Kal Haven Trail Reviews

We rode here this past weekend, perfect for either a casual trip or an intense workout. Plenty of shade and stops along the trail.

Trail is great with many entry points. Nice shade, well groomed and clean. Nice to walk along the river.

We LOVE riding the Kal Haven trail from South Haven. The trail is really well taken care of and winds through forest and farm fields. It is crushed limestone which is really nice and easy to find from downtown South Haven. It's not too busy but you will see other bikers, walkers and runners. Along the trail there are a few picnic benches and out houses but no water, so plan ahead.

The Kal-Haven trail is one of the more popular activities in South Haven. Come here to hike, bike, walk or jog, take your dog for a walk, snow shoe or ski in the winter months or take a snowmobile ride. Some parts of the trail includes horseback riding.
You will enjoy views of the Black River, wooded forests, Michigan farms, bridges and multiple towns which you pass through. Spring time offers many wild flowers and morel mushrooms! Some area of the trial have the option for fishing.
Be sure to bring bug spray, mosquitoes are know to frequent the trail and can aggressively attack bypassers.

Extends from South Haven to Kalamazoo. Excellent place for jogging or biking. Not crowded. Mostly level, gravel/dirt trail. Wide enough in most places for several people to jog together. Multiple entry points for the trail. Outhouse restroom every 2-3 miles or so.

We like this trail because it was nice. We loved this kal haven trail. we will be back next year for our summer trip.

road total 30 miles, beautiful trail, very clean, courteous riders, good signage for roads etc., even an ice cream shop along the way!

Kal Haven Trail is perfect for a short ride along the river. Bike rentals are available in South Haven at a reasonable cost. The trail connects through several towns for longer rides. Free parking is available at the trail entrance.

this was nice, low stress trail that i would take again if/when we are back in the area
smooth surface and flat. there was only 1 other person on the trail when we walked it mid day on a friday

My 16-year old son is running high school cross country and needed a 10-mile run while we were on vacation... so I biked, and he ran.

We nearly had the trail to ourselves on a Thursday morning. Mostly flat (vs hills). Easy on the pounding in that it is a dirt trail. Wide - we could go abreast - and people could pass coming the other way. Outhouse restroom every 2-3 miles roughly.

This is a rails to trails bike path which means it is mostly flat. It is slightly uphill from South Haven to Kalamazoo. We find it easier to ride uphill (east) first then have the easy ride home.

The trail is a well maintained limestone screenings trail. It rides a little slower than asphalt. If you download a map from trail link you can see where parking and restrooms are.

We used the restroom at the trail head in South Haven it was really smelly. This trail is beautiful in the spring with tons of wildflowers blooming.

Definitely one of the best parts of our 4 day mini vaca to South Haven! We rented bikes at Rock and Road's on Broadway. Trail entrance was about a mile from the shop (through residential areas - safe). Beautiful trail!! We will be back!

Just learned of this wonderful trail recently and I went there this morning for nice long walk. 9:00, nice sunny July morning temps were great and the walk we a treat. I have a cottage in Saugatuck and love to work but Lake Shore road is getting to busy with walkers, bikers and many tourist (renters) who fly down the road like they're still on the highway.
Great change of pace is a short drive to South Have Kal Haven Trail. It goes from South Haven to Kalamzaoo. I walked 4.5 miles on it this morning and found it beautiful, clean, easy to walk and the time flew by. I'll be back regularly for the wonderful setting, clean space and wonderful views.

We just discovered this amazing trail last year, and have stopped every time since. It's perfect for walking or biking, and offers gorgeous scenery--a true 'place to get away'! Water, and trees, and bridges... oh my!

We rode just over 11 miles on this trail starting in South Haven. We turned just past Grand Junction to head back to South Haven. The South Haven Trailhead is very nice and well kept. The first 2-3 miles is especially scenic running by the river, a rolling trail, over a covered bridge, and under a highway. After that, it levels off and wanders through woods, farmlands, and open land. There are a few road crossings but none of them presented us any problems. The ride east is a slightly uphill so a bit easier on the return. The grades are very moderate. If you go as far as Grand Junction, after you cross the tracks head left to the road and there is a cute little roadside cafe that gets great reviews. We did not stop because we were not hungry. We found the 11 miles we rode east on the Kal-Haven from South Haven to be an easier ride than the 11 miles we rode west from the Kalamazoo Trailhead the day before. (the entire trail is 33 miles) I would recommend riding either mountain or hybrid bikes...not so great for a road bike. If you are looking for an adventurous ride, this trail is not for you. If you are looking for a fun easy ride with a lot of similar scenery, ride away!!

We visited South Haven Centre. Yes, we would rcome again. This is one of the nicer small cities in the US. The farmers' market is also nice - unfortunately everything is rather expensive.

Great trail for biking and walking. Most of trail is shaded and cool for exercising. Just prior to the 3 miles mark, there is a blueberrie farm (Stephenson's Farms). We hopped off the trail and stopped in to buy some berries and they even have water/refreshments and a place to sit down and rest.

We had a wonderful morning bike ride pulling two children in a trailer....it was our first family bike ride and the boys really enjoyed the trail! It was clean and scenic and all the other bikers we passed along the way seemed to be enjoying themselves as well! All round great experience and we will surely be using this trail in the future!

