A1 Trails
Rail Trails in Michigan

Musketawa Trail

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Trail description: 26-mile multi-use trail runs from Muskegon on the shore of Lake Michigan southeast to Marne near Grand Rapids. The trail passes through farmland, wetland and towns. Distances are measured eastwards and westwards from Ravenna near the midpoint of the trail.
Access fee: Optional membership in Friends of Musketawa Trail is appreciated
Towns along the trail: Muskegon (pop 40,000), Ravenna, Conklin, Marne
Web site: Musketawa Trail | Ottawa County Parks
Trail map: Available on the website and from the tourist bureau and local cycling stores
Trail surface: Paved
Designated activities: Bicycling, walking, horseback riding, inline skating, skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling
Facilities on the trail: Food stores in a few towns along the trail
Points of interest: Beaches on Lake Michigan
Lodging: Muskegon and Grand Rapids have many choices of accommodations
Camping: Muskegon and Hoffmaster State Parks on Lake Michigan each have more than 300 sites.
Bike shops: Several are located in Muskegon and Grand Rapids.
Weather forecast: Grand Rapids
Tourism info: Muskegon Visitors Bureau | Grand Rapids/Kent County VB
Getting to the trail: The west end of the trail is near Sherman and Black Creek streets in eastern Muskegon. The eastern terminus is at 8th Ave and Garfield near Marne. Parking is also available at Ravenna.
Map of local region: Muskegon | Ravenna | Conklin | Marne

Rate this section of trail

Number of ratings: 13
Average rating: 4.46

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: June, 2003
Sections that I biked: all
My favourite sections of the trail: all
Best time to go: summer
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: very quiet and peaceful. not crowded at all on a saturday afternoon...probably passed around 20-30 folks each way.
What I disliked:
Comments:
Submitted by:
from:
Date submitted: Aug 5, 2005

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: July, 2005
Sections that I biked: From Marne to Reveana & return.
My favourite sections of the trail: The area around Conklin.
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: The scenery was great, out in the country. The trails were very wide. It was very quiet, too, a change from Kent Trails, which I ride regularly. The signage was very well placed & easy to read. The street crossings were not ramps & made crossings streets a breeze (and traffic was very light to non-existant).
What I disliked: Only the horse droppings.
Comments:
Submitted by: Randy
from: Wyoming, MI
Date submitted: July 28, 2005

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: Apr, 2005
Sections that I biked: We routinely ride from Marne to Ravenna, stopping at the bridge there to take a break and then turn around.
My favourite sections of the trail: The entire trail is peaceful and pretty. The bridge at Ravenna is pleasant.
Best time to go: Anytime
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: The trail is a relatively flat and wide with varying scenery and a fair amount of cover from the wind. The major obstacle is the baby rabbits in the spring and early summer that are all over the place!
What I disliked: Parking at Marne trailhead could be larger. It will often get somewhat crowded.
Comments: This is quite rural territory. There are plenty of places in Grand Rapids or Muskegon, but really little on the trail in the way of lodging or food.
A cell phone would be a handy thing to have in the event of an emergency. However, that is always true and not unique to this trail.
Submitted by: Steve
from: Grand Rapids, MI
Date submitted: April 12, 2005

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: June, 2004
Sections that I biked: I biked the section from Muskegon to about twelve miles south of Muskegon.
My favourite sections of the trail: Havnt ridden enough to know the whole thing.
Best time to go: I dont know that, I was there in June.
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 3.5 stars
What I liked: This trail is very open, thru wetlands and farmlands. The trail is grainy, with older pavement, its not broken though. There dont seem to be many points of interest in that section, there was one porta potti in that section. There is a massive parking lot at the Muskegon trail head, but only a porta potti facility.
What I disliked: It seems open and almost unused, there is little of interest in the section that I rode.
Comments: Dont know that.
Submitted by: T Smith
from: Michigan
Date submitted: Aug 16, 2004

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: July, 2004
Sections that I biked: Ravenna to Conklin
My favourite sections of the trail: N/A
Best time to go: anytime
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Trail wide enough to ride to abreast safely. Nice scenery and plenty of shade.
What I disliked: N/A
Comments:
Submitted by: mts
from: Muskegon
Date submitted: July 23, 2004

