Michigan's Longest Paved Trail Runs 92 Miles Through Small Towns And Forests

Best known for its Great Lakes and glorious fall colors, Michigan can also claim to have the longest paved trail in the state and the third-longest paved trail in the U.S., thanks to Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park. At 92 miles long, it's also Michigan's longest linear state park and second-longest rail-trail after the State Line Trail. Running from Comstock Park near Grand Rapids – America's beer city and a great stop on a Michigan road trip – to Cadillac, the trail passes through five counties and 15 towns and cities. But for most of the way, visitors can enjoy the picturesque forests and open farmland that lie in between.

Once a rail corridor for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, passenger and freight services went back and forth between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Michigan from 1867 until operations came to a halt in 1984. The name Fred Meijer White Pine is a combination of the name of the businessman who helped fund trails across the state, and the tall pine trees with blue-green needles that once covered the Michigan landscape.

Although the trail has been open since 1995, it has only been fully paved since 2025, and can be accessed from multiple trailheads. With a reasonably flat surface, it's ideal for walking, biking, and skating in the warmer months, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. From December 1 through March 31, the trail is also open to snowmobiles between the Cadillac and Russell Road trailheads.

True to its name, white pines can indeed be seen along the trail, especially in the northern sections. Growing up to around 200 feet tall, with trunks sometimes as large as 5 feet in diameter, many homes in midwest cities were built using Michigan's state tree. As a result of heavy logging, much of these forests disappeared, but some old-growth trees remain and are protected in places such as Hartwick Pines State Park near the underrated river town of Grayling, further north. An abundance of other mixed hardwood forests, with aspen and maple, are part of the trail's charm, providing tunnels of shade on a sunny day and vibrant color in fall.

With 14 open-deck bridges along the trail, those spanning the Rogue and Muskegon Rivers are among the prettiest. The Rogue River crossing near Rockford has a scenic overlook of the Rogue River Dam, providing a nice spot for a picnic. Further north at Big Rapids, the bridge crossing the Muskegon River is 319 feet long. Here, you can take a small detour into town along the Big Rapids Riverwalk, with colorful art installations and sculptures lining the way. Being in such close proximity to several rivers, you can expect to see a lot of birdlife, including swans, great blue herons, and sandhill cranes. In the wetlands near Cadillac, look out for beaver lodges among the ponds and marshes.

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park can be cycled over two days, and while it can be taken in either direction, if you head north from Grand Rapids, there is a slight uphill as you approach Cadillac, even if the terrain is seemingly flat. Big Rapids makes a nice halfway stop for the night. Camping by the trail isn't allowed, but head into town for a comfy bed at Country Inn & Suites or, a little further north at Paris, opt for a cozy cabin next to the Muskegon River at Paris Cabins.

Day trippers will find trailheads along the route as well as multiple parking lots. Some of the trailheads have bike repair stations with Cadillac's being one of the best equipped, complete with bike racks, picnic tables, and restrooms. While most people tackle it in sections, if you are planning to complete the whole trail, you'll need to organize transport from one end to the other. There's currently no regular shuttle, but tour company Bike Tour Vacations has provided transport from Comstock Park to Cadillac in the past, from where you head back south to Grand Rapids and your ride home. Being fully paved, it's ADA-accessible in its entirety and a great option for families with young kids. Horses aren't allowed on the trail but dogs are if kept on a leash.