Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
4. Web site: Iron Range Trails - Beechwood to Gibbs City . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
5. Web site: Bergland to Sidnaw Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
6. Web site: Bill Nicholls Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
7. Web site: Coalwood Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
8. Web site: Iron Range Trails - Crystal Falls to Iron River Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
9. Web site: Escanaba to Hermansville Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
10. Web site: Felch Grade Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
11. Web site: Freda Grade Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
12. Web site: Gay - Mohawk Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
13. Web site: Grand Marais Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
14. Web site: Hancock-Calumet Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
15. Web site: Haywire Grade Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
16. Web site: Houghton-to-Chassell Rail Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
17. Web site: Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Iron Ore Heritage Trail. en-US. October 15, 2019.
18. Web site: Keweenaw Trails . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
19. Web site: Little Falls Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
20. Web site: Ontonagon to Rockland Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
21. Web site: Peshekee to Clowry Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
22. Web site: Republic/Champion Grade Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
23. Web site: St. Ignace to Trout Lake Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
24. Web site: Soo Strong Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
25. Web site: State Line Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
26. Web site: Watersmeet to Land O'Lakes Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
27. Web site: Western Gateway Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
28. Web site: Alpena to Hillman Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
29. Web site: Betsie Valley Trail . June 23, 2009 .
30. Web site: Northwestern Lower Michigan Trail Guide for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing . ATI Consulting .
31. Web site: Biking Hiking Northwest Michigan .
32. Web site: Boardman Lake Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
33. Web site: Boardman Lake Trail TART Trails, Inc.. traversetrails.org. October 16, 2019.
34. Web site: Grass River Natural Area Rail Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 15, 2019.
35. Web site: Huron Sunrise Trail . Rogers City . November 27, 2020.
36. Web site: Leelanau Trail . TART Trails . October 1, 2019 .
37. Web site: Little Traverse Wheelway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 7, 2019.
38. Web site: North Central State Trail .
39. Web site: North Eastern State Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
40. Web site: North Western State Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 7, 2019.
41. Web site: TART . TART Trails . October 1, 2019 .
42. Web site: Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trail (TART) . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
43. Web site: Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page . Michigan Department of Natural Resources . October 1, 2019 .
44. Web site: Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
45. Web site: 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. October 16, 2019.
46. Web site: 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. October 16, 2019.
47. Web site: Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
48. Web site: Grand River Edges Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
49. Web site: William Field Memorial Hart–Montague Trail State Park . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
50. Web site: Hart–Montague Trail . Michigan Department of Natural Resources .
51. Web site: Interurban Trail (Allegan County) . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
52. Web site: Interurban Trail (Kent County) . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
53. Web site: Abandoned Railroads: Kent County, Michigan . Grand Rapids Community Media Center . March 20, 2015 . History Grand Rapids . en-us . October 1, 2019 .
54. Web site: Kent Trails . accessKent . https://web.archive.org/web/20090826085320/http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/kent_trails.htm . August 26, 2009 . September 19, 2009 . dead .
55. Web site: Laketon Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
56. Web site: Medbery Bike Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
57. Web site: Muskegon Lakeshore Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
58. Web site: 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 . October 7, 2019.
59. Web site: Musketawa Trail . Friends of the Musketawa Trail . en-US. October 7, 2019.
60. Web site: North Bank Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
61. Web site: White Lake Pathway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
62. Web site: Bay County Riverwalk/Railtrail System . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
63. Web site: Bay City Area Riverwalk/Railtrail, Bay City, MI 48706 . GoGreat.com . en-us . October 1, 2019 .
64. Web site: Saginaw County to Bay County Connector . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
65. Web site: Cass City Walking Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
66. Web site: michiganrailroads.com - Cass City, MI. www.michiganrailroads.com. October 16, 2019.
67. Web site: Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail Map - Prairie Creek (Ionia) to W. Main Street (Owosso) TrailLink. www.traillink.com. October 16, 2019.
68. Web site: Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
69. Web site: Fred Meijer Heartland Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
70. Web site: Home Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, bicycling, jogging, Alma . FM Heartland Trail . en. October 1, 2019 .
71. Web site: Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
72. Web site: Genesee Valley Trail. Michigan Trails Magazine. January 31, 2023.
73. Web site: George Atkin Jr. Recreational Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
74. Web site: Harger Line Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
75. Web site: Harbor Beach Bike-Pedestrian Path . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
76. Web site: Linear Park Pathway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
77. Web site: Pere Marquette Rail Trail . Pere Marquette Rail Trail . en . October 1, 2019 .
78. Web site: Pere Marquette Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
79. Web site: Michigan Trails Portland Riverwalk. mitrails.org. October 7, 2019.
80. Web site: Saginaw Valley Rail Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
81. Web site: Michigan Trails Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. mitrails.org. October 16, 2019.
82. Web site: michiganrailroads.com - St. Charles, MI. www.michiganrailroads.com. October 16, 2019.
83. Web site: Southern Links Trailway Columbiaville, Otter Lake, Millington Michigan . Southern Links Trailway . October 1, 2019 .
84. Web site: Southern Links Trailway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
85. Web site: Trolley Line Trail (MI) . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
86. Web site: Vassar Rail Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
87. Web site: Indiana–Michigan River Valley Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
88. Web site: IN–MI River Valley Trail . SWMPC . October 1, 2019 .
89. Web site: Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page . Michigan Department of Natural Resources . October 1, 2019 .
90. Web site: 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. October 16, 2019.
91. Web site: Main Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
92. Web site: Paul Henry Thornapple Trail . Kent County Parks . October 1, 2019 .
93. Web site: Paul Henry–Thornapple Trail . Thornapple Trail Association . October 1, 2019 .
94. Web site: Paul Henry–Thornapple Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
95. Web site: Shaver Road Bikeway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
96. Web site: Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page . Michigan Department of Natural Resources . October 1, 2019 .
97. Web site: Vicksburg Trailway . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
98. Web site: Baw Beese Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 20, 2019.
99. Web site: Bridge to Bay Trail. Trail Link.
100. Web site: Home . Clinton River Trail . October 1, 2019 .
101. Web site: Dequindre Cut . Detroit Riverfront Conservancy . October 1, 2019 .
102. Web site: Huron Valley Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
103. Web site: Kiwanis Trail (MI) . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
104. Web site: Michigan Recreation Search Site Details Page . Michigan Department of Natural Resources . October 1, 2019 .
105. Web site: Litchfield Nature Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
106. Web site: Macomb Orchard Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
107. Web site: Martin Luther King Equality Trail Michigan Trails TrailLink. www.traillink.com. 2019-10-25.
108. Web site: Michigan Air Line Trail . City of Wixom . October 1, 2019 .
109. Web site: Home . MI Airline Trail . October 1, 2019 .
110. Web site: Welcome to the Paint Creek Trail! . Paint Creek Trail . en-US . October 1, 2019 .
111. Web site: Polly Ann Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
112. Web site: Riverbend Preserve Rail-Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
113. Web site: Wadhams to Avoca Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 16, 2019.
114. Web site: West Bloomfield Trail . Michigan Trails . TrailLink . October 1, 2019 .
115. Web site: West Bloomfield Trail . West Bloomfield Parks . en . October 1, 2019 .