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: June, 2002
Sections that I biked: Muskegon to Ravena
My favourite sections of the trail:
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Wide trail-well maintained
What I disliked: No good camping sites on or within biking distance of the trail
Comments: When we rode the trail there were many places where the trail crossed a gravel road and we had to get off the bike to cross the road due to the dro-off. Would like to return with my young nieces and nephews but no good place to camp within safe biking distance of the trail
Submitted by: SMT
from: Mich
Date submitted: June 27, 2004

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: July, 2003
Sections that I biked: I have biked all sections of Musketawa
My favourite sections of the trail: The most scenic section is between Conklin and Ravenna.
Best time to go: All spring, summer, and fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked:
What I disliked:
Comments:
Submitted by: CGB
from: Mt Pleasant MI
Date submitted: April 18, 2004

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Weekly
Date of last visit: Apr, 2004
Sections that I biked: Cloverville and Revenna
My favourite sections of the trail: Revenna. There's so much to look at and none of it's the same.
Best time to go: Any time
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: I love the scenery. Also at each parking lot they have brochures with maps.
What I disliked: Not much. I'm out ther every day. The only part that's not too cool is that west of the cloverville parking lot is the prison that can be seen from the trail so I just don't go that way.
Comments: The only hazard would be the prizon that I mentioned earlier. Not sure where to stay due to the fact I live in town. The revenna has lots of sections with signs of all kinds of places to get ice cream and food.
Submitted by: Samantha
from: Muskegon, MI
Date submitted: April 2, 2004

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: August, 2003
Sections that I biked: Both western and eastern. Please state that the western section is paved not gravel!
My favourite sections of the trail: Western is open and see wildlife. Eastern section is wooded and cool.
Best time to go: all yaer
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked:
What I disliked:
Comments:
Submitted by: ras
from: muskegon,mi
Date submitted: Aug 17, 2003

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: Apr, 2002
Sections that I biked: We biked from the start near Marne, Michigan to Revenna.
My favourite sections of the trail: We enjoyed all of it! I can't think of one section we necessarily enjoyed more than another.
Best time to go: Since we've only ridden it once, it's hard to say.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
Likes and dislikes: The trail was paved. It was nice and wide with a minimal amount of traffic. The grades were gradual so even my 8 year old didn't have any trouble.
Comments: This was an incredible trail. We especially enjoyed how wide it was. We could ride side by side without worrying about hitting someone coming from the other direction. There were enough "hills" to make it challenging but it was still a fairly easy trail to ride, even for beginners. We will definitely be back...soon!
Submitted by: WJG
from: Grand Rapid, Michigan
Date submitted: April 14, 2002

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: Apr, 2002
Sections that I biked: Marme to Revena
My favourite sections of the trail: The entire route
Best time to go: Spring
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
Likes and dislikes: Very well maintained and pretty
Comments: Anyone who bikes this trail should make a donation to the group that maintains it for all of us to enjoy
Submitted by: Shelly
from: Holland
Date submitted: April 14, 2002

Trail name: Musketawa Trail
Number of times that I biked there: Once
Date that I last biked there: Apr, 2002
Sections that I biked: We biked from the start near Marne, Michigan to Revenna.
My favourite sections of the trail: We enjoyed all of it! I can't think of one section we necessarily enjoyed more than another.
Best time to go: Since we've only ridden it once, it's hard to say.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 5 stars
Likes and dislikes: The trail was paved. It was nice and wide with a minimal amount of traffic. The grades were gradual so even my 8 year old didn't have any trouble.
Comments: This was an incredible trail. We especially enjoyed how wide it was. We could ride side by side without worrying about hitting someone coming from the other direction. There were enough "hills" to make it challenging but it was still a fairly easy trail to ride, even for beginners. We will definitely be back...soon!
Submitted by: WJG
from: Grand Rapid, Michigan
Date submitted: April 14, 2002

Trail name:: Musketawa Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: Sept, 2001
Sections that I biked: The newly paved section between Muskegon and Ravenna
My favourite sections of the trail: Any
Best time to go: Entire cycling season
Trail marking: Very_good
Trail maintenance: Very_good
Rating: 5 stars
Likes and dislikes:
Comments:
Submitted by: phadr
from: mn
Date submitted: March 8, 2002

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