We are a fitness family & we ride this trail every time we are here! It's great for any fitness level! You can ride as far as you want. The trail is perfect.....nice & smooth & not hilly!

A beautiful autumn day combined with a 22 mile ride was just what we ordered and the Kal-Haven Trail delivered.

The trail is hard pack gravel and suprisingly easy to navigate. Well marked road signage, along with rest stops at picnic tables or benches, pump up water wells, and even an occasional outhouse make for a comfortable trip.

We biked the western end over to South Haven. There is a decent amount of trailhead parking in the small village of Grand Junction and from there it is 11 miles or so over to the South Haven lighthouse. We had been to South Haven before and parked the bikes in front of Clementine's to eat lunch and shop a bit before we walked the beach awhile.

There was a farm market right off the trail near Kibbie where we stopped and drank some wonderful fresh pressed apple cider while taking a break on the way back. We stayed in nearby Allegan and the trail was on the list of fun things to do in the area and we would certainly agree!!

We stayed at the Jellystone Camp Resort. We biked about 1/2 mile down the road before getting on this trail. I was surprised at how smooth it was. It was shady and had some nice scenery along the way. We ended up in the Kal-Haven State Park, and then went into downtown South Haven. That trip was over 7 miles one way. The following day my son was on his bike and accompanied my daughter on a run---they took the trail the other direction for a bit, and then turned around. They had a nice time on it that day too.

We hiked about 15 miles on the trail. The trail is either a very easy walk of pavement or level limestone. Beautiful, old forests. I would like to go back to see the fall colors. Mostly bikes but it is a wide trail so plenty of room for both riders and hikers.

This fall we went to the kalhaven trail for the first time. Started from South Haven end and walked our chihuahua and planned on coming back on bikes. Nice flat terrain and very good scenery. Along the river there are areas to fish too. Then we found out its also part of the snowmobile trail. So we went from Allegan hit the trails and almost 30 miles of our trip was the kal-haven trail leading into southhaven. Drove right up into town and stayed in comfort suites for the night. Snow was well groomed considering the heavy traffic. Saw a total of 100+ sleds. Beautiful trail to cover alot of ground with. Highly recommended all seasons.

One of the best trails we ever rode. Very nice scenery and most of the trail in the shade (trees). Along the trail there are lots of signs explaining the history of the trail and pointing out interesting facts.

a flat, straight trail that goes thru wooded areas, enjoyable for a casual ride but doesn't have many interesting views... at least for the first 10 miles or so.

The Kai Haven trail is a converted railroad track. The trees have grown up around it to provide a mostly shaded walk. The trail is flat after an initial stretch from the parking lot of about 1/2 mile. Nothing difficult even about that part since it is a paved path. Once on the former track though it levels out and you can walk as far as you like. We went about 3 miles out and then turned and came back. Very pleasant especially when crossing the river via the covered bridge.

There is nothing spectacularly scenic other than the initial part near the river which is very nice. But it is a very pleasant place for a good long walk.

The trail goes on for miles, but we walked abut anhalf an hour to get the covered bridge. We passed inlets boats flowers etc. nice walk cool too a lot of shade

My wife and I where passing through South Haven and like to hike we found this trail. It is a walking and biking trail. It looks like they just finished area at the start in South Haven at the highway. The trail goes to Kalamazoo. We walked almost to MP4. It was a nice walk but mostly in heavy wood some areas looked more buggy than others. The first mile is all along the river and takes you to a covered bridge .That first mile was best. You could do more on a bike and there where a lot of them out there be careful walking. The trail was easy to walk on compact lime stone the first 1/4 mile to the new river bridge is paved form South Haven. You do cross a few roads. The trail is clean and not littered with trash. I was going walk ways stop eat but found out by locals no real place to eat. We returned back South Haven. Overall it was a great day we walked over 7 miles before lunch. There is no longer a cost to walk on this trail free to all. I would recommend it to walkers and bikers and families. NICE TRAIL

The Kal Haven trail is a wonderful way to spend the day with nature. In the winter if there is enough snow you can even take your snowmobile for a ride down it. I would recommend it to Everyone! In October they have a Boo on your bike event with trick or treating.
Remember take only pictures, leave only footprints.

I recently ran a 5k in SH that was on the Kal Haven Trail. Despite coming to SH for at least 15 years, I had never been on the trail, and I sure have been missing out. The scenery is beautiful, and although there is a short detour that crosses a road because there is some constructon going on currently, the rest of the trail is uninterrupted. There are few people on the trail (at least when I went) which really enhances the natural beauty of the area and lets you enjoy the nature. Highly recommended!

My wife and I rented bikes at Rock N' Ride and set out on the Kal Haven Bike Trail. We went from South Haven to Bloomingdale --- about 16 miles one-way. We stopped for water and some snacks at the gas station in Grand Junction, good stop. The trail is well maintained and shaded most of the way on the stretch we rode. Great time.

We loved walking on the Kal Haven trail. Started in South Haven at the trail head and walked 2.5 miles. Som e of the highlights were walking under bridges, on the boardwalk and over the covered bridge. Very level and even trail. We also drove to Grand Junction and walked a mile on the trail there. Great trail in this area too.. It was sad to see so much garbage laying along the trail in both areas. Hopefully there is a spring clean up planned. Frustrating to see an area that lots of work has been put into for others to use be damaged by peoples' trash.

