Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park: Difference between revisions

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m LittleT889 moved page White Pine Trail State Park to Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park: The formal name of the park is Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
Switching distance between Comstock Park to Cedar Springs and Cedar Springs to Howard City
 
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{{short description|Rail trail and state park in Michigan, United States}}
⚫
{{Infobox protected area
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
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{{Infobox trail
| name = Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
| name = Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
| iucn_category =
| iucn_category =
| photo =
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| photo_caption =
| route = {{maplink-road|from=WhitePineTrail.map}}
| photo_width = 288
| map_caption = Bike trail route highlighted in red
| map = USA Michigan
| map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| map_width = 250
| location = Lower Peninsula, [[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]], [[Mecosta County, Michigan|Mecosta County]], [[Montcalm County, Michigan|Montcalm County]], [[Osceola County, Michigan|Osceola County]], [[Wexford County, Michigan|Wexford County]], [[Michigan]] USA
| location = Lower Peninsula, [[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]], [[Mecosta County, Michigan|Mecosta County]], [[Montcalm County, Michigan|Montcalm County]], [[Osceola County, Michigan|Osceola County]], [[Wexford County, Michigan|Wexford County]], [[Michigan]] USA
| nearest_city = [[Big Rapids, Michigan]]
| coordinates = {{coords|43.71775|-85.4859|region:US-MI|display=inline, title}}
| area =
| area =
| established = 1996<ref>{{cite web|last=State of Michigan|url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/DatesEstablished_650313_7.pdf|title=When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?|date=2019|access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>
| established =
| visitation_num =
| length_mi = 92
| trailheads = [[Comstock Park, Michigan]] <br> [[Rockford, Michigan]] <br> [[Cedar Springs, Michigan]] <br> [[Sand Lake, Michigan]] <br> [[Howard City, Michigan]] <br> [[Morley, Michigan]] <br> [[Big Rapids, Michigan]] <br> [[Paris, Michigan]] <br> [[Reed City, Michigan]] <br> [[Tustin, Michigan]] <br> [[Cadillac, Michigan]]
| visitation_year =
⚫
| use = [[Cycling]], [[Hiking]], [[Snowmobile|Snow-mobiling]], [[Cross-country skiing|XC skiing]]
⚫
| governing_body = <div>[[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]</div>
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| difficulty = Easy
{{Infobox hiking trail
| surface = Asphalt, Packed Gravel, [[Scoria|Cinders]]
| embed = yes
⚫
| season = All
| cellstyle=padding:0.1em 0.3em;
⚫
| maintainer = [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]
| name = Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
| length_mi = 92
| trailheads = [[Comstock Park, Michigan]] <br> [[Cadillac, Michigan]]
⚫
| use = [[Cycling]], [[Hiking]], [[Snowmobile|Snow-mobiling]], [[Cross-country skiing|XC skiing]]
⚫
| difficulty = Easy
⚫
| season = All
}}
| website = [http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=508&type=SPRK Official site]
| website = [http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=508&type=SPRK Official site]
}}
}}
'''Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park''' is a {{convert|92|mi|km|adj=on}} long [[Linear park|linear]] [[state park]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]].
'''Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park''' is a {{convert|92|mi|km|adj=on}} long [[Linear park|linear]] [[state park]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]].


The trail extends from northern [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] to [[Cadillac, Michigan|Cadillac]], and it lies on the path graded for the [[Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad]]. The White Pine Trail is a [[rail trail]] park. It was named the "Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park"<ref>[http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=508&type=SPRK Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park] [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]</ref> after a donation by grocery store executive [[Fred Meijer (businessman)|Fred Meijer]].
The trail extends from northern [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] to [[Cadillac, Michigan|Cadillac]], and it lies on the path graded for the [[Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad]] (later absorbed by the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]). The White Pine Trail is a [[rail trail]] park. It was named the "Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park"<ref>[http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=508&type=SPRK Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park] [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]</ref> after a donation by grocery store executive [[Fred Meijer (businessman)|Fred Meijer]].


== History ==
== History ==
As the railroad ceased operation in the mid-1980s, the [[Michigan Department of Transportation]] came to own the rail bed. By 1994 the property was transferred to the [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]], which began replacing the rails with a trail for public recreational use.
As the railroad ceased operation in the mid-1980s, the [[Michigan Department of Transportation]] came to own the rail bed. By 1994 the property was transferred to the [[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]] (DNR), which began replacing the rails with a trail for public recreational use.


== Current Condition ==
== Current Condition ==
The trail extends from Ann Street in Grand Rapids north to Cadillac. The trail is completely paved as of the fall of 2023.
The trail extends from Ann Street in Grand Rapids north to Cadillac. The trail has three paved sections: one extending {{convert|22|mi|km}} between [[Comstock Park, Michigan|Comstock Park]] and [[Sand Lake, Michigan|Sand Lake]], another {{convert|13|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch between [[Big Rapids, Michigan|Big Rapids]] and [[Reed City, Michigan|Reed City]], and a 16-mile stretch between Leroy and Cadillac. The Michigan DNR paved {{convert|7.6|mi|km}} of trail from Russel Road near Cedar Springs to Sand Lake during the summer of 2007. Unpaved sections of the trail are surfaced with packed gravel or [[cinder]]s.


