#MiStateParks100: trails week, flow trail, visitor anecdote & more

Michigan Trails Week, Sept. 22-29, is a great reason to hit a trail for the first time, revisit a favorite route or experience a new trail adventure.

Whether it’s on foot, horseback, a mountain bike, a snowmobile or in a canoe, Michigan has a trail for you. Michigan is home to more than 12,500 miles of state-designated trails, including rails-to-trail, motorized, water and nonmotorized routes. 

Plus, the Iron Belle Trail – Michigan’s showcase trail – encompasses a route for bicycling and a route for hiking. It extends more than 2,000 miles from the western tip of the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit and uses existing trails, networks and new connections. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.

The fourth loop of the DTE Energy Foundation Trail opened last month in southeast Michigan. The single-track, cutting-edge trail is designed for mountain bikers, but open to runners, cross-country skiers and hikers too. 

Known as a "flow trail,” the surface of the trail is mechanically cut to create highly structured grades and outslopes. The loops cover varying terrain and experience levels, including technical, downhill and climbing features. View the new 360-degree trail video.

The trail consists of four loops, including the Green Lake Loop (5.2 miles), Big Kame Loop (4.75 miles), Winn Loop (8 miles) and Sugar Loop (4 miles). The newest segment is the Sugar Loop and is the most technical.

The trail was made possible by a partnership between the DNR, DTE Energy Foundation and the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association. 

Dreaming about purchasing your first motorhome, upgrading your family camper or checking out the latest in equipment?

Step inside and see hundreds of campers, motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth-wheels at the 30th Annual Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show Oct. 2-6 in Novi. Visit Marvac.org for ticket information.

Here are a couple comments left by park visitors who found one of the 100 new geocaches – all part of the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour.

"Driving along to grab the MSPCGT caches! Beautiful day. This cache....THIS was awesome! Just a super impressed newbie here, so much to experience and learn in caching! Thanks!"

"Find the caches, earn some swag! What are you waiting for?"

To take part, download the geocaching app to your smartphone (or download coordinates to your GPS unit) and then use your phone to navigate to a series of cleverly hidden caches. Locate enough of them and you'll earn these exclusive coins to commemorate the centennial year. Visit Michigan.gov/StateParks100 to get started.

Anecdote courtesy of Michigan state park camper - Dana Rittenberg from Freeport.

We started camping for a pretty common reason.

My husband, Jim, was looking for a way to enjoy time with our grandsons away from the madness of our everyday lives. Jim fondly recalls his camping adventures as a child and, now that he is the grandpa, he wants to build similar memories with our ever-growing family.

We started slowly with a little used fifth-wheel camper that barely fit the two of us. As our family has grown, so has our camper. We spend most of our time at  Ionia Recreation Area where we enjoy hiking and kayaking. It's close enough that we can commute into work and return for the peacefulness of the campsite after a long day. There is no better way to end a day than with a campfire.

We have also visited Yankee Springs, Rifle River, Interlochen, Young and, our all-time favorite, Fisherman’s Island State Park. Every campground we visit has its own version of perfection. The campsites are well maintained, spacious and just the right amount of seclusion. The hiking trails are great for everyone in the family no matter their age. I have never felt unsafe while in a Michigan state park. And when we make a reservation at a park that we haven’t visited before, we know we will enjoy the same courteous service and restful environment.

Becoming a camping family has been an amazing transition for us. We look forward to many more adventures and building memories that our family will share around the campfire for generations to come.