Beautiful trail to explore any season! Paved into South Haven, but well packed peet stone heading east.

We biked from both ends of 33 mile trail. It is lime stone but overall my narrow tires did okay. My husband biked the whole trail. The South Haven is more crowded, but tolerable crowds. The South Haven end has the quaint covered bridge. The Kalamazoo end to start has a mile or so of wild flowers with signs describing some of the flowers. I enjoyed this as I can't seem to learn the names of all of the wild flowers in the area. There are some places to get off the trail to get some thing to eat or drink, more at the South Haven end. Bring what you want to drink and eat. There are strategically placed out houses that are well kept up along the way along with water sources to refill your water bottle. The price is free is a great trail and well maintained.

Easy grade, easier direction is fro Kalamazoo to South Haven. We tried to find shuttle service. Seems there has been a public/private disagreement and right now there is no shuttle service. Taxi too expensive and not equipped for bikes. Trail is well maintained and pretty. Also a bit boring.

Easy trails that allow you to leisurely ride while enjoying the scenery around. Trails are clean, wide, and well maintained. Lots of variety in scenery from meadows to forest.

Riding through a covered bridge, along tree lined pathways, in a country atmosphere..all the way to Kalamazoo! Then follow it through all of downtown South Haven...in the fall this trail is particularily beautiful. A great whole family outing...

We biked this trail two times while we were in South Haven. It Is a great trail, lots of scenic views and shade. There is a Covered Bridge that would make a great place for engagement or graduation photos. This trails goes on for miles, all the way to Kalamazoo ,so you can make it as long or short as you want.

We have ridden this Trail many times in the fall. It never disappoints and the diverse range of bikers and hikers never cease to amaze us. It has no hills that are difficult except at the very beginning of the South Haven start. You just have to take it slow down the steep and winding path by the Black River.

We rode 20 miles, 10 out 10 back. Lots of shade. Not to difficult, no big inclines. Well maintained, no trash. A really nice way to start the day.

Another visit to this great southwestern Michigan trail. After riding the entire trail a few times during our visits hereI think for a shorter ride, starting in Bloomingdale and riding east towards Kalamazoo offer bicycle riders more towns to stop in for food or serfvices while riding. Bloomingdale has a grocery store Called Wagoners that has a deli with fresh sandwitches and has soft drinks and other beverages to take out and enjoy in the park across the street.

2 hrs and 10 miles not bad, busy but not like silver beach in st joe
we drove past this nightmare on our way to a relaxing holiday weekend
st Joe stay away Parking nightmare from hell !!!

Rode 12 miles from South Haven to Grand Junction, had a bite to eat in Grand Junction at the local greasy spoon (it was good), and then rode back to South Haven. Path is crushed stone, packed tight, path. Straight line path. Almost the entire path is shaded by trees. A few others on the path (it was a saturday morning) but not enough to call it crowded at all. We saw maybe forty other bike riders in 24 miles. It was an easy path that we both enjoyed riding, but there wasn't much to see other than trees. Grand Junction was an actual "town' to stop in a get a bite to eat. The other towns in between had nothing to stop and look at. No complaints, but I'm an avid bike rider, and was beginning to become bored. Would I do it again? yes... but I'd plan a whole day and ride the entire trail, stopping for lunch in Kalamazoo, and then heading back. Your bike will get very dusty. Be prepared to clean your bike and drive train when you are done.

Well maintained trail. Mostly shaded. Must be fit to do the entire 34 miles.

We made the mistake of doing this in the peak of the heat. This year, we'll bring bug spray, sunscreen and wait until evening to ride. They've done a lot with the trail, it's so peaceful out there. I would have appreciated knowing if and when a water fountain might be available. (Maybe a map indication at the trail head?) But if you come prepared, it's exceptionally pretty.

We rode about 10 miles on the path. There was a stretch of boardwalk that goes along the river and a covered bridge. Beautiful ride!

easy access to trail from our campground. Approximately 3 miles into town winding through Forrest and along a creek. Trail takes you right into town. Have only ridden the trail once toward Kalamazoo, only road for about 15 miles through the country side. One day would like to complete it

My friend and I just came back from a bike tour that began at the Kalamazoo Kal-Haven Trail head. We biked (mostly limestone) from there to Bloomingdale (we had our lunch here at the picnic tables). Across the street from picnic tables is Wagoners (little grocery store with a deli) and the people are very nice that prepared our lunch. We left there and headed to South Haven where we stayed at Holiday Inn Express and in the morning rode back the way we came with lunch in the same spot.
The scenery is beautiful! This length we rode is 32.5 miles one way. We did 65 miles in two days. The hotel isn't far from downtown South Haven (beach, restaurants, shops, wine bar, Warner's tasting room) and the hotel has a breakfast until 10am

Nice easy traveling. The trail is in great condition and it looks to be used by a lot of people. There is good info at the trailhead and a good size parking lot with restrooms (pit toilets) available.
Going to come back and use it more someday.

This trail is very easy (flat and smooth gravel) to ride miles on. We rode 7 miles in and because it was flat and straight you do not need a map at all.

Nice clean trail, canopy of trees to keep you cool. Flat and straight trail which was easy enough for the kids to do!

