Biking Michigan's White Pine Trail

White Pine Trail

Basics:

Length: 149 kilometres (93 miles)
Surface: Paved and crushed stone
Width: 3 metres (10 feet)
Trail head: Grand Rapids to Cadillac
Parking: at trail heads and towns (see below)
Signage: at road crossings
Bathrooms: Flush toilets at Belmont Station and Rockford Park, Pit toilet at Russell Road
Water: None on trail
Benches: at various locations, including covered viewing area


Camping is available in Belmont, Cedar Springs, Sand Lake, Morley, Paris, Reed City, Hersey, Evart and Cadillac.


Parking and Access:
To reach the southern endpoint in Comstock Park, take US Highway 131 north to Post Drive, and turn right on Belmont Road. Take Belmont Road to Rogue River Road The park entrance will be on the left.

To reach the northern endpoint in Cadillac, take US Highway 131 north. Exit onto State Route 115 and go northwest for a half mile. Take North 41 Road 1.5 km north to North 44 Road. Go west on North 44 Road approximately 800metres.

To reach the Big Rapids trailhead, take US Highway 131 to Big Rapids, exit 139. Take State Highway 20 east to Maple Street. Proceed straight for about 100 metres to the depot staging area, and turn south.

To Rogue River Park, Belmont, trailhead: Take US-131 to exit 95 (Post Dr.). Take Post Drive east to Belmont Road. Take Belmont Road for 500 metres south to Rogue River Park entrance; turn left.



The White Pine Trail is Michigan’s longest trail at almost 150 kilometres connecting Grand Rapids with Cadillac. Along the way it connects with:
 Comstock Park, Michigan
 Belmont, Michigan
 Rockford, Michigan
 Cedar Springs, Michigan
 Sand Lake, Michigan
 Pierson, Michigan
 Howard City, Michigan
 Morley, Michigan
 Stanwood, Michigan
 Big Rapids, Michigan
 Paris, Michigan
 Reed City, Michigan
 Ashton, Michigan
 Le Roy, Michigan
 Tustin, Michigan
 Cadillac, Michigan
At the Firth-Third stadium in Grand Rapids the trail splits. One spur runs along the Grand River while the other spur ends in downtown Comstock Park.


From Belmont (Plainfield Charter Township) to Sand Lake is perhaps the most scenic part of the trail. This is really the southern Trail Head with a large parking lot and washrooms. Wildlife abounds along this stretch with as much of the trail parallels the adjacent Rogue River, offering scenic views of the river, lush woodlands, rolling terrain and numerous wildflowers.


Just 13 km from the trail's start, the town of Rockford has a scenic overlook of the Rogue River Dam, with plenty of picnic tables and benches to stop and enjoy the calming sound of the flowing, beautiful water. It is worth a stop at the dam to view the gardens and walk along the boardwalk opposite the trail. In Rockford the trail skirts the Wolverine (Hush Puppy makers) plant.


At Sand Lake there is a covered picnic area and a few hundred metres further north the pavement ends. Mountain bike or at least a hybrid is a must at this point.


Big Rapids is located at mile 53 (or km 85) and has the trail's longest bridge. Whites Bridge spans 97 metres feet over the Muskegon River.

North of Big Rapids, in the community of Paris, the trail passes through a park and fish hatchery.
North of Paris the trail passes through Reed City where the 51 km Pere Marquette Trail intersects the White Pine. The Hersey River crosses the trail under a covered bridge in Reed City.
Between Reed City and Cadillac the town of Tustin has a unique museum adjacent to the trail.

Cadillac is currently the northern terminus of the trail with nice beaches!

---

---

---