5-County Multi-use Trail Connection Effort Revitalized

bicycle riders on the Hart-Montague Rail Trail (photo by Josh Schuyler)

from an article in the Ludington Daily News and personal recollection, by jhy

Before Covid, various committees were organized in Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, and Manistee Counties (Michigan) to formulate a regional plan for connecting multi-use trails in the five counties. I was a part of one of those committees.

Most of the early discussion centered on the fact that connecting Ludington with the Hart-Montague Rail Trail is no easy task because there is no longer a railroad right-of way. Since that time, a group Friends of the Pentwater-Hart Trail has formed and is making progress toward connecting Pentwater to the north end of that trail at Hart.

Connections east from Ludington are problematic, as the railroad is still live track from Baldwin to Ludington, so use of an abandoned railway is not an option. The Pere Marquette Rail Trail currently begins in Baldwin and runs all the way to Midland. The US 10 corridor is extremely busy and a dangerous bicycle ride. When US 10 was widened in 1990, wide, curbed, paved shoulders were added. Everyone wondered why bicycles did not immediately rejoice at this. The simplest reason is that curbs were added at every driveway so it is just a continual series of bad bumps, and it is usually littered with broken glass and random junk. The five lanes of traffic and heavy commercial development make it an unappealing corridor for a bicycle trail.

Just prior to Covid, the committees were presented with a marketing strategy for any eventual plan. However, the proposal was not well received, and then Covid hit. Everything stalled.

Now the Building, Planning, Drains & Airport Committees of Mason County have been presented with a new effort, spearheaded by Dave and Kathy Maclean (former owner of Spindrift bicycle shop). A number of agencies are interested in starting the process again to try to connect with regional trails.

Priorities would be to connect Ludington State Park with downtown, downtown to Consumers Pumped Storage property, then on to Pentwater, and finally from Ludington to Scottville. This concept has been broken into these four segments, each plan under the leadership of a different person. Portions of these routes are part of the US Bicycle Route system, although that primarily uses roads.



See Ludington Economic Development


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Calvin Ecosystem Preserve Adds Large Rock Garden

Calvin University Puddingstone (photo by Kent Ratajeski)

compiled from various sources

Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosts a 44-acre Ecosystem Preseve. Along with an adjacent research area (not open to the public), the preserve offers both recreational and educational opportunities. There are 1.7 miles of trails, available only for hiking with no pets. Open 7 am till dusk.

The preserve is inhabited by 260 species of plants, including several trees approaching 250 years old and the smallest plant in the world, called watermeal. Many animals, including 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, 179 bird species, and 27 species of mammals have been identified in the preserve.

Now the university has added a large rock garden near the entrance at East Beltline Avenue. The garden features a variety of Michigan rocks. The centerpiece is a 16,000-pound puddingstone. Puddingstone is more usually found in the Upper Peninsula, but it all was brought here from Ontario by the glaciers.

Kent Ratajeski posted a picture of the rock on Facebook, and people immediately began to travel to see the massive stone. Ratajeski serves as director of the Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum at Calvin University, and is also an educator.

Various classes will take advantage of having larger specimens to study than can be handled in a classroom. Additionally, this rock garden will focus on rocks rather than serving as a matrix for rare plants. Climbers are welcome, and kids are loving the "playground."

The garden was made possible by a donation from Thelma Venema, a lifelong lover of geology and rocks.

See a brochure of the trail system


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Portions of the Dragon Trail Groomed for Winter Use

map of groomed trails (from Mecosta County)

compiled from several sources

The 45-mile Dragon Trail around Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo and Mecosta Counties, Michigan, has a total of 13 miles that are groomed for multi-use winter adventures. The trail remains open for hikers, bicyclists, skiers and snowshoes. As such, the grooming is not focused on one user group.

Bikes should have tires a minimum of 3.8" wide (fat tire bikes). Hikers should stay to the side of the trail. Showshoes and skis are welcome on the groomed trail.

Sections that are groomed are shown highlighted in green on the graphic, which includes the Brower Loop and Section 5 which runs between Mecosta County's Brower Park and Davis Bridge Park. Parking areas of each of these parks are plowed and will be maintained on weekdays throughout the winter. Vault Toilets are available at both locations, with a hand water pump available for use at Davis Bridge.

For parking at Newaygo and Mecosta County Parks, a permit is required. Each county has its own permit. One permit does NOT cover all parking along the loop. 2026 annual Vehicle Permits are now available! Standard vehicle permits are $35 each with regional passes available for $60 each. Stop by to purchase a permit in person at the Parks Administration office in Paris, MI, Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00, or call 231-832-3246 to purchase over the phone! Or drop your fee in the fee pipe at Brower or Davis Bridge Parks and your permit will be mailed out to you!


See the complete rules for Trail Etiquette


See the main website for The Dragon Trail

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Grand Traverse Commons Proposed Trail Expansion

view within Grand Traverse Commons (photo from Garfield Township Plan)

compiled from various sources

The Grand Traverse Commons Recreation and Natural Area is a 140-acre park that is overseen by the City of Traverse City and Garfield Charter Township Recreational Authority. Miles of unpaved trails, many covered with woodchips, wander up, down, and around wooded hillsides, streams, meadows, and wetlands. The park is a part of the overall Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment District and was originally a part of the former State Psychiatric Hospital.

Parking and trailheads to the Natural Area exist on North Long Lake Road, near the intersection of Medical Campus and Orange Drives, near the Barns area, on the west side of the TBA Administrative building, and on the northernmost side of the Copper Ridge development.

Adjacent to the park on the west is a 38-acre wooded parcel owned by the State of Michigan that is also available for public use.

The Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association is working to improve and expand the trail system. There will be trails optmiized for mountain biking, and others will remain for hiking. Additional trailheads may be built.

Key points of the NMMBA plans are:
• Preserve existing trails wherever possible
• 3+ miles of professional machine-built trails
• Sessional 'hubs' with flow trail loop
• Clay, stone and Wooden materials
• New maps and signage

For an excellent map of the proposed trails, scroll down at The Commons Bike Project


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