From South Haven there are easy round trips of 10 miles and more. There are nice stops at places like Kibbie ( 5 miles out), Grand Junction and Bloomingdale, and portapotties on the trail. No great views, but if you want gentle exercise it's a fun ride.

I bike this trail each time I stay in South Haven. The trail takes you over a covered bridge, through the trees, past farms, residential areas and through little towns. The trail is not paved, although compact and easy to navigate, with a few sandy spots. On a windy day it can be quite challenging but the majority of the trail heading from South Haven is protected by the trees. Gorgeous in the fall!!

I have hiked this trail east out of South Haven several times. On weekends it can be congested with bikers near the trailhead. The first mile east out of South Haven has many places where you can view the Black River. However it is very noisy since the trail passes under Bluestar Highway and I 196. Not peaceful. I did identify numerous wildflowers in this section.

We took the kids on a five mile run it was awesome for young bike riders. Be careful going at high traffic times. We went on a week day much less busy then a Sunday. Obviously. But good paving and fun family time

We do a lot of bike riding in Wisconsin, we were hoping this would be different. It looked like I never left Wisconsin. The covered bridge was neat and the blueberry fields, but, that was the extent of the different scenes.

Many years ago we pedaled the entire Kal-Haven trail from South Haven to Kalamazoo. We did not try that again, but used the Kal-Haven as an extension of our ride on the Van Buren State Park Trail. Kal-Haven is crushed limestone, so not as smooth as trails that are blacktopped. But the signage for the trail is exceptional and takes you through the downtown of South Haven. Trail seems to be well maintained.

A terrific trail for all seasons. Great access from South Haven to Kalamazoo.

Whether you are walking or biking, or cross country skiing (when there is snow), this trail goes through some small towns and beautiful countrysides.

There are two rustic campsites in South Haven that are the results of Eagle Scout projects.

On the western end of the trail, three great places to stop include Stephenson Farms (spring Summer and Fall)). They have great fresh fruit, beverages (including apple cider)and the best blueberries. They are located off 68th on Baseline Rd.

Kibbie Christian Reform Church is at the intersection of CR 687 and the trail. They have a drinking fountain and nice picnic tables and welcome folks to stop and rest.

The last place is a small restaurant in Grand Junction. This is about 10 miles from South Haven. The restaurant is Country Fare - and don't let the outside discourage you - the food home made and good. While only open until 2 p.m., this is a great place fro breakfast. We often bike out from South Haven and stop here for breakfast. One large blueberry pancake (it hangs over the plate with 2 fired eggs on it - is a hearty meal.

Enjoy the trail - whatever season you are on it..

Met some friends in my home town of South Haven, borrowed some bikes and we went biking on the trail, have a similar trail here in Florida, but the Haven trail will always be special to me since I am from South Haven Michigan

Such a very well maintained train. Lots of shade and resting areas along the way. Can take directly into South Haven down town. Will do again.

The height of our 30 mile bike ride was a surprise visit to a small historic museum, set in an old train station, in the little town of Bloomingdale's. It is only open on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, but is a prize. Virginia, who showed us around, pointed out every interesting picture or person she had known. The displays of memorabilia from the town included people who had served in the Armed Forces, old medical memorabilia used in the turn of the century, an entire collection of local beauty queen photos for 30 years, and an interesting wall of photos of people from the 1940s, standing in front of their businesses.Try to stop in if you can.

Nice trail, easy to ride bikes. Not too crowded when we went and we enjoyed the ride.

We really enjoyed the trip from South Haven to Kalamazoo! Beautiful tree lined path, canopied us the majority of the way. A few open areas with scenic berry farms and rural landscapes. We had a run in with a few swarms of deer flies; wear/bring your bug spray! We stopped in a small town about halfway to pick some up and it did the trick. Stopped at a few restrooms and all but the first were not bad (no tp in the first). A few water pumps along the way provided much needed cold water. Mostly flat but overall felt like the way to Kalamazoo may have been a very low grade incline. Will be back!

Peaceful, gentle and very pleasant. The mix of sun/shade, meadows/forests/farms in the country was perfect. As its converted railroad, its a flat, straight, secluded ride. Loved it. Wildflowers, chipmunks, yellow finches, cardinals. Clean, fresh air. Very soothing to these urban eyes. We road about 10 miles - but there is a shuttle service that you can take back to the trail start!

Nice well-maintained trail 3 miles runway easy work. Part of the boardwalk trail was closed off due to tree damage so I was a little disappointed, but will definitely go back.

Amazing trail!!!! We rode into downtown on this trail from our rv resort. Round trip bike ride was 14 miles! Great exercise!!!

I've walked this trail numerous times. The trail is beautiful in all four seasons. Great way to get your exercise in.

My friends and family rode the 34 mile crushed lime stone trail from Kalamazoo to South Haven. The loss from the Zoo to the Haven is 344 feet. There are some gradual inclines and some declines with some sandy spots that could get a little dicey for road bikes. The trail is mostly tree lined so you probably wont need your sunglasses.

The crushed limestone is pretty solid but noisy and takes away from listening to nature while riding. A blacktop or cement paved trail would have made it a excellent, quiet ride. The trail is well marked with 1/2 mile markers and stop signs for crossroads. Out houses , benches, picnic tables and well-water pumps are available at several spots on the trail. Some of the pumps handles had been removed from the wells so make sure you bring enough water. You and your bike are also going to get dusty so have the baby wipes ready and the Windex for the bike after.

