Bike Trail Kalamazoo

Bike Trail Kalamazoo, The Great Lake to Lake Bike Trail runs through Kalamazoo, and biking is a fantastic activity there and nearby. Explore 25 miles of groomed trails at Fort Custer State Recreation Area, or get your heart beating mountain biking on the Maple Hill Trail near Kalamazoo, which is renowned for its jumps, banked curves, and rock features. Check out the well-liked Kalamazoo River Valley Trail for paved trails, or for a longer cycle, go out on the 34.5-mile Kal-Haven Trail that connects Kalamazoo and South Haven. You may cycle nearly 55 miles along the Portage Bikeway, which is located just south of Kalamazoo.

Southern Haven

With more than 48 miles of hiking and bike trails, the South Haven area has been dubbed the Pure Michigan Trail Town. Built on the former path of the defunct Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad, the 33.5-mile Kal-Haven Trail connects Kalamazoo and South Haven. The Great Lake-to-Lake Route #1 departs from South Haven and travels eastward through Michigan until it reaches Port Huron. The initial section of the Route #1 trail begins in South Haven on the Kal-Haven trail. In the fall of 2019, the 290+ mile trail was completed. The 14-mile Van Buren Route connects South Haven and Harford. It is a linear multi-use trail. Open farmland, blueberry fields, thick scrub, and wooded regions are all traversed by the trail. A 4.5-mile offshoot of the path connects South Haven with Van Buren State Park.

Conflict Creek

If you want a smooth ride, leave your car at Battle Creek’s Historic Bridge Park and get on the Calhoun County Trailway. It travels through two parks and a natural preserve for five and a half kilometers. The antique truss bridges that have been repaired and positioned next to the Kalamazoo River can be seen there when you’re finished. You can also visit Historic Bridge Park.

Friendly to Bike Trail Kalamazoo

Places to Ride
Our area has more paved roads than many others, many of them scenic and rural, and one of Michigan’s most active multi-use and mountain biking trail-building programs. Numerous local bike clubs and stores also offer regular road rides in addition to the built trails; more details about those routes may be obtained on their websites. Since 2012, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo has assisted in a significant effort to map and implement bike routes. The contributions of our participants increase as the Southwest Michigan Bikeway develops.

Knowledge & Safety

Links to training materials and other resources for drivers and cyclists can be found on this page. Additional ride leaders, advice for riding in groups, and organizational tools may all be found at the bottom of our Clubs, Teams & Organizations tab. Links to information about education and safety are included in some of the resources on our Resources tab.
If you would like to contribute to our safety initiatives and educational activities, please visit our Donate page. Any amount is highly appreciated; thank you!

Bicyclist Safety & Education

Bicycle Lessons And Training – Youth Educational Sports, Inc. (YES) offers accredited School Cycling Instructor certification through online training and on-the-ground clinics – cyclists are trained in stages (level 4 to level 1) to teach school staff how to establish and maintain their own school bicycle clubs. Be a Safe Cyclist is a pamphlet of safe bicycling tips provided by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning. The accredited SCI then offers school cycling support in the form of bicycle instruction and even bicycle repair.

River Valley Trail in Kalamazoo

The newest Kalamazoo County Park is the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail! The 10-foot-wide paved asphalt surface of the route is free to use. It serves as both a recreational area and a trail for non-motorized transportation. Thirty-five miles of the path will make up the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail in Kalamazoo County. With connections from Battle Creek to Lake Michigan, D Avenue to Portage, Augusta to Gull Lake, and eventually Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, Kalamazoo will serve as a regional hub. The Battle Creek Linear Park, the Kal-Haven Trail, and the Portage Bicentennial Park Trail will all be connected by this existing trail, as well as future trails planned in other nations, totaling more than 140 miles of trail. The entire length of this non-motorized, paved asphalt route is currently 24 miles. One section starts at 10th Street and extends 4.8 miles to Westnedge Ave. in an easterly direction from the Kal-Haven Caboose. A stretch that runs through Mayors’ Riverfront Park, Verburg Park, Riverview Drive, Markin Glen County Park, and the Kalamazoo Nature Center and connects Galesburg’s 35th Street to D Avenue is also worth exploring. A path with signs connecting these two sections travels through Kalamazoo’s downtown, where there are numerous. The route will continue to expand as money and land become available, realizing a concept that has been in the works since 1991.

