The ll-mile Saginaw Valley Rail Trail is one of Michigan's nicest trails - 12 foot wide, paved, smooth, flat, fast and well maintained. Whether you enjoy running, biking, rollerblading, horseback riding, or a leisurely walk with man's best friend, you'll love this trail.

The linear park was the dream of local resident, Jim Garrett, who rode horses on the abandoned rail line in the 1980s and rallied public support for its development. Through a broad coalition of private, public and nonprofit funding, the property was purchased and construction began in 1999. Completed in 2009, the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail was designed, developed and currently owned and maintained by the Saginaw County Parks & Recreation Commission.

The trail offers three well developed access sites. The Van Wormer Road Trailhead is especially nice. We began our journey at Lumberjack Park in St. Charles, where we crossed a beautifully restored rail bridge over the Bad River. In all, the trail crosses seven restored rail bridges over various creeks and rivers, passing by farms and a series of lush wetlands, including the Shiawassee River State Game Area and Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.