Lansing River Trail Intro

I don’t think the Lansing River Trail gets the enthusiastic universal acclaim that it deserves. As someone who has lived in Mid Michigan since 2017 it has been a best kept secret I have yet to explore.

As a means of motivating me to prioritize some mental and physical well-being this summer I am going to walk sections of the Lansing River Trail and blog about it.

In each post I’ll provide some overview of the trail portion I walked, provide a bit of commentary of the experience, and provide some photos. My hope is that if you live in Mid Michigan it will encourage you to get out and use this fantastic public resource, and if you aren’t in Mid Michigan provide an additional reason to come visit!

River Trail Overview

A vision for the Lansing River Trail began to appear in city master plans in the 1970s with initial portions of the trail opening in 1975. Federal Department of Interior recognition was gained in 1981 and the largest portion of mileage was added in 1983. Steady improvements and expansion have continued through to the present. A more detailed history of major milestones can be found here. The trail’s history stands as a triumph of successful long term urban planning effort that has included private, municipal, county, and state cooperation.

The trail borders the northern trunk of Grand River Avenue that bypasses Old Town, to slightly south of Jolly road. The eastern edge of the trail runs between Pennsylvania and Aurelius roads following Sycamore creek. The western edge of the trail follows South Waverly Road until it reaches the Grand River and then follows the river northeast towards Frances Park. There are “branches” off the primary trail that extend east thru Michigan State University and ultimately terminates at Lake Lansing, and south into the Holt/Delhi Township interurban trail system. In what I assume is a frustrating reality for city planners, the trail remains an incomplete loop (though there are ambitious plans to complete the loop.)

In practice, the LRT is a green necklace draped across the urban and suburban landscape which interconnects several Lansing parks.

What to expect

I will be starting from the northern terminus of the trail and working my way clockwise towards Francis park. I may also explore some of the LRT’s branches and push further into the Meridian and Delhi Township trail systems once I complete the LRT.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you and I welcome your comments or suggestions as I make my way along the trail. Happy walking!