Kent County Parks manages more than 100 miles of trails, ranging from easy walking paths to paved regional trails that connect communities and parks. Exploring Kent therefore offers the chance to experience a wide variety of landscapes and trail types. Some routes focus on the waterfront, while others pass through forests and wetlands; elsewhere, trails link parks and communities.
Walking Trails, Forests, and Winter Paths
At Pickerel Lake Park, a 900-foot boardwalk crosses part of the lake. There are also more than four miles of interconnected trails through forests, wetlands, a tamarack swamp, and small sandy areas. This trail network brings water, forest, and a variety of wetland environments close together. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possible here in winter.
Seidman Park also offers plenty of room to experience different landscapes: its more than 400 acres include forests, fields, and wetlands. The Ada Trail connects the park with downtown Ada, Roselle Park, Cannonsburg State Game Area, and other locations. For a different way to get around, Luton Park has 9.7 miles of interconnected trails designed for mountain biking.
At Provin Trails Park, natural-surface trails for hiking and skiing wind through a forest with sandy soil. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possible on ungroomed trails. If you’re comparing winter activities, this distinction is useful: the trails at Provin Trails Park are specifically described as ungroomed, while winter activities are mentioned at Pickerel Lake Park.
Equestrian trails define two more parks: Cooper Creek Park and Spencer Forest are directly adjacent to one another. Both have a trail network through pine groves, deciduous forests, and fields. Here, the character of the trails depends not only on the terrain but also on their intended use.
Waterfronts, Water, and Paved Connections
Johnson Park follows the Grand River shoreline for almost 1.5 miles. Its paved multi-use trail connects with the Fred Meijer Millennium Park Trail Network and the Kent Trails. Two boat launches on the Grand River are located on Veterans' Memorial Drive between Butterworth Drive and Riverbend Drive. The waterfront trail, trail-network connections, and boat launches each give the park a distinct relationship with the river.
Millennium Park extends partly across Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, and Wyoming. It covers 1,400 acres and has six miles of shoreline along the Grand River. Around 18 miles of trails are open primarily to pedestrians, bicycles, roller skates, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. Kayaks, pedal boats, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent in the park; check availability if renting is important to your plans. Other listed amenities include a six-acre sandy beach and a large splash pad.
At Wabasis Lake, Wabasis Lake Park offers the only public boat launch on the lake. There is also a large sandy beach for swimming, which visitors can use free of charge. Access rules may change, so check the current rules before your visit.
Historic Sites and Regional Trails
At Fallasburg Park, several historic buildings from the original village of Fallasburg stand on the east side of the Flat River. The Fallasburg Festival for the Arts takes place in the park every year: the program includes more than 100 artists, food booths run by local nonprofit organizations, and performances by local and regional musicians. Dates may change; check them before your trip.
White Pine Park preserves another distinctive landscape: one of the few remaining pure stands of eastern white pine in the county. Those interested in longer routes will find regional connections in several directions. The Fred Meijer M-6 Trail runs through the southern part of Kent County, connecting the Kent Trails in the west with the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail in the east. Kent Trails is a paved, non-motorized trail running south from John Ball Park and Millennium Park to Byron Center.
The Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail connects the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail with the Musketawa Trail, which leads to the lakeshore community of Muskegon. Lamoreaux Memorial Park serves as a starting point for the Pioneer Trail. These routes supplement the trails in the individual parks with connections to other trails and communities.
Discover more destinations: Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, Plainfield Township, Kentwood, Ada, Caledonia, Marquette County.
For the main travel overview: Michigan.
