West Central Michigan Trails

 

I am interested in long stretches of connected cycling trails.  On this site you can see the Grand Rapids to Midland routes.  After I had laid that trip out, I realized that I could have started even further west, in Hart.  This year I intended to explore this additional mileage.

 

Route

Hart to Montague – William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail

Montague to Muskegon – Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail

-          Muskegon Lakeshore Trail

 

Muskegon to Grand Rapids – Laketon Trail

Musketawa Trail

                                          -  Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail

Due to trail upgrade construction on the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail, I turned around at Ravenna.  Once the upgrades from Ravenna to Grand Rapids are completed, it seems possible to ride on trails all the way from Hart to Midland, 220 miles.

 

My Logistics - My trip was basically an “out-and-back” from Hart to Ravenna with two nights in Muskegon.  I chose to check-in to a hotel on the bike trail in Muskegon prior to starting the ride, then leave my car in Hart, ride back to the hotel in Muskegon, then ride to Ravenna and back to the hotel, then check out and ride back up to my car.  Each day was almost exactly 40 miles.

 I chose the Shoreline Inn which is on the Muskegon Lake shore, and the Muskegon Lakeshore trail. The Shoreline Inn includes a bistro/bar which offers breakfast sandwiches and light dinner fare.  I enjoyed some of each.  The Lake House Waterfront Grille is located next to the hotel.  The meal I had was excellent.  I suspect less expensive restaurants are available, but few are particularly handy.  Both restaurants overlook a marina.  My room was quite nice and very quiet. 

 The trail originates in downtown Hart, but there is no particularly good place to leave a car.  Fortunately, there is a nice trail head on Polk Road which happens to be right across from a State Police outpost.  I felt my car would be safe.

 

Day 1 - May 13, 2026 - As I started south from Hart, my phone indicated that the temperature was 42 but it would feel like 24.  The wind was quite strong. Fortunately it was a tail wind.  Scheduling in this region seems tricky.  I had tried to schedule a warmer week in June, but the hotel rates and availability were prohibitive.  Thus, I scheduled with lower hotel rates but iffy weather.

 I had researched some lunch spots around midway but my hands were so cold, even wearing gloves with full fingers, that I quickly decided to stop for a warmup at the first opportunity.  That occurred in Shelby, at Deb’s.  Deb’s has welcoming cyclist signage on the back of the building.  I quickly ordered coffee and a cinnamon roll.  Be careful what you wish for.  The cinnamon roll had a diameter of about 8 inches.  It was warm and smothered in frosting.  I couldn’t think of how I would carry any leftovers and eventually finished the whole thing.  Very friendly people asking about my ride.

 All the trails on this trip were very smooth and 10 feet wide.  They contain the longest stretches of perfectly straight trail that I have ridden.  Most of the trails from Hart to Muskegon are either wooded or they border agricultural fields, or orchards.  There are many benches with backs and a few picnic tables.  I enjoyed the signs informing me of the types of many of the trees.  There are four small communities with grain elevators, light industry and various retail stores.

  In the midst of this day’s ride are the larger communities of Montague and Whitehall.  Along this bit there were several art installations and welcoming signs like “The Church on the Bike Trail”.  Since my meal schedule was altered, I did not look for restaurants here.  I did not see any immediately adjacent to the trails.  There is a nice boardwalk/bridge across White Lake.  There were many waterfowl including several pairs of swans, and geese with large broods.  The trail designation changes somewhere in this neighborhood, but the only way to notice is slight signage change.  Just before reaching Dalton, I noticed something unusual, a roller coaster track at Michigan’s Adventure.  I didn’t spot the cars but it sounded like they were getting it ready for Opening Day. An interesting family vacation might involve one day of roller coasters and one day of peaceful cycling.  I had lunch in Dalton at the Full Moon Saloon. 

 As the trail nears Muskegon, it seems to leave the old railroad right of way and has some rolling stretches. The Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail connects directly with the Muskegon Lakeshore Trail.  The signage at the junction is minimal but it is clear what is bike trail, and what is sidewalk.  The Lakeshore trail is more urban but it has some nice boardwalk segments over the east end of Muskegon Lake.  To the hotel, day one was almost exactly 40 miles.

 

Day 2 – I headed south on the Lakeshore Trail.  The Michigan Trails Guide indicated that the trails do not actually connect, and suggested a route through the neighborhoods.  Head South on Division St. and east on Southern Ave.  I had printed out a map, which was helpful since the sign for Division St. was missing.  (Turn left at the Neal Fitness Center).  This street segment is less than a mile long.  After crossing Seaway Drive you quickly encounter the Laketon trail.  It weaves through some park land and then closely parallels Laketon Ave, until it ducks under Highway 31.  At this point if crosses Laketon Ave. and transverses an industrial park, eventually reaching the Musketawa Trail. 

 I thank the communities of Muskegon and Muskegon Township for the urban segments of these trails.  The quality was excellent and it was always pretty easy to see where the trails lead.

 The Musketawa Trail follows a power line right-of-way which is trimmed by the power company.  On the other side of the trail is young growth woods.  As one reaches the eastern end of the Musketawa trail you will see huge fields of blue berry bushes and other agricultural fields.  Ravenna has embraced the trail with a caboose and a restored depot.  There is a sign to downtown which is about a half mile north.  I enjoyed brunch at the Ravenna Round Table. I recommend the Cinnamon Pancake.  It is a single 10-inch pancake somehow drizzled and fried with cinnamon syrup inside. At Ravenna it was obvious that there is trail renovation in progress.  The trail was covered with gravel and equipment.  Ravenna was my turn around point.  Day 2, almost exactly 40 miles.

 

Day 3 – This was Day 1 in reverse.  Remarkably, I had a strong tail wind again.  I ate my meals at the Full Moon Saloon, and Deb’s on this return trip as well.  They even remembered me at Deb’s.

 

Summary – The trails are excellent.  This route has an “up north” feel with the woods and the small towns.  The trail builders and the communities should be congratulated on the quality of these trails.