Biking Michigan's Musketawa Trail

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Musketawa Trail

Text and Photos last updated: 2018
Number of times we have biked this trail:5

The Basics: :



Length: 42 kilometres (26 miles)
Surface: Paved
Width: 3.5 metres (12 feet)
Trailhead: Muskegon, Ravenna and Marne
Parking: at trailheads
Signage: at road crossings
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets at Muskegon, Ravenna & Marne
Garbage Bins: very few
Water: None on trail
Benches: at various locations, including covered viewing areas



Staging Areas:

1. Marne: from I-96 take exit 25 north to 15278 8th Street (just past Garfield) or at GPS: N43.047102 W085 808018

2. Ravenna: M-46 south to trail (on left)

3. Braodway: From Muskegon US31 to Sherman BAlvd East to Broadway. Left 1 mile. Trailhead on left

4. Conklin: There is also a parking lot, portable toilet and picnic tables in the village of Conklin



We biked this trail in the Spring and Fall of 2009 and 2011 and summer 2018. The weather has not been kind to this trail. Since our last ride in 2011, there now appears MANY cracks in the asphalt. It is a bit like riding on a train and hearing the clickity clack of the rails. Except on your bike you FEEL the bumps

The Musketawa trail joins the village of Marne on I-96 with eastern Muskegon just off Sherman Street.



Distance markers start in Ravenna and go east and west (example: W5 & E7 mean, 5 miles west of Ravenna and 7 miles east of Ravenna). They are that easy to spot.



The path is 3.5 metres wide and the asphalt is slowly degrading. If you don't mind a few bumps, it is a great ride through rural Michigan. Being a rail trail it is flat with only a few gradual hills. The former trail bed is flanked by transmission lines from Muskegon to Ravenna and for most of the ride, they are the only signs that intrude on a natural environment.

Open fields, sometimes with livestock are visible. We came across a turtle crossing the trail! The western section is wide open.



The eastern section is more wooded and cool from Ravenna to Marne. When there is a break in the trees and bushes you will see fields and fields of corn and hay.



Between Muskegon and Ravenna, there is a wildlife observation area that is covered with benches and a picnic table.



Ravenna also has tables and a pit toilet with a parking lot.



About a kilometre from the Muskegon trailhead is a pit toilet with 2 soft drink machines!

There is no water on the trail unless you go into the towns and surprisingly very few garbage bins are available, even in towns.



At trail end in Muskegon look for signs that guide you to the Laketon and Muskegon Lakeshore Trail

At trail end in Marne, cross 8th avenue and continue on the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail (no signs) This trail is SMOOTH!



Extras:

ice cream in Ravenna at Ice cream station 12300 Hts Ravenna Road

convenience store: 7791 Heights Ravenna Road

irish pub: 19683 Main St in Conklin

bicycles: the bicycle rack 1790 Roberts in Muskegon

See the trail website at http://www.musketawatrail.org

More Photos below ....

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Photos

Marne
Parking area