I've ridden this trail twice now and it's lost its allure. I don't think I would ride it again.

We were planning on biking the trail from South Haven to Kalamazoo, but the colder weather changed our minds - so we chose to hike 12 miles instead. It was a nice walk. Looking forward to coming back in the spring to cycle the whole distance and back again.

Rode these trails for years mostly from Kalamazoo. Beautiful walk also. I think they are free now for residents. Up himm to Kalamazoo but stops along the old train stops all the way to the harbor in South Haven

Wonderful bike trail through woods, along the river and the lake shore. Good for both young and old. Not technical .

Had a great peaceful bicycle ride on the Kalamazoo South Haven trail. Very nice trail near south haven mostly forested area, so nice to get out of the sun. Free parking lot at trailhead near downtown South Haven.

Began our biking adventure in South Haven. Would have loved to complete the 30 miles to Kalamazoo but weather prevented this. Straight, level, tree covered, farm land, pit toilets, water available by pump. That's about it. I was hoping for more scenery, diversion. Have been an avid biker and must say I was concerned biking on crushed stone. Never had to put on my breaks for a chipmunk or branch, but if I had, I'm afraid of the outcome. Careful if you are riding in conditions.
We drove 5 hours to experience this trail. Not sure it was worth the drive. Lots of fun with our friends and had many great meals out and about South Haven.

We took our bikes and by chance found this trail. We could only spend about an hour here but we will be back. The views and nature are fabulous. the trail is paved and wide enough for passing.

I found the first mile, especially the covered bridge, to be very nice and scenic. However, after the first mile, one is traveling on a dirt path through the countryside. Admittedly I've only gone 5 miles so far, but look forward to trying more of the path, although I'm not sure how much the rest of the path can improve on the first mile from the South Haven starting point.

Bike from Kalamazoo to South Haven, or I prefer the opposite direction. You can go for a stroll too. shady, mostly paved, safe, quiet, well-signed. go for 1 mile to the whole 30 mile trail.

Always a great place to take a long walk or a bike ride. It is quiet and there is no telling what you will see. I saw several people walking their pets and several other joggers not to mention several bikers. Besides the geese and squirrels I saw a large red fox which was a nice surprise. I even came across a father fishing with his son under the 196 overpass and they were making their own memories. I only walked 3 miles on this trip but plan on being back with my bike to ride further on the trail.

This was a really nice trail. The views were very pretty. There is lots of shade. Definitely a worthwhile trip.

Have done 3 long bike rides on this trail and always enjoy it.
You can ride as far as you like and turn around.

The shade from all the trees and few roads to cross made this a great ride. There is a cute covered bridge.

We accessed the trail in South Haven. There is plenty of parking. The trail is flat and smooth despite not being paved. There is plenty of shade and some wildflowers. A very enjoyable ride.

A smooth and flat trail. Lots of benches and a few potra-pits along the way. This is a long trail so plan accordingly...we walked part and came back. Very well maintained. The covered bridge is cool.

This trail is even monitored by the sheriff department on the weekends so its safe and clear. Its well groomed with lots of nature all around. Some really neat bridges along the way.

The Kal-Haven Trail is a fun bike ride or walk/jog. Bikes can be rented at several shops in town and make seeing the area delight.

The price was a bit high, but if you are going to use the trail.....it goes a long way for the up keep of it. Nice views. Very courteous people who use it. Well worth the time and money!

This is an easy bike ride through tree tunnels and farm land. My husband and I greatly enjoyed it. I would recommend it for any level of bike rider.

Over the past 20 years we have enjoyed biking and walking this trail. Well maintain and very pleasant to ride. Love biking this in the fall.as the leaves change colors.

Have taken many a scout group and youth groups for hikes and rides here.

Moat recently was on the trail for a clean up of the camp site near mile 1. This was an Eagle Scout project. The stairs have the Scout Law on them. A good resting place.

Have riden the whole trail from Kazoo to South Haven.

Family friendly.

Enjoyed the woods. The Trail is best for hybrid bikes but a road bike with full air pressure can ride on it as long as there is not too much travel. Much of it was in the shade with pleasant Western Michigan farmland.

I walked the trail on September 15, 2023 and found the trail to be bulldozed, as a reconstruction is underway. I walked from South Haven to the first covered bridge that is east of the highway. I am not sure how far the construction goes. It is wise to check before you make plans, as it appears that this project may take awhile.

We really enjoyed our bike ride along Kal Haven Trail. What most impressed us was the cleanliness of the trail -- no garbage anywhere! Much of the trail is a covered trail of gorgeous trees. This Fall the leaves were changing and falling which made for a spectacular landscape. We biked, beginning in South Haven, approximately 7 miles in and 7 miles out. It was an easy ride and so enjoyable. It continues to Kalamazoo, roughly 27 miles total. We are so fortunate here on the West side of the state to have these beautiful bike trails. The best part of this trail is that it isn't crowded and very safe. You don't have to worry about cars!!

