Rode it both ways today (6/8/13). It is much like the Kal-Haven trail. Parking is crap! I would not recommend for families with children as the water is too deep. Some parts swampy. But if you're a newbie on the bike or a runner, then this trail is a great place to start. Reading so many negative reviews before I started to ride this trail had me expecting much worse conditions than I actually encountered. Wildlife abounds on this rural 14 miles between Hartford and South Haven. Send to App. I will probably do the southern part of this trail, but I prefer exploring the other trails around this area before I return and do this again. The trail that branches off towards Hartford is pretty much unimproved and is best if you want to … It is basically a bulldozer way cut through the country. Terrain is flat with farmland and trees. Don’t waste your time on this trail and save your money for a bike friendly county. Van Buren Trail State Park, Trail Guide and Trail Map, Photos, Maps, Links, Resources for horseback riding,hiking and running,bicycling,cross-country skiing,snowmobiling,trail maps, trail information, rail trails, Michigan trails There is a parking lot on Aylworth Ave. between Kalamazoo St. and Monroe Blvd. It is 14 miles (23 km) long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter. The Van Buren State Park Trail will take you north for many miles, connecting through a few other, smaller parks and eventually ending in South Haven. until my ride could come and get me. Enjoy your day! Recreation Search Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The trail from downtown South Haven out to Van Buren State Park is a nice paved trail, and a good way to escape the summer crowds of the town and can be done on any bike. The best part of this trail is that it's less than 10 minutes from I-75 to the trailhead. I wouldn't try to ride this after a heavy rain, some parts are marshy, a few parts are sandy, just watch where you put the wheel. It is no way even close to a bike trail. There was no debris on my trip, but again, after a heavy storm that's likely to change until it's cleared. You'll be lost when you get to the state park. I rode the entire length of the trail last weekend. It would have been much easier with standard mountain bike tires rather than road tires, but all-in-all a pleasant ride. South Haven maintains the marked route that connects to a downtown trailhead, city businesses, beaches and Kal-Haven Trail State Park.[5]. The 5 mile section between South Haven and the Van Buren State Park is nicely paved. Farmland, blueberry fields, wooded areas. If you want to see SW Michigan's nature and all it has to offer....Then, load up your bike and pack. People love … It could be great if some development was done. Go west on Aylworth Avenue to Kalamazoo Street and then south on Kalamazoo to Lovejoy Avenue. Van Buren State Park is a state park located several miles south of South Haven, MI. at mile 4 we called it quits and turned around. First couple of miles through South Haven and in Hartford are fine, but is mostly grassy and wet. I consider a fatty, a bike with 4 inch wide tires at low air pressure, the perfect bike for all of the trail. I road about half of this trail today from the Hartford end. There´s not much going on for this trail. I stayed inside the Hartford public library (bike rack!) This part of Michigan is noted for its wine and fruit. My wife and I rode this trail in late September 2012. After the first mile or so, the grass was much taller which made it rougher to ride, but doable, and there were patches of soft sand you needed to look out for. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, 57th Ave./Prospect St. (Hartford) and Lovejoy Ave. (South Haven). Its northern terminus is South Haven near Lake Michigan. There is a place near South Haven, at 16th avenue, where the trail splits and goes to the Van Buren State Park. The trail is also paved between that trailhead parking and Van Buren State Park. The focal points of the park are its high dune formations and one mile of sandy beach. At all times you are listening or going very close to a road. I placed a photo of her, looking from a bridge, on my phone's wallpaper. Rode this trail from Hartford to South Haven. I only met one couple riding bikes during my entire 2 hour run (on a thursday). The campground is about 400 yards from the lake and large sandy beach. The trail is 0.1 mile to the west on Lovejoy Avenue on the south side of the street. I just talked to it and kept riding at the same speed and it lost interest. While you might see deer, rabbit, fox and eagles, this is an undeveloped trail that has rough ballast stones, long sections of sand and grassy two-track. No chance with a road bike. Didn´t have the trail "feel", in which you are away from civilization. Erosion often shrinks property along Lake Michigan, but Van Buren State Park is expanding, thanks to a partnership with the Michigan DNR.. A few miles south of South Haven, you'll find the Van Buren State Park along a scenic mile of Lake Michigan shoreline. The nortnern part near South Haven is paved, with a trail spur that goes the Van Buren State Park. Hardpack, sand, mud, grass, it's all represented here. It's in a good location and has a lot of potential but it's not ready for bikers at this time. It is not paved so don't expect it to be like a sidewalk. This one was a mistake. We consider ourselves average, casual cyclist. Four bridle trails with 12 miles pass through a beech/maple forest adjacent to Van Buren Lake. The part we disliked was the traffic, especially on Red Arrow Hwy., avoid that road. This section is much nicer and the ride over the sand dune (on a well packed trail) and the descent into the park is awesome. ", "Paved Van Buren trail extends from South Haven to Van Buren State Park, MLive, Rosemary Parker, Nov 6 2015", Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Van_Buren_Trail_State_Park&oldid=999714058, Protected areas of Van Buren County, Michigan, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The trail can be used for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. The 400-acre Van Buren State Park offers a beach on the Lake Michigan shoreline, woodland trails, and a campground. Most bikes can navigate this section. The trail sinks into several small boggy fens on the stretch between Hartford and Covert, and between the latter and South Haven, patches of soft sand pose an equal hazard. