chas58

This is way cool for Michigan

Interactive map has everything from Cross state trails, to mountain biking, hiking, even river trails (state managed trails only).

https://midnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/w...7b642382632c7c

JLDickmon

there are a lot of city and county trails that aren't shown.. I swear I need a mapping program..

detroitjim

Cool... Thanks for the link!!!

When it loads up it looks like there is a lot of contiguous trails . Until you zoom in.

This is one gap I'd like to see filled sooner than later.



Made it larger in case you don't recognize it.

detroitjim

Did a bit of research . The States map shows a different route from Centerline through Sterling Heights than this one by the Greenway Collaberative.

Interactive map :
https://greenwaycollab.com/ironbelle/
Segment 1 in south Warren has been completed for a few years now.



From C&G News Dec 2019
https://www.candgnews.com/news/iron-...terling-116049

chas58

I've been riding that part (Dodge park to Clinton river (CRT & MOT) for over 10 years, even though there hasn't been a trail there for most of that time. ;-) It seemed that every year they would pave about one more mile.

You are right, that is the missing piece. Well, I ride it, but its not exactly a formal trail.
there is a plan for a formal trail there, although it goes along the roads instead of going along the river. Not too excited about that decision, although it has to be tons cheaper. There does need to be a good connection between river bends and CRT. We'll have it soon though.

UR right, that Iron Bell trail that periodically gets publicity is a great idea, but its full of holes if you zoom up on it. ;-)

chas58

Its all BS and smoke and mirrors. Good luck.

I actually ride that map you posted periodically going to and from work. It doubles my ride from one to 2 hours, but when I feel like putting some extra miles in, its great (especially early summer morning, or late fall evenings). I posted pictures of it here once and someone commented "do you live in narnia" as it was so beautiful, with deer, tunnels of trees, river views, sun streaming through the trees. It is inspiring.

Attached is my heatmap showing the routes I use:
(the east route picks up the southern end of the dodge park trial, the one to the west goes directly to dodge park.

chas58

Right, these are only state maintained trails.
Best mapping program I use is Strava heatmaps. It shows me the most popular routes, and lets me find shortcuts and cut throughs that only the locals know about.

chas58

comparing my route side by side, (then doing an overlay) it looks like a lot of that route is missing and unridable. best I can tell, segments 4 and 5 do not exist yet (like a lot of this trail) and go under those large power lines. It would be great if this green space was opened up for bikes, but as of now its quite fenced off.

detroitjim

Yeah man... the ITC corridor should be opened up for peds and bicyclists from Stephens to 29 Mile where it would be an easy link up to the MOT.
It'd be like a bicycling highway with road crossings no closer than each 1/2 mile on the southern end . Some places wouldn't have any crossings for over a mile.
In that 20 mile stretch there are about 34 roads that intersect it.

detroitjim

Is this what you are eluding to?https://www.candgnews.com/news/shelb...e-trail-118217

chas58

Yep.
I agree with the comment - looks like a glorified sidewalk project.
I go from riverbends out 22 mile (which sucks, but at 20mph, half a mile goes pretty quick - although it ends up being a sprint zone for me). I then keep going straight at the end of the road which takes me through the bird watching area, along the river bank, then the remaining rail bed to yates. From there, I can head north to MOT, but typically just go into bloomer, following the rail bed to CRT.

I don't think you "can" make a path there, as the river bank area is too wild, and I'm guessing yates might own the rail bed near the cider mill. Then you have to have an official route into bloomer - and they took that bridge (across clinton river) down about 20 years ago.

JLDickmon

Now why the heck didn't I think of that?
Need to sync my bookmarks with my phone..