Trail description: The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail will eventually run 95 miles east-west across the central part of Michigan's lower peninsula. Currently the eastern 30-mile section of the trail is in operation. The trail will intersect the White Pine Trail in Reed City. Access fee: Towns along the trail: Clare, Midland Web site:Friends of The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail Trail map: Available on the trail website Trail surface: Designated activities: Bicycling, walking, inline skating Facilities on the trail: Points of interest: Shrine of the Pines Log Cabin Mseum near Baldwin has wood carvings Lodging: A few accommodations are in the region Camping: State forest campground 2 miles east of Baldwin has 18 sites, Rambadt Memorial Park in Reed City has 13 sites Bike shops: Weather forecast:Saginaw Tourism info: Lake County Chamber 1-800-245-3240, Reed City Area Chamber, Clare County Visitors Bureau, Midland County Convention and Visitors Bureau Getting to the trail: Map of local region:Baldwin | Reed City | Clare | Midland
Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: June, 2005 Sections that I biked: The whole thing My favourite sections of the trail: Very nice. I enjoy the Clae to Coleman route best. Newer part of trial, super smooth and little raffic. Best time to go: Late Summer Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Great trail. Couldn't ask for a better training trail for the bike leg of Triathlons. What I disliked: Some dirt roads to cross over Comments: I live only about 15 miles from the trail and love it. Coleman and Sanford have great places to eat right on the trail and it ends in downtown Midland at the Tridge which is a great park. Submitted by: Don Chiodo from: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Fire Up Chips! Date submitted: June 19, 2005
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: Sept, 2004 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: What I disliked: Comments: This is an excellent trail for a long bike trip or a peaceful afternoon ride. Submitted by: amd from: rochester hills, mi Date submitted: Feb 22, 2005
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Once Date of last visit: Sept, 2004 Sections that I biked: From the Midland Tridge to Sanford, Michigan. My favourite sections of the trail: This first section was a trial run for us. We totally enjoyed everything. The trail is wide, clean, and well marked. We also stopped in Sanford at Alex's Restaurant which is on the trail and welcomes trail patriots. Best time to go: Don't know only just went in September. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: I liked everything the scenery, the attractions such as the Herbert H. Dow Museum and Alex's Restaurant. What I disliked: Not enough benches to rest at. Not enough bathrooms along the way. Comments: We went to Alex's Family Restaurant which also has an ice cream parlor on the end of it facing the trail. They welcome trail patriot's the food is good and quite affordable. Submitted by: RDJ from: Bay City, Michigan Date submitted: Sept 17, 2004
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: August, 2004 Sections that I biked: I have ridden from Midland to just North of Loomis, its great, except at Loomis be careful for broken glass thats tossed from the overhead bridge. Otherwise debris free, some have reported being dive bombed by Blue Jays near Midland but I never have. Have sighted one elk and many deer on this trail over the years. This is the best trail in Michigan from what Ive seen. It is open to the sun, with but is decently free of winds unless they go over fifteen mph. All in all, very good. My favourite sections of the trail: My favorite section is Midland to Sanford, but the rest of it is in great shape too, its just that I dont very often very far. The first three miles in Midland can have a fair amount of traffic, esp at peak hours. Other than that, its fine. Even night riding is without lights is good, except for one short section just north of Sanford, where there is big tree cover, and is very dark, and one small section in Midland which has heavy cover from lighting. I cant speak to how much night light is available farther north of Sanford though. Best time to go: Its always good, I dont ride in the winter on ice and snow though. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: See the above, if they graded it all in winter, that would be an improvement, but prolly not used much then. What I disliked: There is substantial road noise from Saginaw road which is about one hundred feet away, but this also gives some light at night also, so its altogether,not bad. Comments: All of the parks are worth a visit, especially the rollway at Averill and the Tridge in Midland. Submitted by: Tom Smith from: Midland Michigan Date submitted: Aug 16, 2004
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: Mar, 2004 Sections that I biked: I have skated Midland to Clare My favourite sections of the trail: North Bradley is a nice stop. North Bradley to Coleman is beautiful. Best time to go: all seasons..even winter because part is plowed. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Great for skating. Trail is free of debris and never busy. What I disliked: nothing...well not much protection fron wind or sun. Pretty open, no canopy of trees like some trails have. Comments: Skating on the PM trail is as good as it gets. Submitted by: Bill O'Brien from: Saginaw, MI Date submitted: March 17, 2004
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Few Date of last visit: Sept, 2003 Sections that I biked: Midland to Coleman My favourite sections of the trail: Coleman and North Bradley Best time to go: Spring and Fall, Or any nice day Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Like riding old rail grades, and the Pere Marquette trail is the finest in Michigan. Lets get the rest west of Claire Finished. What I disliked: Nothing Comments: The trail is a nice 14ft wide blacktop highway for bikes walkers and inline skaters. Stop in the old Depot in Coleman and have lunch or a cool bevvy as it is refurbished as a resturant. Nice toush with the rest stop buldings to resemble mini Train Depots. Submitted by: Kevin from: Lapeer, MI Date submitted: March 12, 2004
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Several Date of last visit: May, 2002 Sections that I biked: Midland to Clare My favourite sections of the trail: Loomis to North Bradley Best time to go: Spring through Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: The trail is never busy and has a variety of
small towns and neighborhoods, farmland, and wildlife. What I disliked: No dislikes! Comments: Coleman has a great restaurant that is only a few feet off the path. It is the old railroad depot, and is called Yesterday's Depot. It is worth a stop. Submitted by: GM from: Mt. Pleasant, MI Date submitted: May 31, 2003
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Trail name: Pere Marquette Trail Times biking the trail: Weekly Date of last visit: July, 2001 Sections that I biked: Midland to Coleman My favourite sections of the trail: All of it Best time to go: Early spring to late fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: The surface is great, the scenery is beautiful, it is peaceful, bathrooms available. What I disliked: Comments: We lived in Midland and used this trail every week. We have now moved to Portland MI and want you to know that there is a fantastic bike path (paved) there with beautiful scenery along the Grand River. Check it out. Submitted by: Jane from: Portland Michigan Date submitted: April 23, 2003
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