Use These Michigan Bike Trails to Get on the Road

We wrote about the amazing Kal Haven Trail earlier this spring, which links downtown Kalamazoo to lovely South Haven, Michigan. Although it’s a spectacular track, there are many more excellent Michigan bike trails in the vicinity that are also worth riding. Actually, Kalamazoo is a pretty bike-friendly city. You’ll need a fantastic spot to unwind after your travels on the best bike trails in Michigan, as well as perhaps a visit to one or two local breweries. That’s exactly what you’ll discover at our bed and breakfast in Kalamazoo. We are perfectly situated in the heart of Kalamazoo, making it simple for you to visit the city’s best eateries, pubs, breweries, stores, and other attractions. There is no better location to stay in Kalamazoo with cozy guest rooms, a fantastic breakfast served each morning of your stay and a ton of great amenities.

Best Bike Trails in Michigan This Summer

Due to the area’s constantly developing network of roads and Michigan bike trails, Kalamazoo has been dubbed a biker’s paradise. One of the finest ways to experience the breathtaking natural surroundings of Kalamazoo is by biking along these picturesque Michigan trails. Additionally, there are bike trails for every skill level, making it a sport that almost anybody can enjoy. The Great Lake to Lake Trail, one of the best bicycle trails in Michigan, passes through numerous communities, including Kalamazoo. One of the greater ways to see the state, it provides 275 magnificent miles of landscape. A list of some of the best Michigan bike paths in and around Kalamazoo has also been assembled by us

One of the best biking routes in Michigan is the 33-mile Kal Haven Trail, which winds its way from Kalamazoo to the seaside community of South Haven.
In Kalamazoo, the Al Sabo Land Preserve is a great location for biking. The marshes are traversed by a number of trails in this area.
In addition to excellent hiking, fishing, and paddling, the Fort Custer Recreation Area has over 40 Michigan biking routes.
The gorgeous Portage Bikeway is located in the adjacent town of Portage and offers more than 55 miles and a wide variety of Michigan bike routes to enjoy.
We advise visiting Maple Hill Trail if you want to go mountain biking. One of the area’s newest Michigan bike paths, the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, is proving to be very popular. The Battle Creek Linear Park, the Kal-Haven Trail, and the Portage Bicentennial Park Trail are a few of the most notable Michigan bike routes in the area that this trail will eventually connect to in a significant way.

The Trail up Maple Hill

In the vicinity of Bike Trail Kalamazoo, Michigan, this path debuted in 2017. Currently, a 4.1-mile loop is finished, and more attractions and entertainment will be added. The approximately five miles of primarily machine-built singletrack on the Maple Hill Trail were created by Spectrum Trail Design and are overseen by the Southwest Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Kalamazoo County Parks. Banked corners, tabletops, jumps, and rock features await riders. The majority of features are made to reward intermediate and experienced riders who hit them at greater speeds but are rollable at slower speeds for beginner riders. For West Michigan, there is an unexpectedly high amount of climbing and grade, but the payoff is long descents.

Park along the Kal-Haven Trail

There is a limestone/slag surface on the 33-mile-long historic railroad bed. The trail, which connects South Haven and Kalamazoo, crosses bridges, travels through tiny villages, and passes by places of historical interest. Cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, hikers, and cyclists frequently go to the Kal-Haven Trail.

The Best Small-Town Midwest Creativity And Recreation

Whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall, Kalamazoo offers adventure. Visit 83 lakes, go fishing, swim, waterski, or paddle the Kalamazoo River. Choose from more than 120 kilometers of paved bike routes or some of the most difficult mountain bike courses in Michigan. There is a park or path with space for family picnics, biking, hiking, or horseback riding around every corner. Visit the nearby ski areas and toboggan slopes when it snows, or go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing.

California Culture

Get to the downtown area of Kalamazoo, where theaters, restaurants, and shopping create a vibrant atmosphere. Visit five historic districts to see notable architectural structures and discover the region’s past. Visit the W.K. Kellogg Manor House, the former house of the breakfast cereal tycoon and now a bird sanctuary and conference center, as well as the Dr. Nathan Thomas House, one of the most significant Underground Railroad sites in the state. The Gilmore Car Museum is available to history enthusiasts.

South Haven, Kalamazoo, and Kal-Haven Trail, Michigan

The Kal-Haven Trail, which links Kalamazoo and South Haven, is the second rail-trail conversion in Michigan and the first one that is owned by the state. Due to the limestone surface and great care provided by the local road commission, even skinny tires can go trail riding on this road. The Kal-Haven offers lots of opportunities for enjoyment when attractions like a covered bridge and a renovated depot are added.