This is a great trail to spend a day on walking or biking. The miles are marked with wooden poles, though sometimes you might have to really pay attention in order to not miss one. The trail is mostly shady, though there are parts that are full sun for a stretch at a time. The shade is especially perfect on a hot day. There are people on the trail, yet there are parts that can be secluded so I would recommend going with a buddy instead of alone. The trail has 1 or 2 port-a-potties on it and one place to get water. That is for the first 10 miles. I didn't go past that. If you start in South Haven and make it to Grand Junction, there is a tiny convenience store to purchase snacks.

We rented bikes on a Tuesday and rode the 10 miles to Grand Junction. There was barely anyone on the trail! It was a nice, relaxing ride with nice scenery.

This is my regular run distination when visiting South Haven. The trail is safe and well maintained. Not much to see after the first mile from South Haven, but have never ventured beyond the first five miles.

We took the kids for a walk and bike ride on the Kal Haven Trail- It was worth getting on the trails

Did not get to see autumn colors in Sept or early Oct this year, but they are coming! Love these kinds of trails - level, well-groomed and maintained. Sufficient distance to make it a challenge. This trail is mostly shady in woods, which makes it sheltered if windy or rainy and cooler in hot weather. Mosquitoes not a problem if you are moving. Nice rest spots/benches and outhouses scattered along trail. Beautiful.

The Kal Haven Trail is a scenic bike trail with very limited car traffic. Would have liked it more if it was paved but the ground gravel was pretty solid and didn't cause problems on a dry day. Not sure I would attempt in wet weather.

I took the family to Kal Haven Trails near downtown South Haven entrance. We walked a few miles. It's a pleasant view and very chill. It's secluded from any major area so it's quiet and not as busy when we went early in the morning. If you're looking for something to do, this is something to add to the bucket list!

The Kal Haven Trail is well maintained and a fun activity. You can walk or bike along the trial that weaves in through the trees, lake and covered bridges. It is a wonderful photo opportunity year round. We love it in the fall - it is like walking through a tunnel of color!

Rode this during the blueberry festival. You can ride a long ways on this trail but very level and maintained well. Did not find a ton of places to stop for water or a drink, but there are some... but bring your own in the summer-- it can be hot! Nice to drive by countless blueberry fields!

This is a gravel trail, but it is packed with no large stones. I used a hybrid bike with no trouble. This is an old railroad bed so the grades are under 2%-nothing too dificult. Several places to stop along the way. Several places to get free water from hand pumps.
Total distance from Kalamazoo to South Haven is 32 miles.

I biked the first 10 miles of this yesterday (Saturday) morning, starting at the trail head in South Haven. I drove 15 minutes to get here and I am glad I didn't drive hours like some reviewers. I started out a little after 7:00 AM and put my sun glasses on as the sun was still low. I took them off quite soon as the tree-lined trail blocked the sun 95+% of the time. While this made it nice for the sun it made for a pretty boring ride as you can't see much besides the trees (see the review of the person who gave it a 1). I felt like a horse with blinders on! This was the first time I road on limestone which made me slightly uneasy. Not sure if it was the limestone or the wind but the ride felt like I was going uphill against the wind both ways. The app I use shows a gradual ascent of 100' the first 6 miles and then pretty much plateaus the next 4. I road by myself like normal, so maybe if I was riding with someone it would have been better, I just know by the end I couldn't wait for it to be over.

We walked about 3 miles of this trail and loved the surprises along the way, from the covered bridge to the duck pond. We'll be back!

Well kept, wide trail. Mile markers. Stay on the path to avoid poison ivy. Perfect for a bicycle ride from South Haven to Kalamazoo for the ones that can handle that. Can stay the night at a bed and breakfast (I recommend the Kalamazoo House). There is even a bus that will take you and your bike back the next day. Short or long it's a peaceful stretch.

We had an excellent ride taking in the fall colors along the way. The covered bridge was a nice photo opportunity, and we stopped for lunch at a local roadside diner that served up good home cooking.

My husband and I started at the South Haven end and rode half-way to Kalamazoo and back - about 32 miles round-trip. Was nice and shaded for most of that part of the trail and was pretty scenery for the most part. Didn't give five stars because, although we enjoyed it, we prefer a little more change in scenery such as going through some cute downtown areas. Still a beautiful and well-maintained trail and will definitely ride again if we are back in the area.

Very beautiful ride, through tunnels of trees and very flat. Along the way there are very small towns that you can stop off at and rest or have refreshments. We met some other bikers along the way and stopped and chatted with them for awhile. Saw them on the way back also. Just a nice get away for some peace and quiet.

We stopped here to stretch our legs between Holland and return to northern Indiana. Just a few miles off the highway. Lots of shade and water along the way.

We took a hike and everyone suggested we do this one as it is as short or as long as you want it to be. I think the metro parks in summit and Cuyahoga county in Ohio are just as good. It was a nic walk and we got some pictures at the covered bridge. One highlight was to watch a group of boys hijack a surf board, pull each other on it from their boat and then I hope they returned it. Looked like watercraft on the river was fair game.

I wish we had our bikes with us! We hiked about a mile of the trail and loved it. It was beautiful and well maintained! I definitely want to come back and ride it.

not for road bikes, we used hybrids/touring bikes. Great, uncrowded trail. will be back ASAP.

The map directions took us to a section that was closed. We parked at a trail head after some searching and part of the trail was closed due to high water. We had to cross the highway to bypass that area and pick the trail up again. Not sure I'd do it again. I would appreciate better signage to safely visit. The path was pretty once we were in it though.