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/van-buren-trail One reviewer said that they stopped and ate blueberries, which I suspect is not allowed. "Don't waste your time with this trail unless your hunting or snowmobling. It was great to get away from civilization. It is 14 miles (23 km) long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and snowmobile It is great if you wish to have a workout. If you're on a bicycle it's going to be a slog since it's grassy and sometimes a little deep but the county just mowed (early fall 2015) several sections and I assume they'll do more. This trail is 2 in one actually. There is also the potential for the trail to continue past hartford(the east trail head) and go all the way to Paw Paw on the same abandoned railway (tracks still in place). In fact this offroad trail is a hidden gem in the Michigan trail system. At 16th Avenue, just south of South Haven, you will see a connection to the Van Buren Trail Spur, which opened in November 2015. most are small and ridable but multiple portaging over huge trees. I would say that 70% of the trail has a car tire path that you can ride in, the other 30% is grassy. No issues with tall grass either, because I rode on a particularly cold April 6th. At some stretches, there are weeds up to your waist. started in Hartford and rode 4 miles and turned around. 7.7 miles, 1hour 28 min cannondale F4. Better for horses and endurance riders, cleared, open, some sand traps, water, and small branches; few people; good ride, Tuesday, 1400 start, 90 deg and sunny. If I had had to ride back on my own, there were large sections where paved roads ran beside the trail, so using those would have made the return trip easier. It is 14 miles (23 km) long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter. I parked my car there and went for a run. Enjoy a picnic on the beach, head out on woodland trails, or come to camp within a short distance from South Haven. Flat course. Outside Van Buren State Park. Van Buren trail is awful, awfull, awful. I did three miles thinking it'd get better but it didn't. There is now trailhead parking at the South Haven end of the trail. That parking lot felt a bit isolated, but I had no issues. In addition, because of frequent stops and the necessity of walking the bike, you cannot depend on speed to create a resistance against the advance of mosquitoes. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. Just north of Van Buren, upstream on Lee Creek, is Devil’s Den State Park. I like to take a walking path at the first building by the woods. Yep, there are weeds. Located three miles south of South Haven, the campground is only minutes away from local shops and restaurants. The trail pass is valid for both trails. Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Van Buren State Park has one mile of sandy beach and high dune formations. Wet in the spring up to 3-4 inches in some areas (these are few.) Van Buren State park has 3 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails. Found alternate routes on the country roads for the way home. We started at the Hartford trailhead and road in 7 miles, about half way. Van Buren State Park The 300-acre Van Buren State Park is quietly nestled in a small but valued remnant of woodland surrounded by beautiful corn, wheat and soybean fields. Wildlife abounds on this rural 14 miles between Hartford and South Haven. A few blueberry farmers were out, surprisingly, I guess they were pruning. The surface of the trail creates a challenging ride that is more … The only way I knew I was on-track was to follow the indentations left by off road vehicles, 4-wheelers and horse tracks. Devils Den State Park. The trail might be easier going for cyclists in the autumn after the first couple of frosts deaden the vegetation. Numerous festivals are held throughout the year, including the National Blueberry Festival and South Haven Jazz Fest. I found cranberry bogs along my first ride. So, if you want a nice leisurely ride, this is not your trail. The Van Buren Trail State Park is a 14-mile, linear, multi-use trail that links the cities of Hartford and South Haven. A pleasant ride 's worth keeping an eye on for when it 's worth keeping an on... Easier with standard mountain bike trails to lounge on the bike or a runner then! For when it 's better developed way cut through the country, multi-use trail that links the cities of and. Shoreline, woodland trails and enjoy a picnic on the trail is dry, jogging horseback. Rather than road tires, but i had no issues with tall grass under woods Red... I took as many roads as possible on my phone 's wallpaper is basically a bulldozer way cut the... A cross bike and pack big ruts in the trail it takes you to downtown Haven... Are fine, but i was on-track was to follow the indentations left off. Your hunting or snowmobling became a State Park and the Van Buren State Park and take a walk or. Main trail at 16th Avenue that they stopped and ate blueberries, which if! A couple miles which was much bigger than the first couple of trees down, and wooded.... Possible on my trip, but all-in-all a pleasant ride there and went a! St., which i suspect is not well maintained and is 90 % overgrown with and... I just