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Best Riverside Hikes in Michigan

The directory currently contains 16 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Michigan. Their average mapped distance is 5.6 km and average recorded ascent is 16 m (52 ft); the longest route in the set is 49.6 km.

This subset represents 7% of the 214 quality-checked routes in Michigan. Its average distance is 5.6 km, compared with 18.3 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 16 m (52 ft), versus 72 m (236 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the river tag. The tag does not establish how much of the mapped line follows water or whether crossings are safe. Within this set, 14 routes (88%) are rated easy, 1 (6%) are rated hard or expert, and 6 (38%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.9 km

Pebble Creek Ravine Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

River Point Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Fox River Pathway

Michigan · United States

Distance
49.6 km
/ 30.8 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • River
  • Mountain
Easy

River Point Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Typical duration
27 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

River Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Lake Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Wildlife watching
Front and southern side of the Wright-Brooks House , located at 122 N. High Street in Marshall , Michigan , United States . Built in 1842, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Easy

Marshall Riverwalk

Michigan · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Typical duration
30 min
  • River
Easy

River Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
9 min
  • River
Easy

Spring Creek

Michigan · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
Easy

River Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • River
Moderate

Calhoun County Trailway

Michigan · United States

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
1 hr 54 min
  • River
Easy

Mud Creek Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • River
Easy

Rogue River Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Typical duration
28 min
  • River
Easy

Salt River Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • River

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Fox River PathwayMichigan49.6 km125 m11 hrExpertApril to October
River Point TrailMichigan2.1 km0 m27 minEasyApril to October
River TrailMichigan4.6 km6 m58 minEasyApril to October
Lake LoopMichigan2.1 km13 m28 minEasyApril to October
Otter Creek Loop (Platte Plains)Michigan7.3 km19 m1 hr 33 minEasyApril to October
Pebble Creek Ravine TrailMichigan1.9 km0 m24 minEasyApril to October
Galien River County Park TrailsMichigan0.9 km24 m14 minEasyApril to October
Marshall RiverwalkMichigan2.4 km0 m30 minEasyApril to October
Turtle Creek PreserveMichigan0.5 km0 m7 minEasyApril to October
River TrailMichigan0.7 km0 m9 minEasyApril to October

Fox River Pathway, River Point Trail, River Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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