Parks And Recreation Department

Municipal Service Center – 4811 N. Saginaw Rd. Midland, MI 48640 Phone: 989-837-6930 Email: recreation@midland-mi.org

Bicycling in Midland

Pere Marquette Rail-Trail

The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail is an asphalt trail that begins at the Farmer's Market in downtown Midland and extends 30 miles to the City of Clare.  Located on the former CSX railway right of way, the rail trail is perfect for non-motorized activities including walking, running, bicycling and in-line skating. Depending upon location, the trail is generally between 12 and 14 feet in width. 

Along the trail, you can access village, city and county parks, enjoy views from the former railway bridges and visit the communities of Midland, Sanford, Coleman and Clare.

Click here for a comprehensive map showing the 30-mile Pere Marquette trail. For more on the trail, visit the Friends of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail website.

The four-mile Chippewa Trail can be easily accessed from the Rail Trail by crossing the Tridge.

City Forest

Midland's City Forest provides numerous trails for hiking, walking, skiing and biking. City Forest is located on 2840 E. Monroe Rd., one quarter mile west of Eastman Ave. For information on City Forest trails, contact Parks & Recreation at 989-837-6930.

In conjunction with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, the City of Midland has developed eight miles of winding biking trails that twist and turn over flat land and steep hills at City Forest, a 520-acre park on the north end of the city. Click here to download a map of the trails.

In addition to the biking trail system within City Forest, there are also numerous cross country ski trails. Click here for a map of the ski trails: cross country ski trails. Please note that these two systems are intertwined with each other and can confuse the novice rider/skier. We ask users to please familiarize themselves as much as possible with the corresponding map for their activity. There are markers along each route, but these markers are sometimes vandalized or fall prey to weather. Please note that the map at the trail head of the forest is the mountain biking map.

Should you choose to utilize the City Forest trails in winter, please feel free to do so. We ask only that you do not walk in the cross country ski track to the right/left of the main path, as this is the cross country ski track. Also, be aware that bicyclists continue to use our biking trails in the winter months.

We rely solely on volunteers such as the Michigan Mountain Biking Association to assist us in maintaining the trails, especially the mountain biking trail system. Volunteers are currently working on a new GIS mapping system for the forest so that we may provide users with a better system. When it is available, we will post it on this web page. Until that time, please familiarize yourself with the trail you are on.

City Bike Path and Non-Motorized Transportation Committee/Plan

A sub-committee of the Planning Commission, Midland's Non-Motorized Transportation Committee was established in July 2008 to bring more non-motorized transportation options - such as bicycling and walking paths - to the city. Click here to learn more about the committee and view the City’s Bike Path and ideas for creating more pathways.

Safety: Click the links below for tips on how to stay safe while bicycling around town.

· Bicycle Commuting (PDF)

· Bicycle Left Turns (PDF)

· Child Bicycle Safety (PDF)

· Following the Rules of the Road (PDF)

· Bike/Walk Midland Plan Enhances Safety (PDF)

· Sidewalk Safety (PDF)

· Traffic Awareness (PDF)

· Shared Lane Markings and Left Turns for Bicyclists (PDF)

· Rail Trail Etiquette (PDF)

· Using the Midland Bicycle Route Network