The trail from Lake to Lake, South Haven, and Port Huron, Michigan

Do you recall when we discussed Kal-Haven? As it turns out, the Kal-Haven is a portion of a much longer trail that runs over 250 miles from South Haven to Port Huron, a city on Lake Huron. The Great Lake to Lake Trail is a particularly long trail that traverses dense forest and some urban areas while showcasing the best of Lower Michigan. It begins with an overview of everything the Kal-Haven has to offer before continuing.

Park Along the Kal-Haven Trail

The 33-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park runs parallel to the cities of South Haven and Kalamazoo. When there are at least 4 inches of snow, you can utilize the multi-use route for snowmobile, cross-country skiing, running, walking your dog, and bicycling.
The former Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad, which operated from 1870 to 1970, was converted into a network of trails at the Kal-Haven Trail State Park. The Friends of Kal-Haven assist with trail upkeep, and their website is a wealth of knowledge. All forms of bikes, including mountain bikes, hybrids, children’s bikes, touring bikes, recumbents, etc., can be used on the hard-packed limestone slag surface. Nevertheless, we might not advise using slick road bike tires.
The Kal-Haven Trail State Park travels through numerous kinds of wood, farms, blueberry fields, rivers, and tiny towns and bustling cities. The covered bridge over the Black River and the camelback bridge east of Grand Junction are two well-known attractions of this linear state park.

Park at Van Buren Trail State

From the outskirts of South Haven to the city of Hartford, a 14-mile stretch of an unimproved ancient railroad route makes up Van Buren Trail State Park. The 4.5-mile paved spur that connects South Haven’s downtown with Van connects to this linear state park.

Park State of Buren

The open farmland, blueberry fields, thick bush, and wooded areas are all traversed along the grassy dirt trail. A multi-use trail, Van Buren Trail State Park is appropriate for walking, running, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Note that the paved portion of South Haven is off-limits to horses and snowmobiles.

Overview
Even though these two trails couldn’t be more dissimilar from one another, they both serve as excellent illustrations of how Michigan has managed to turn old, deserted railroad lines into recreational activities. Camping is provided in Van Buren State Park, five miles south of South Haven, if you want to visit one or both of these linear state parks but require a place to stay the night.

Bicycling From Shore to Shore

Long-distance cyclists can ride for miles through a forest canopy, say hello to grazing cattle, and breathe in the fresh country air while dipping their toes or tires in the sand. They can stay the night and tour the old rail towns that formerly connected communities, or they can stop over for lunch and a wine tasting. From South Haven to Port Huron, the 275-mile Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route 1 passes through rolling farmland, populated areas, and historic sites. The completion of Route 1 marks the fruition of a ten-year effort by the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance to raise money for the path, increase public knowledge of it, and organize efforts to link local cities and trail systems around the state. The five proposed Great Lake-to-Lake Trails, according to its supporters, will lure visitors and outdoor enthusiasts from near and far and draw attention to the state’s cutting-edge trail network on a national scale. Cycling enthusiasts can set off for a weekend trip or a weeklong vacation while experiencing the towns of South Haven, Kalamazoo, Augusta, Battle Creek, Jackson, Brighton, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, and Port Huron by setting out from the coasts of Lake Michigan or Lake Huron.

By Train, Experience Everything Michigan Has to Offer

Kalamazoo is a great place to stay for your next vacation because it’s located midway between Chicago and Detroit and 45 minutes from the white sands of Lake Michigan to the west. On the Wolverine route, Kalamazoo can be found. Starting in downtown Chicago, the 2.5-hour trip will take you through Michigan’s scenic west coast and drop you off close to all the locally owned eateries, breweries, festivals, and activities in Kalamazoo. You may even bring your bike and ride the 35-mile Kal-Haven trail from downtown Kalamazoo to Lake Michigan.

Questions and answers regarding Kalamazoo’s mountain biking trails

What is the Kalamazoo area’s longest mountain bike trail?

The Moab Path to Mandala Trail and Lookout Trail is Kalamazoo’s longest mountain bike trail, according to The estimated length of this trail is 9.5 kilometers, and the hiking time is 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Which Kalamazoo mountain bike trail gains the highest elevation?

Kalamazoo: Of all the mountain biking trails in the region, Maple Hill Trail has the highest height increase at 103 m. The Moab Trail to Mandala Trail and Lookout Trail has the next-highest ascent for mountain biking paths, with a 70 m elevation gain.