Snowmobiles are permitted on most of the trail, between Russell Road (near Cedar Springs) and South Street in Cadillac. Motorized wheel vehicles (other than personal accessibility devices) are not permitted.
Snowmobiles are permitted on most of the trail, between Russell Road (near Cedar Springs) and South Street in Cadillac. Motorized wheel vehicles (other than personal accessibility devices) are not permitted.


Due to reduced public funding for state parks in Michigan, the trail's upkeep depends largely on volunteers, organized by Friends of the White Pine Trail. [http://www.whitepinetrail.com]
In addition to the Michigan DNR doing maintenance on the trail, volunteers, organized by Friends of the White Pine Trail. [http://www.whitepinetrail.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815023001/http://www.whitepinetrail.com/about |date=August 15, 2010 }} also provide hundreds of volunteer hours of maintenance and advocacy work.


== Communities Along Trail ==
== Communities Along Trail ==
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==Waypoints==
==Waypoints==
{{GeoGroupTemplate|section=Waypoints}}
{{GeoGroup|section=Waypoints}}
[[Waypoint]]s for the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park.<ref>[http://www.traillink.com/trail/white-pine-trail-state-park.aspx White Pine Trail State Park] [[Rails-to-Trails Conservancy]] (Free registration required to view map)</ref>
[[Waypoint]]s for the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park.<ref>[http://www.traillink.com/trail/white-pine-trail-state-park.aspx White Pine Trail State Park] [[Rails-to-Trails Conservancy]] (Free registration required to view map)</ref>
↑ in the Distance column points to the other waypoint that the distance is between.
↑ in the Distance column points to the other waypoint that the distance is between.
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| [[Howard City, Michigan]] || Drinking Fountain, Restroom || ↑ {{convert|6.5|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.39688|-85.47005|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Howard City, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
| [[Howard City, Michigan]] || Drinking Fountain, Restroom || ↑ {{convert|6.5|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.39688|-85.47005|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Howard City, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
|-
|-
| [[Cedar Springs, Michigan]] || Parking || ↑ {{convert|16|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.18371|-85.56659|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Cedar Springs, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
| [[Cedar Springs, Michigan]] || Parking || ↑ {{convert|12.1|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.18371|-85.56659|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Cedar Springs, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
|-
|-
| [[Comstock Park, Michigan]] || || ↑ {{convert|12.1|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.02494|-85.66562|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Comstock Park, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
| [[Comstock Park, Michigan]] || || ↑ {{convert|16|mi|km}} || {{Coord|43.02494|-85.66562|type:landmark_region:US-MI|name=Comstock Park, Michigan Waypoint|format=dms}}
|}
|}


==Plans==
==Plans==
According to the Friends of the White Pine Trail, there are plans to extend the paved areas of the trail. The trail may also be connected to other trail systems in the state, including the Kent Trails system in Grand Rapids (currently connected with a designated bike route through the city between Butterworth Ave SW and the Fifth Third Ballpark,) [[Musketawa Trail]], much as the White Pine Trail already connects with the [[Pere Marquette State Trail]] in [[Reed City, Michigan|Reed City]].
The trail is also connected to other trail systems in the state, including the Kent Trails system in Grand Rapids (currently connected with a designated bike route through the city between Butterworth Ave SW and the Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark,) [[Musketawa Trail]], much as the White Pine Trail already connects with the [[Pere Marquette State Trail]] in [[Reed City, Michigan|Reed City]].


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.therockfordnetwork.com/the_white_pine_trail.php The White Pine Trail - TheRockfordNetwork.com]
*[http://www.therockfordnetwork.com/the_white_pine_trail.php The White Pine Trail - TheRockfordNetwork.com]
*[http://www.whitepinetrail.com/ Friends of the White Pine Trail]
*[http://www.whitepinetrail.com/ Friends of the White Pine Trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815023001/http://www.whitepinetrail.com/about |date=August 15, 2010 }}
*[https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/9394/trail.html&date=2009-10-25+11:54:14 Michigan Rail Trail info]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010411004035/http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/9394/trail.html Michigan Rail Trail info]
* [http://railstotrails.us/mi_white_pine_trail.htm White Pine Trail State Park page at RailsToTrails.us]
* [http://railstotrails.us/mi_white_pine_trail.htm White Pine Trail State Park page at RailsToTrails.us]


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{{Michigan state parks}}
{{Michigan state parks}}
{{Parks in Grand Rapids, Michigan}}
{{Parks in Grand Rapids, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Rail trails in Michigan]]
[[Category:Rail trails in Michigan]]
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[[Category:Protected areas of Wexford County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Wexford County, Michigan]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 131]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 131]]
[[Category:Bike paths in Michigan]]
[[Category:Hiking trails in Michigan]]

