You can take that trail north into downtown South Haven, or follow the pavement southwest for 2.5 miles to the state park. The scent of pine lingers as you emerge from the woodlands and enter fields of blueberry bushes and vineyards.At mile 8 the small town of Covert is located one block south of the trail. Originally inhabited by the Shawnee, the area surrounding Van Buren State Park is rich in woods and agricultural lands. Van Buren Trail State Park, also known as Trail State Park, is an unimproved rail trail running along a former railroad right-of-way between Hartford, Michigan to South Haven, Michigan in Van Buren County. Ran the section Covert to South Haven and back. the bugs are not as bad when you are moving. First couple of miles through South Haven and in Hartford are fine, but is mostly grassy and wet. There are marked bike lines extending to the center of south haven and connects to the Kal-Haven trail. Don’t waste your time on this trail and save your money for a bike friendly county. It offers a paved, off-road route to the 400-acre Van Buren State Park, where you will find more trails and access to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Some parts soft sand and we had to walk bikes. Terrain is flat with farmland and trees. Terrain is flat with farmland and trees. This is a rough trail. Just north of Van Buren, upstream on Lee Creek, is Devil’s Den State Park. The trail can be used for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. "Don't waste your time with this trail unless your hunting or snowmobling. It's an endurance ride. A few blueberry farmers were out, surprisingly, I guess they were pruning. While you might see deer, rabbit, fox and eagles, this is an undeveloped trail that has rough ballast stones, long sections of … Participants should meet at Kids Corner Park and then will run/walk along the beautiful Van Buren Trail with their pet. So here's what I would suggest to make the most of a visit to Van Buren State Park: Print out a trail map from the Ohio State Parks website. It was completely covered with grass and you bounced along the ATV dented surface. Van Buren Trail State Park is a recreational trail that stretches from South Haven to Hartford. Yep, there are weeds. The newly paved stretch was acquired from Consumers Energy in the mid-1990s. 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. The trail can be used for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. You will find yourself close to the beach and if you have a fat-tire bike you will naturally want to ride on the beach next to (and in) the water. The trail may also be accessed via a spur from Van Buren State Park. I would say that 70% of the trail has a car tire path that you can ride in, the other 30% is grassy. The focal points of the park are its high dune formations and one mile of sandy beach. No chance with a road bike. DNR occasionally comes through and mows down the grass. If you are thinking of cycling this trail, you will need either a mountain bike or an all terrain bike, patience to deal with the unexpected, and stamina. Flat course. I had one beautiful pause on the ride, coming across a blackberry bush with hundreds of honey bees (rare enough these days) flitting about the full bloom; their sound alone filling the empty woods. We consider ourselves average, casual cyclist. Check or FAQs for more common login questions. I was very bundled up, and rode continuously, but even so, the 30-degree temperature was too much for me to think about riding all the way back. 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. I rode from 12th avenue in South Haven to the Hartford trailhead, which took about 2.5 hours. It was fun for us but not for everyone. It’s the perfect place to lounge on the beach, walk through woodland trails and enjoy a picnic lunch. I placed a photo of her, looking from a bridge, on my phone's wallpaper. One reviewer said that they stopped and ate blueberries, which I suspect is not allowed. There is now trailhead parking at the South Haven end of the trail. The part we disliked was the traffic, especially on Red Arrow Hwy., avoid that road. It is 14 miles (23 km) long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and snowmobile Rode it both ways today (6/8/13). Recreation Search Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The popular Van Buren State Park has gained 17-acres this week thanks to approval by Van Buren County officials of a 25-year lease with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to expand the park’s footprint to include the Northpoint Conservation Area located in South Haven Township. most are small and ridable but multiple portaging over huge trees. It is basically a bulldozer way cut through the country. It was clear. It is unimproved since they removed the tracks over a decade ago. The Kal-Haven Trail starts in South Haven northeast of downtown. This trail is 2 in one actually. It is not well maintained and is 90% overgrown with grass and weeds. I am not young (57) or in particularly good shape (200+ pounds), but I was able to ride virtually all of the trail. Maybe try in August. You have to navigate rural State Route M-140 at this point, with no real busy traffic.The last 8 miles from Covert the trail passes through woods, open fields and commercial fields of blueberries (growing on treelike bushes) and grapes. [4], In 2015, The Michigan Department of Natural Resources paved the 4.5-mile stretch which connects Van Buren State Park to the South Haven Trail system The pavement is a 10-foot-wide asphalt surface. This one was a mistake. This area was developed as a park in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps which used native materials to craft the park’s wood and stone structures including a massive native