Explore the best rated trails in Cadillac, MI, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Buffalo Ridge Trail and Pere Marquette State Trail . With more than 16 trails covering 414 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Big rapids to Reed city is only good for walking, for biking it is very rough I don't recommend. Starting in Reed City going North is much smoother.
This trail saved my sanity during Covid and I've returned to ride it multiple times. I start at the newly renovated trailhead in Cadillac outside the Depot. Usually ride to Tustin and back. It's a slight downhill grade to Tustin and then uphill going back. Surface varies. Mostly forest but there are small farms and homes to see along the way. I have seen turtles twice on the path. Shoutout to Madeline Krentz for her description of this trail. My husband did have a spill once on roots that had pushed up the asphalt but fortunately no injury.
Very pretty out of Midland. Then we were surprised to see a barricade and had to get on the highway. Then got back on at about mile six. The road gets bumpy then. You are close to the highway much of the way. We stopped in Coleman and had ice cream and pizza. A place called mamas pizza. We only did 20 miles each way. We were told that it’s pretty much the same scenery of trees and some farmland all the way to Clare.
The most boring trail I've walked. To close to traffic, nothing interesting to look at.
Very nice for walking and biking. First aprox. 10 miles starting from Frankfort are well maintained and are good for regular bikes. The last half of the trail is only recommendable for mountain bikes.
Husband and I rode from Midland to Sanford and back. Smooth, flat ride. Shady areas to stop and bathrooms along the way. Stopped at Midland Brewing Company on our way back.(Had entry right off trail with bike racks!) It was a great ride!
Really nice trail—much of it along the water. About 50% shaded. We rode from Frankfort to about 3 miles beyond Beulah towards Thompsonville. We have 1.75 inch width wheels so crushed limestone and gravel two-track sections were not a problem. Asphalt section was remarkably smooth! Stopped at a small park with great shelter at the Beulah beach on the way back. Bring your swimsuit! This was about 24 miles round trip. Scenery was varied, and the trail was pleasantly curvy. Highly recommend!
The trail was amazing and it hardly had anyone else.
This is a very nice walk, mostly on boardwalk Great birding opportunity. From the Arcadia /Rt 22 trailhead you can go about one-half mile then the trail is closed Apr 15 to Jul 15 to protect nesting habitat. Still a very lovely walk. You can enter from the St. Pierre Rd trailhead and go less than a quarter mile.
I walked, and occasionally ran, the trial northbound over four days. This is easily one of the most beautiful rail trails I've ever traveled and is one of Michigan's real jewels. The trail quickly becomes rural after leaving Grand Rapids, and then just gets steadily better and better scenery wise (this assumes that you love Northwoods). People debate where the Northwoods begin, and you can form your own opinion on your journey north. I'd argue that Big Rapids is the line. And speaking of, don't forget to celebrate 50 miles covered there at the Sawmill, right on the trailside.
The only downside to the trail is the fact that it's paved (excepting a few miles between Howard City and Big Rapids). When walking 25+ miles a day, the surface of the trail becomes a major factor. Crushed limestone is much kinder to the pedestrian body than pavement. Pavement also encourages folks to ride their ebikes at 30mph, unfortunately, making the trail more like a road near the towns. But that drawback aside, I'll certainly be back to do this trail again.
I decided to take my road bike for a trip from Cadillac down to Big Rapids where the trail is closed for paving and back to Cadillac. I agree with Cecelia's review from Sep, 23 in that the asphalt paving is old and bumpy between Reed City and Big Rapids. Also the trail was closed between Hibma Rd south to Cleveland Rd in Tustin. The detour is gravel roads that are loose sand and very difficult to navigate with 32mm or thinner tires!
With the exception of the portion of trail north of Reed City that runs along Hwy 131 the the scenery is awesome running through rivers, hills, valleys, farms and small towns.
I am wondering if there's anyone assigned to blow the trail clean from leaves, twigs and branches? There were quite a bit of that along the way. In comparison to the Macomb/Orchard trail for example which is very well maintained all year round it seemed a bit unkempt.
Overall it is an awesome trail that I hope is better maintained than what I experienced on my recent trip and look forward to returning next year when the whole trail will be paved.
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