Friends of the White Pine Trail meetings will normally be held at 7 p.m.
For a complete listing of meeting dates and locations please click HERE
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We have attempted to provide any information you may need as a trail user; or a person interested in the "Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park! If you cannot find what you want / need please e-mail or call the chairman whose contact information is near the bottom of the side-bar.
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The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail is Michigan's longest rail/trail stretching a distance of 92 miles on the former Grand Rapids and Indiana rail bed. The trail reaches from the north end of Grand Rapids (just south of the 5th/3rd Ballpark) into the city of Cadillac. Future plans for other Michigan trail systems include intersecting with the White Pine establishing it as the backbone of the Michigan rail-trail system.
The trail is surfaced with asphalt pavement from North Park Street at the north end of Grand Rapids, with a loop capability around the 5th/3rd Ballpark and through the community of Comstock Park; north to the village of Sand Lake; a distance of nearly 22 miles.
A short section of about 5/8 of a mile of asphalt pavement exists through Howard City.
The 41 miles between Big Rapids and Cadillac are completely asphalt paved.
The remaining 29 miles of the trail is surfaced with packed gravel or cinders with pavement planned for the future. Riders with hybrid and mountain bikes will find the entire trail very enjoyable.
The complete trail is ADA compliant; with no grades greater than 5%; and at this point the only place where the grade is even close to the 5% is the approaches to the bridge over West River Road; located between Comstock Park and Belmont!
Trail Uses
The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is considered to be a non - motorized trail; and that also means there are rules / guidelines on trail use! Listed below are the overall approved and non - approved uses.
Bicycling - (non-motorized) is approved for all seasons - no exceptions
Walking - is approved for all seasons - no exceptions
Running / Jogging - is approved for all seasons - no exceptions
Skating - is approved for all seasons - no exceptions
Skiing - is approved for all seasons - no exceptions
Snowmobiling - is approved with the following conditions:
· North of the Russell Road Staging area
· Minimum of 6” of snow on all areas of the trail
· Observe posted speed limits and community regulations
Horses - NOT ALLOWED
Dogs - Allowed but must be on a leash
Hunting - Not allowed in the State Park
Events - The “Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park” is first and foremost a trail for the casual user! The trail was not intended or designed for major fund-raising events.
If you are planning on having an event you must get a “use permit” from the park manager.
Additionally your event must not close the trail and you must inform your participants that the casual user has the right to be there and must be respected.
The “Friends” is currently the major entity maintaining the trail; and your event is the beneficiary if you have it on the trail! Please consider a small portion of your proceeds to help the “Friends” make the trail a great place for all approved users.
Winter
During the winter months the trail has varied uses, and everyone must respect the other users, the snowmobilers, and other approved users can co-mingle on the trail if everyone respects other’s right to be there!