stone dam that spans Lee Creek forming peaceful 8-acre Devil’s Lake. Many of the reviews mentioned tall grass, but there was none at all when I rode. As of the end of June 2019 we had to go through up to 16 inches of water at a couple of points. at mile 4 we called it quits and turned around. The 5 mile section between South Haven and the Van Buren State Park is nicely paved. It was great to get away from civilization. This is about a 5 mile section, and veers off from the main trail at 16th avenue. ", 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). Doubt this will ever happen in my lifetime. The Van Buren Trail Spur splits off from the Van Buren Trail State Park near 16th Avenue. Slightly uphill from Hartford to South Haven, enough to wear you down.There were no fallen trees or branches, so some minimal care is being given to the trail. Please be advised that motor vehicles included snowmobiles are NOT allowed on the paved section of the trail which begins just north of where the unpaved section runs underneath I-196 expressway. The trail can be used for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 15:54. You'll be lost when you get to the state park. As far as the main trail to Hartford, the best I can say is that it is being kept mowed down in the grassy sections. I did this ride on a 29-inch mountain bike, and you definitely would not want to try this on a road bike. The trail is mostly a combination of … I road about half of this trail today from the Hartford end. ", "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 trails are crap! At some stretches, there are weeds up to your waist. 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. Head for Van Buren Trail State Park and take a walk (or ride) on the wild side. Starting at Covert, the terrain is mostly tall grass under woods. There´s not much going on for this trail. Van Buren trail is awful, awfull, awful. So, if you want a nice leisurely ride, this is not your trail. South of the expressway the trail is unimproved and snowmobiling is allowed to the Hartford, MI trailhead. There is a section of 100 yards or so that is sand, I had to get off and walk. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for Iowans and ensure a legacy for future generations. Search: Home; List; Map; Events The trail is extremely over grown and in need of a little love. This part of Michigan is noted for its wine and fruit. The scenery of southwestern Michigan, and the Lake Michigan shoreline, as well as the abundant flora and fauna, are pleasant, but the going is a bit rough. Sometimes it seems like you are riding through peoples backyards. On the morning of July, 20, 2011, my wife and I attempted to ride this trail starting at the Hartford end. Department of Natural Resources - The Al-Van's Firecracker Furry 5K is a fundraiser for the Al-Van Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter, located in South Haven. In fact this offroad trail is a hidden gem in the Michigan trail system. The Van Buren Trail State Park is a 14-mile, linear, multi-use trail that links the cities of Hartford and South Haven. Future plans call for a trailhead at the South Haven end of the trail and for a connection to the Kal-Haven Trail. 7.7 miles, 1hour 28 min cannondale F4. One trail is nice paved family trail that connects South Haven to the Van Buren State park. I ride this area frequently from the Memorial Day through Labor Day and find it a great trail for folks looking for a challenge beyond asphalt or crushed stone. Go west on Aylworth Avenue to Kalamazoo Street and then south on Kalamazoo to Lovejoy Avenue. Four bridle trails with 12 miles pass through a beech/maple forest adjacent to Van Buren Lake. I only met one couple riding bikes during my entire 2 hour run (on a thursday). I rode the entire length of the trail last weekend. It is no way even close to a bike trail. The campground is about 400 yards from the lake and large sandy beach. I found cranberry bogs along my first ride. 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. If you are into cross country off trail biking, it would be nice. There were two large flooded areas, with one I was able to ride on the side and get through cleanly, on the other I had to walk on large sticks/saplings that people have put there for that purpose. I took as many roads as possible on my return from Hartford. Unfortunately, we left the trail and rode the back roads back to Hartford. 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 state park centers on 53-acre (21 ha) Van Buren Lake. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/van-buren-trail I stayed inside the Hartford public library (bike rack!) Devils Den State Park. This trail is not as popular as the KalHaven Trail although I do suspect it would be, if it were maintained at the same level. I am up for trying anything once-- especially a bike trail that heads to Lake Michigan. I didn’t give up though, as I was chased by several dogs running free in the countryside, helping me keep up the pace. The paved section from South Haven to the Van Buren state park would be a nice ride for road bikes. 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. BUGS TOO! started in Hartford and rode 4 miles and turned around. 