The Great Lakes Way is a national greenway and blueway system with 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of blueways linking residents and visitors to a collection of world-class freshwater, wildlife and recreation activities, including fisheries, bird migration paths, parks, working waterways, preserved woodlands and restored wetlands.

The Michigan Air Line Trail is a 7.5-mile, multi-use pathway that travels through three communities in western Oakland County: Wixom, Walled Lake and Commerce Township. The Air Line connects with the Huron Valley Trail on the west and the West Bloomfield Trail on the east, plus a junction with the M-5/I-275 Metro Trail to the south. The trail is part of the Great Lake to Lake Trail, a 270-mile cross-state pathway that stretches from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.

Spanning 92 miles, the paved Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park links Comstock Park near Grand Rapids to Cadillac. Following the historic Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad bed, it traverses 15 towns and cities and rural farmland, and offers scenic overlooks, picnic areas and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.

The Betsie Valley Trail, a rails-to-trails pathway founded in 1992, features a scenic section of the former Ann Arbor Railroad originally running from Toledo to Frankfort-Elberta. Nearby natural areas include the Betsie River, wetlands with exceptional birding, the Pere Marquette State Forest, farm fields, Crystal Lake, turtle ponds, marshland, Lake Michigan beach and lighthouse, and more.

The Chain of Lakes Water Trail is a collection of 12 interconnected lakes providing more than 100 miles of quality paddling experiences for all levels of paddlers in northern Michigan. Paddlers can travel through a variety of different places from small, quiet lakes to the iconic turquoise waters of Torch Lake, the second largest inland lake in Michigan. The water trail is connected to four quaint lakeside towns to enjoy as part of the paddling experience.

The Cass River Water Trail meanders for 37.5 miles between two counties and six townships. Featuring 13 boating access sites, two portages and thousands of breathtaking views, paddlers will experience diverse paddling elements and pass through many small towns. Paddlers can rest at one of the many picnic areas, enjoy downtown Frankenmuth or Vassar, take in the sites of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and more.

Built in 1974, the Highbanks Trail provides year-round access to the bluffs of the Au Sable River and offers dramatic views of the diverse natural landscape. Look across the river valley for amazing views that reach almost to the shores of Lake Huron. The 7-mile trail traverses from Iargo Springs to Sawmill Point, where you can learn about the logging industry, climb through a log jam, use a peavey and cut a wooden cookie with a cross-cut saw at Lumberman's Monument.  

Just a short short distance from Newberry in the Upper Peninsula and nestled in the Lake Superior State Forest, this all-season trail winds for 11.2 miles through wildflowers and dense forest. The six-loop trail is designed for hiking and mountain biking in the spring, summer and fall and groomed into a double track for cross-country skiers in the winter. 

The Haywire Grade Trail was Michigan’s first rail trail, traveling from Manistique to Shingleton. It was converted into a recreation trail in 1970. 

The 33.5-mile former railroad line links the cities of South Haven and Kalamazoo, passing through small towns and numerous points of local historical interest.

A spectacular trail that showcases the role of the iron ore mining industry to the state of Michigan and the United States, the Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a 47-mile, multiuse, year-round interpretive trail. The trail connects communities and people to the region’s historic sites and human stories.

The 17-mile multiuse/nonmotorized Leelanau Trail runs up a Lake Michigan peninsula that is known for its abundance of cherry orchards and Riesling grape vineyards. Located in northern Michigan, the paved trail connects the popular tourist destinations of Suttons Bay and Traverse City.

The aptly named Paint Creek Trail begins in downtown Rochester and meanders north along the creek to where its headwaters flow out of Orion Lake. This beautifully wooded trail travels along Paint Creek – one of Michigan’s premier cold-water trout streams – and connects to the Polly Ann Trail and Bald Mountain Recreation Area via connector paths. It was the first nonmotorized rail-trail in the state. 

The popular linear park utilizes the an abandoned railroad corridor and crosses through some of the most beautiful and untouched landscape in northern Oakland County. Woodlands, trailside wetlands and farmlands dominate the trail landscape. Walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and cross-country skiing are just some of the activities enjoyed by users of all ages.

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a hard surfaced, nonmotorized multiuse trail that showcases destinations within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the two lakeshore towns of Glen Arbor and Empire. Currently the trail runs nearly 22 miles (mostly asphalt with boardwalk over wetlands, with some areas smoothly compacted crushed limestone.

Trail 45, also known as Charcoal Grade Trail, is a 44-mile, multiuse trail that runs from Newberry to Paradise.  Initially a snowmobile trail, parts are open year-round for multiple uses. The trail runs through Tahquamenon Falls State Park and along the M-123 Scenic Byway. 

The 22.7-mile trail (plus an additional 3.2 miles for the White Lake Pathway) of asphalt passing through the “asparagus capital of the world.” The trail runs through farms, orchards, waterways and forests of western Michigan between Whitehall/Montague and Hart.

The City of Big Rapids, located about halfway between Grand Rapids and Traverse City, boasts the 92-mile Fred Meijer White Pine Trail and the award-winning Riverwalk that connects several parks along the Muskegon River. Big Rapids is just a short distance away from the Michigan’s Dragon Trail, a 47-mile looped mountain biking trail that is still in development, and is home to a number of public art installations, trail events and a robust wayfinding signage system.