Shady, good rest areas! Paths were smooth and our part of the trail was level. Friendly people along the way and places to stop and rest as you rode.

Beautiful trail!! We biked from downtown South Haven about 7 miles out. Scenery changed some. We made use of benches to stop and rest a minute and an outhouse. Very shaded which is a wonderful trait. Smooth trails.

This is a 40 mile trail to Kalamazoo on good, flat, traffic free paths. You have to stop frequently to cross roads, so small kids need to be watched. There is a lot of tree cover to provide shade. Look out for Bumbleberry Acres about 5 miles out of South Haven, particularly if you have small kids - it's a one-off.

I returned to ride my bike on this wonderful trail following completion of construction. I found the trail to be beautiful, as more is paved and two bridges have been replaced. Most of the surface is packed with smooth natural material. The trail goes along an old rail line, has several road crossings, and goes through lovely forest/fields. The trail crosses an active rail line, where I had to get off of my bike.

The trail is flat, well-maintained and winds through residential areas, farms, new-growth forest, and rivers. We appreciated the occasional port-o-let, picnic table, and water pump. We rode four miles in either direction but we could have done more if we'd had more time. We visited on a weekday; I can imagine that it's a lot busier on weekends. Worth visiting.

Relaxing bike ride along a shady trail, would be especially fun to do in the autumn. Well maintained, rural environment.

We rode about 6-7 miles from the South Haven end of the trail and then back, on rented bikes. There's the covered bridge seen in the photos (yes, it's cute), but mostly there's nicely undisturbed farms, streams and rural vegetation. Most of the ride is shaded, which is welcome. Only downside was that the surface, while well maintained, was unpaved pea gravel, which can be a little squirrelly under your tires and is less than optimum if it's rained. On the whole, if you like bike trails, a nice addition to your list.

Very pretty and open clean trail. I rode this last summer in August, not too crowded. Scenery was very pretty and I felt safe riding alone.

Fun little trail. Only went the first four miles but was a nice trail and fun for couples. Nice view and very shady!

Enjoy a free activity in South Haven that gets you out in nature. Run, walk, bike, hike, ski, snowmobile or bring your dog to this South Haven favorite! The trail runs 34 miles from South Haven to Kalamazoo, with plenty of places to stop and rest or even camp out! Enjoy covered bridges, views of rivers, creeks, woodlands and farm land.

Even though it was 90 degrees and humid the quick 20 miler we did was fine because the majority of the way was under the tree canopy. Still hot but beautiful

Went from kalamzoo to south haven on the 13th and south haven to kalamazoo on the 14th of september 2014 . This is a nice trail. Well maintained crushed limestone. 33 miles each way. a Lot of places to stop and rest. Several bathrooms located throughout the trail. 80% shaded so its a little cold in the fall. Mile markers along the route. scenery was nice but nothing spectacular. Hey we didnt have to deal with cars except at cross streets so I am happy!If you turn south on 70 1/2 road and then right on Phoenex rd there is a holiday inn on the north side of the road if you do the trail in two days like we did. A few cities to stop and grab food or snacks.

We rented bikes from Rock N Road Cycle, which I give the highest recommendation possible. It was a short, fun bike ride getting to the trail and then the trail itself was very nice. We stopped at the picnic table and refilled our water bottles at the well pump. It was 4th of July weekend, but the number of bikers on the trail was quite manageable. We hike a lot so to us the scenery of the trial was nothing extraordinary, but it was a really nice bike ride and we will remember it for a long time.

Seven miles biking from our motor home site to s picnic table on Lake Michigan beach in South Haven. On a beautiful day, heaven!!!

We really enjoyed the trail. We rode from South Haven towards Kalamazoo. While not paved, except at the trailhead, it is very compact and flat so your hybrid will do well on the surface. Lots of trees so it was a very shady ride. We only did 11 miles and want to go back to complete the trail.

We only walked about 3 miles of this 33 mile trail, but want to go back with bikes. We saw a great variety of wildlife. The trail was in great condition and easy to walk.

The Kal Haven is a multiuse trail (biking, hiking, snowmobiles, horse riding) that runs on a railroad right of way between Kalamazoo and South Haven MI. This is a very easy ride passing through forests, farms and several small towns. The trailheads at both ends have large paved parking lots and appear secure for overnight parking. There are picinic areas, water, bathrooms and two camping areas available along the tail. We parked at Kalamazoo end and rode to South Haven where we stayed two nights in a B&B before returning. South Haven is a typical Lake Michigan resort town, so there is plenty to see and do.

Beautiful scenery, mostly flat terrain. Started in South Haven and planned to stop for lunch. We didn’t see much of a town until we got to Bloomingdale which was about 21 miles in.

very nice trail to walk, though it seems more for bikes. We wa;led 2 miles then turned around for 2 miles back, nicely shaded

From the trail head on 10th street in Kalamazoo to the end of the trail in South Haven, it is 33.5 miles of mostly flat trail. Not good for a skinny tire. I use a hybrid bike and it is perfect. There are outhouses at both ends of the trail plus Bloomingdale (mile marker 16), Grand Junction (mile market 10) and just prior to mile marker 1 on the South Haven end. There is one steep but short hill to get to the end of the trail in South Haven.