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. Some parts swampy. There are occasional mud holes. We were only able to go a little over two miles, before we had to turn back. Enjoy your day! mile 1-2 are fairly clear, after mile 2.5, trees are down. Just north of Van Buren State Park, South Haven is a wonderful place to visit when you’re ready to explore outside the park. There were a couple of trees down, and some that had been cut out recently, so no issues with trees at all. I consider a fatty, a bike with 4 inch wide tires at low air pressure, the perfect bike for all of the trail. I would not recommend for families with children as the water is too deep. arking each ed ad y cess pur iendly ... restrooms contact station campground headquarters youth parking campground dump station picnic shelter state land picnic area foot path sports field paved trail camp office trail with sandy dog beach surfaces & inclines north point parking van buren state park. Van Buren Trail State Park is a recreational trail that stretches from South Haven to Hartford. Found alternate routes on the country roads for the way home. To start in Hartford, from Interstate 94, take the Hartford Exit. It feels like walking through someone’s back yard. Unfortunately that left some big ruts in the trail. 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. We started at the Hartford trailhead and road in 7 miles, about half way. The focal points of the park are its high dune formations and one mile of sandy beach. Van Buren Trail State Park Map (PDF) Van Buren Trail State Park is a recreational trail that stretches from South Haven to Hartford. 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. Otherwise it is a nice trail. I did three miles thinking it'd get better but it didn't. The other is far more of an adventure trail for the experienced trail cyclist. We would give that trail a four or five star. Van Buren Trail State Park - Al-Van's Firecracker Furry Virtual 5k Date: June 27, 2020 - July 12, 2020 Time: All Day Event Location: Kids Corner Park, 82 Monroe Street, South Haven MI 49090 Send to App. Van Buren Trail State Park, also known as Trail State Park, is an unimproved rail trail running along a former railroad right-of-way between Hartford, Michigan to South Haven, Michigan in Van Buren County. It could be great if some development was done. If you're on foot, this is a nice day out. Wildlife abounds on this rural 14 miles between Hartford and South Haven. I like to take a walking path at the first building by the woods. Very short. The trail runs through open farmland, blueberry fields, dense brush, and wooded areas. At all times you are listening or going very close to a road. This trail is OK with a gravel or mountain bike. It is great if you wish to have a workout. At 16th Avenue, just south of South Haven, you will see a connection to the Van Buren Trail Spur, which opened in November 2015. Hardpack, sand, mud, grass, it's all represented here. Plus, we figured there would probably be more fallen trees ahead. It is much like the Kal-Haven trail. Head for Van Buren Trail State Park and take a walk (or ride) on the wild side. The scenery was somewhat interesting, pretty much what you would expect to see in terms of vegetation, lots of trees with no leaves. There´s a small ballast open area/parking lot at the end of the cemetery st. Trailhead Coordinates 10336 Blue Star Hwy - off Lovejoy South Haven, MI 49090 42.385058, -86.278641 Hartford, MI 49057 42.211410, … It would have been much easier with standard mountain bike tires rather than road tires, but all-in-all a pleasant ride. We tried the trail from Hartford, but gave up in a couple miles. [3], In 2004, Van Buren County took over operation of the state-owned trail after state budget problems. until my ride could come and get me. It is a great trail to ride for solitude and just looking at nature. No issues with tall grass either, because I rode on a particularly cold April 6th. 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. Van Buren State Park is a 296-acre (120 ha) public recreation area in Van Buren, Hancock County, Ohio, in the United States. The trash is ridiculous. Ever. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. It takes you to the main road across from the beach access parking lot. It is 14 miles (23 km) long and mostly used by horse trail riders in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter. The rail-trail begins at 16th Avenue, where it meets the 14-mile unpaved Van Buren Trail State Park. Reading so many negative reviews before I started to ride this trail had me expecting much worse conditions than I actually encountered. trail spur start & parking ages ed ea. It may even get black topped next year. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. This could be a wonderful spur of the kal-haven trail but it atleast needs a crushed balast surface, if not blacktop. There is a parking lot on Aylworth Ave. between Kalamazoo St. and Monroe Blvd. This end of the trail is primitive two-track through field and swamp. The next day, July 21, 2011, we traveled to South Haven and rode the KalHaven Trail, which is extremely well maintained and a pleasure to ride. Spend the time you would've spent on the trail writing to county officials to further develop it and spend the money you'd have spent on gas making a donation to its upkeep. Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Van Buren State Park campground has 220 campsites (66 with electric hookups) for tents, trailers and RVs. It dumps you into a sandy offshoot with no signs. 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. But if you're a newbie on the bike or a runner, then this trail is a great place to start. The 400-acre Van Buren State Park offers a beach on the Lake Michigan shoreline, woodland trails, and a campground. People love … Located three miles south of South Haven, the campground is only minutes away from local shops and restaurants. There is a place near South Haven, at 16th avenue, where the trail splits and goes to the Van Buren State Park. In addition there is 10 miles of hiking trails that allow mountain bikes, and 11 miles of bridle trails that allow mountain bikes. In the dry heat of the summer, the trail is dry. 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