The City of Cadillac, situated along the northern end of the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, has become a year-round destination with trail activities for all seasons. Cadillac offers trail connectivity for snowmobilers, bikers and walkers to many southern communities along the White Pine Trail. Cadillac is also a short drive from Big M trails, the Cadillac Pathway and other recreational opportunities in the Manistee National Forest.

The city of Charlevoix is the county seat of Charlevoix County, located on the northwestern coast of the Lower Peninsula. The city has a Trail Ambassador program, a group of over 30 volunteers who work with government and community groups; they have been instrumental in gaining public support of trail expansion in the area.

Incorporated in 1889, the City of Cheboygan has a reputation as an outdoor-lover’s dream and has more miles of trails than any county in the state. It is known for having a “trail for all seasons.”

Chelsea is known for its outstanding commitment to trails demonstrated by its advancement, development and advocacy efforts. A vast trail network connects Chelsea’s lively downtown, the local sidewalk and pathways system, the DTE Energy Foundation Trail, neighborhoods, historic attractions, local parks, Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas and more. The Washtenaw Border to Border Trail will soon run through the downtown once the trail section is fully constructed.

Elk Rapids is located in Michigan’s northwest Lower Peninsula along the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline. The Village of Elk Rapids is situated near many all-season trails, including hiking, biking and paddling. In the near future, the area will connect to Traverse City and Charlevoix via the Nakwema Trail.

The city of Houghton is known as the “Gateway to the Keweenaw” and is one of the 100 best places to live, according to “The 100 Best Small Towns in America” by Norman Crampton. Situated on the hills bordering the beautiful Portage Waterway, Houghton offers a bounty of recreational opportunities all year long.

Lansing is home to a regional network of 30+ miles of trail that serve as a popular destination for recreation and social activities. Trail users can walk, run, bike or paddle their way around as they experience a wide range of scenery, from dense forest and wildlife to downtown city treasures. Outside of Lansing proper, the trails connect schools and businesses, providing a safe recreation and transportation option for residents and visitors. These trails connect several communities in the area with a diverse array of cultural histories, including the Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center, an educational center which preserves Anishinaabe history, arts and culture of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi nations.

The village of Milford offers residents and visitors access to a wide variety of trail options including mountain bike trails, hiking and multi-use trails, equestrian trails and water trails. The trail network connects the quaint and vibrant downtown Milford to local and county parks, Kensington Metropark, Proud Lake Recreation Area and Island Lake Recreation Area. The nearby Michigan Air Line Trail and the Huron Valley Trail offer many miles of additional trail. The village provides easy access to the Huron River National Water Trail, a 104-mile inland paddling trail that connects users to the river’s natural environment, its history and other local communities. As a regional destination for mountain bikers, the local mountain bike trails host multiple events throughout the year, including the Milford Bike Fest and Trail Challenge. The village has a long history of trail support, planning and development and has served as a destination location for outdoor enthusiasts to live, work and recreate. 

Explore a quaint riverfront community with hiking and biking trails, parks and downtown shops, excellent dining options, gateway to the only International Wildlife Refuge in North America and connection to the Downriver Linked Greenways, part of the statewide Iron Belle Trail.

As the Moose Capital of Michigan, Newberry is situated in the middle of many great forests, lakes, streams, trails, state parks and beaches. Known for incredible snowmobiling and winter adventure, Newberry is the starting point for many visitors. Located in the heart of the Upper Peninsula, winter vacationers will find 128 miles of groomed snowmobile trails that conveniently connect to the entire Upper Peninsula.

Orion Township has a long-standing dedication to enhancing trails and pathways in its community, which is home to the Polly Ann Trail, Paint Creek Trail and Iron Belle Trail. The township boasts more than 50 miles of trails.

The Oscoda area provides residents and visitors access to hundreds of miles of hiking, biking, paddling, equestrian, snowmobile and ORV trails. There has been long-lasting support for trails in the area from the local, state and federal levels. The love of the outdoors is woven into the fabric of the community, and the trail systems and their resulting economic impact to local businesses and lodging facilities is an integral part of the culture and vitality of the area. With access to more than 35,000 acres of landscapes, trails users can explore a wide range of terrain, from coastal sand dunes to towering pines and hardwoods. This ideal combination of diverse outdoor recreational opportunities along with friendly and helpful businesses and accommodations makes Oscoda a destination for travelers from around the globe. 

Reed City is known as Michigan’s Crossroads, where two of Michigan’s mightiest trails, the White Pine Trail and the Pere Marquette Trail, intersect. The city is a popular destination to base a day or weeklong trip and a leader in paving trails.

St. Ignace has a proven track record for developing, funding, building and advancing trails integral to connecting Michigan’s peninsulas. One of the key components is the North County Trail that travels along the waterfront through the heart of the city. In addition, strong partners have helped advance several recent projects, including the development of the Silver Mountain Bike and Hike Trail and a secondary trail between Straits State Park and the downtown, among other projects.

The city of South Haven, South Haven Township, Van Buren County, the DNR and many other community groups, various trail friends’ groups and organizations have developed and promoted a vast network of trails in and surrounding South Haven.