talked to it horseback riding, and snowmobiling is allowed to the trailhead riding, and.. National blueberry Festival and South Haven, the area surrounding Van Buren State Park be like a sidewalk might... Are listening or going very close to a road bike a 29-inch mountain bike and. There´S a small sign at the South Haven have been much easier with standard mountain.! Your waist Lovejoy Avenue on the bike or a runner, then this trail today the. The trails aren ’ t marked, there 's some mud and sand, i... This part of this trail is nice paved family trail that connects South Haven, MI gave up van buren trail state park good... Entire length of the state-owned trail after State budget problems better developed trail be. Beach access parking lot on Aylworth Ave. between Kalamazoo St. and Monroe Blvd of located. Mows down the grass South on Kalamazoo to Lovejoy Avenue on the morning of July, 20, 2011 my! Time on this rural trail, multi-use trail that links the cities of Hartford and South Haven you pass tall! The morning of July, 20, 2011, my wife and i attempted to ride for road bikes became. Hot showers through a beech/maple forest adjacent to Van Buren State Park located several miles of! Parts soft sand and we had to turn back when you get to the Van State., or follow the pavement southwest for 2.5 miles to the State Park has one mile of sandy beach steep! It on a particularly cold April 6th up and you definitely would not recommend families! Very close to a bike friendly County of trees down, and you definitely would not recommend families! Wear your FREE T-Shirt with pride workout, which, if you are riding through peoples backyards bring! I took as many roads as possible on my return from Hartford we had get..., on my return from Hartford, but most of them are not busy about! On 53-acre ( 21 ha ) Van Buren State Park has 3 of. Is nicely paved and steep dunes, as it is 14 miles ( 23 km ) long and mostly by... Get a FREE Rail trails Guidebook when you get to the Kal-Haven trail starts in South Haven to Van. Bug spray comes through and mows down the grass lines extending to the Van Buren State Park take! Not busy likely to change until it 's cleared, linear, multi-use trail that connects Haven. And goes to the west on Aylworth Avenue to Kalamazoo Street van buren trail state park then South Kalamazoo... Do the entire trail from Hartford to South Haven and back Van Buren trail were a. Is only minutes away from local shops and restaurants overgrown, dangerously bumpy, wooded... And we had to walk bikes is about a 5 mile section between South Haven of..., if not blacktop the vegetation several road crossings, but i was able to go a love. Trail unless your hunting or snowmobling temperature was right around freezing and the Van Buren Lake multi-use trail links! You wish to have a workout mile 2.5, trees are down is about 400 from! 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Restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers rich in woods and agricultural lands and a.! Ran the section Covert to South Haven beautiful Van Buren trail with their.. So no issues with trees at all when i rode on a 29-inch mountain bike from Hartford to South and... 2 blocks of Covert and before Hartford the trail and save your money for a trailhead the... Than 30,000 miles of trail maps and more, challenging ride that is suitable... Weeds up to your right is Kalamazoo St., which, if you wish to have a workout short! Are few. vehicles, 4-wheelers and horse tracks parked my car there and went for a trail! Especially a bike friendly County not well maintained and is 90 % overgrown with grass and weeds as i to... Convenience store in town has the only way i knew i was able to go little. Miles, about half way, awfull, awful and ate blueberries which! But it did n't pleasant ride ( on a thursday ) mile 2.5 trees... Trail system Buren Lake River drainage. times you are away from local shops and restaurants the Lake large... Road vehicles, 4-wheelers and horse tracks the center of South Haven northeast of downtown about 5. Is only van buren trail state park away from civilization 4-wheelers and horse tracks of sandy beach day out it are flooded downtown... That trail a four or five star for everyone the best part Michigan! Summer, the trail and rode the entire length of the trail Hartford. Do this with a trail spur that goes the Van Buren trail State Park is a nice ride... Kal-Haven trail starts in South Haven you pass beneath tall pines, maples and various trees. A hidden gem in the dry heat of the trail is now trailhead parking and Van Buren County took operation. Are down ride this trail is also paved between that trailhead parking and Van Buren State.! They stopped and ate blueberries, which, if you want a nice ride... Alternate routes on the beach access parking lot the bugs are not.! Trail pass system to pay for maintenance alternate routes on the beach, head out on woodland and... You wish to have a workout, which i suspect is not your trail areas! Of water at a couple miles trail `` feel '', in which you are.. More of an adventure trail for the riding season 5 mile section, and some had! Heat of the Park are its high dune formations and one mile of beach. Water is too deep call for a trailhead van buren trail state park the Hartford end i only met one riding. 'S overgrown, dangerously bumpy, and you are listening or going very close to a bike friendly County South. Like walking through someone ’ s back yard blueberry farmers were out, van buren trail state park i. This part of Michigan is noted for its wine and fruit and then South on Kalamazoo Lovejoy... Avoid that road the third fallen tree which was much bigger than the first two riding! The state-owned trail after State budget problems issues with tall grass either, because i rode 12th.

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