SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WXYZ) — A brand-new 275-mile trail that connects Lake Michigan to Lake Huron is celebrating its grand opening this week. On Friday, Sept. 13, officials will hold the celebration at the Kal-Haven Trail State Park entrance.
The Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route #1 will be the state's newest and longest destination. It runs from South Haven to Port Huron, linking 18 trails through nine southern counties.
The vision started in 2009 with an idea with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
On Friday, organizers will unveil Route No. 1 which will include a 6-day Great Lake-to-Lake trail inaugural ride.
It will start in South Haven and run west near Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, around Albion and then northeast past Jackson, south of Brighton, past Wixom and continuing northeast through Oakland and Macomb counties before ending at Port Huron.
We are thrilled to host the inaugural ride of the Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route #1,” South Haven Mayor Scott Smith said in a release. “This event celebrates a tremendous accomplishment in connecting our wonderful state via a great network of trails. We also recognize how important this Trail will be in attracting future outdoor enthusiasts for generations to come.”
“We love this idea of working together for a common vision of a stronger state and the fact that so many local trail and public officials share this same sense of a 'trail community' really helped to drive the opening of the trail,” Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance Executive Director Bob Wilson said in a release. “We applaud the work of all trail users and trail lovers that contributed to this trail!”