Latest revision as of 14:29, 7 May 2024

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park
Length92 mi (148 km)
LocationLower Peninsula, Kent County, Mecosta County, Montcalm County, Osceola County, Wexford County, Michigan USA
Established1996[1]
TrailheadsComstock Park, Michigan
Rockford, Michigan
Cedar Springs, Michigan
Sand Lake, Michigan
Howard City, Michigan
Morley, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan
Paris, Michigan
Reed City, Michigan
Tustin, Michigan
Cadillac, Michigan
UseCycling, Hiking, Snow-mobiling, XC skiing
DifficultyEasy
SeasonAll
SurfaceAsphalt, Packed Gravel, Cinders
Maintained byMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteOfficial site
Trail map

Map

Bike trail route highlighted in red

Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is a 92-mile (148 km) long linear state park in the U.S. state of Michigan.

The trail extends from northern Grand Rapids to Cadillac, and it lies on the path graded for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad (later absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad). The White Pine Trail is a rail trail park. It was named the "Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park"[2] after a donation by grocery store executive Fred Meijer.

History[edit]

As the railroad ceased operation in the mid-1980s, the Michigan Department of Transportation came to own the rail bed. By 1994 the property was transferred to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which began replacing the rails with a trail for public recreational use.

Current Condition[edit]

The trail extends from Ann Street in Grand Rapids north to Cadillac. The trail is completely paved as of the fall of 2023.

Snowmobiles are permitted on most of the trail, between Russell Road (near Cedar Springs) and South Street in Cadillac. Motorized wheel vehicles (other than personal accessibility devices) are not permitted.

In addition to the Michigan DNR doing maintenance on the trail, volunteers, organized by Friends of the White Pine Trail. [1] Archived August 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine also provide hundreds of volunteer hours of maintenance and advocacy work.

Communities Along Trail[edit]

The trail passes through the following communities:

Waypoints[edit]

Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Waypoints for the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park.[3] ↑ in the Distance column points to the other waypoint that the distance is between.

Location Services Distance
(approx.)		 Coordinates
Cadillac, Michigan Parking, Restroom 44°14′49″N 85°24′01″W / 44.24685°N 85.40022°W / 44.24685; -85.40022 (Cadillac, Michigan Waypoint)
Waypoint 2 Parking, Restroom ↑ 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 44°13′22″N 85°25′37″W / 44.22267°N 85.42691°W / 44.22267; -85.42691 (Waypoint 2 Fred Meijer White Pine Trail)
Tustin, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Restroom ↑ 8.5 miles (13.7 km) 44°06′09″N 85°27′29″W / 44.1024°N 85.45803°W / 44.1024; -85.45803 (Tustin, Michigan Waypoint)
Le Roy, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Restroom ↑ 4.5 miles (7.2 km) 44°02′19″N 85°27′00″W / 44.03851°N 85.45007°W / 44.03851; -85.45007 (Le Roy, Michigan Waypoint)
Reed City, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Restroom ↑ 12 miles (19 km) 43°52′41″N 85°30′32″W / 43.87797°N 85.509°W / 43.87797; -85.509 (Reed City, Michigan Waypoint)
Paris, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Restroom ↑ 6.2 miles (10.0 km) 43°47′20″N 85°30′08″W / 43.78886°N 85.50225°W / 43.78886; -85.50225 (Paris, Michigan Waypoint)
Big Rapids, Michigan ↑ 5 miles (8.0 km) 43°43′04″N 85°29′09″W / 43.71775°N 85.4859°W / 43.71775; -85.4859 (Big Rapids, Michigan Waypoint)
Morley, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Parking, Restroom ↑ 16 miles (26 km) 43°29′26″N 85°26′42″W / 43.49053°N 85.44503°W / 43.49053; -85.44503 (Morley, Michigan Waypoint)
Howard City, Michigan Drinking Fountain, Restroom ↑ 6.5 miles (10.5 km) 43°23′49″N 85°28′12″W / 43.39688°N 85.47005°W / 43.39688; -85.47005 (Howard City, Michigan Waypoint)
Cedar Springs, Michigan Parking ↑ 12.1 miles (19.5 km) 43°11′01″N 85°34′00″W / 43.18371°N 85.56659°W / 43.18371; -85.56659 (Cedar Springs, Michigan Waypoint)
Comstock Park, Michigan ↑ 16 miles (26 km) 43°01′30″N 85°39′56″W / 43.02494°N 85.66562°W / 43.02494; -85.66562 (Comstock Park, Michigan Waypoint)

Plans[edit]

The trail is also connected to other trail systems in the state, including the Kent Trails system in Grand Rapids (currently connected with a designated bike route through the city between Butterworth Ave SW and the Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark,) Musketawa Trail, much as the White Pine Trail already connects with the Pere Marquette State Trail in Reed City.

References[edit]

  1. ^ State of Michigan (2019). "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  3. ^ White Pine Trail State Park Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (Free registration required to view map)

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fred_Meijer_White_Pine_Trail_State_Park&oldid=1222714496"