Well kept trail, designed for cycling but lovely for walking or running. Great shade if you're worried about the heat.

This trail is well maintained for bikes in the Summer, and snowmobiles in the Winter, it lacks places to eat along the way but has a few gas stops!

Peaceful riding experience on a well maintained crushed limestone trail. Lots of shade and protection from the wind by all the trees along the trail. Some small towns along the route offer food and groceries. The town of Bloomingdale, about half way between Kalamazoo and South Haven, has a wonderful park with a gazebo and picnic tables and a free museum that is well worth stopping in to visit on weekends. This trail connects with the Kalamazoo River Trail also.

We arrived in South Haven right after a huge damaging storm. Two days later we rode the Kal Haven Trail and we were pleased by how quickly they cleaned up the numerous trees that had blocked the trail. The day between the storm and our ride was warm and sunny so the trail had dried out. On a previous trip we rode shortly after rain and found the surface to be tough to ride. This is a rural ride with lots of nice shade. Latrines and pumped water are available but don't count on food! We found a spot in Grand Junction but it closes at 2:00 and there were no restaurants in Bloomingdale. Knowing another storm was coming, we had not planned to go any further but anticipated grabbing lunch along the way. You can't miss the grocery store in Bloomingdale and they do have sandwiches in the deli area but I would suggest packing a nice lunch. I love a destination ride so the lack of restaurants is the only thing that keeps me from giving this attraction 5 stars. The trail itself gets very high marks!

We are from Ohio, and like the folks from Wisconsin, it was very similar to some of our wonderful trails...but I wasn't expecting palm trees!

This trail is beautifully lined with trees and you follow the black river in the beginning. This trail goes through multiple towns all the way from south haven to Kalamazoo. It’s roufhl 33 miles one way. Optimal for bike riding!

My husband and I recently biked the Kal-Haven Trail. We were aiming for peak fall color, but due to a late summer, the peak color was pushed back a couple of weeks. Despite that, we had spectacular weather, clear skies, some fall color here and there and it was a fantastic experience!

I grew up in the Chicago area, but lived in California for over twenty years. It was very hard to leave the natural beauty and accessible wilderness of California, but we fell in love with Southwest Michigan, moved there and the hubs started doing some research on backpacking and bike touring. There’s not much outside the upper peninsula, but our two first trips were both eye-opening to the ease and loveliness of Michigan travel. (The first was backpacking on North Manitou Island - also spectacular).

The Kal-Haven Trail apparently was closed for a couple of years while they restored and re-surfaced so there weren’t many recent reviews. We didn’t really know what to expect. What we got was one of the best rides we’ve experienced and we’ve bike-toured from San Francisco to Los Angeles along highway 1 among other great locales.

We kicked it off with a big meal at Latitude 42 Degrees Brewery which was close to the trailhead. I had a cherry cider and burger - YUM!! We were able to sit outside and parked so we could see the bikes on the back of the car while we ate. Since I forgot my lock, it was perfect. We did find a great little bike shop in South Haven at which I was able to buy a lock for $25.00. Also, parking during the week at the trailhead was a breeze. Especially since we have the Michigan state parks pass on our plates.

For two peeps who are not currently conditioned for super long strenuous rides, the trail is a doable 33.5 miles each way. The surface was mostly packed flat dirt and crushed gravel and coming from biking on mountainous areas, enjoyably FLAT. For sure, there were some slight inclines and thankfully we were with the wind on the way back because the headwind going to South Haven on the day we rode back to Kalamazoo was around 14 miles an hour. We were grateful to be with the wind!

We both have steel cyclocross bikes (Bianchi Volpe for me and a Surly Cross-check for him) and packed lightly since we weren’t camping. This made the ride comfortable and pretty easy. We had what we needed in panniers (two back panniers for me and two front panniers for him). Perfect for two nights in a motel in South Haven.

Along the trail there were plenty of pit toilets, benches, picnic tables and all the little towns (few and far between) had little signs pointing to where you could go for cold drinks, sandwiches, etc. We loved stopping at some quiet picnic tables along the route. Some by streams, some had water pumps and even air pumps! The most magical was in the middle of cornfields with two potted mint plants from which you could pick and add to your freshly drawn water from the pump. We made this stop again on the way back. Nothing here but wind and us and our bikes. So nice. The trail was very sparsely populated on our westward journey which was a Wednesday with many more people on our return on a Friday - but still pretty sparse. I would imagine it’s much more populated on a weekend.

Staying in town in South Haven would have been ideal, but even in the off-season it was pricey for our budget so we stayed at the Sun N Sand Resort which was an 8-10 minute ride to town. Doesn’t sound like much until you arrive close to dark and realize it’s on a slightly busy two lane highway with not even a gas station nearby. We panicked a little, but the front desk had some cold alcoholic beverages we could buy and we were able to order a pizza from town delivered to our room. Perfect after a few hours of biking. The shower was hot, the room was clean and bright, the beds comfortable and the grounds were lovely. We got a double room and were able to fit the two bikes inside, but could easily have used a cable lock to lock them to the railing outside the room without worrying about getting them stolen. A swing by the pond to watch the sunset and a walking path through the woods was really great. We even went out to the walking path after dark to avoid the lights around the resort so we could see the northern lights!

Riding to town was a cinch once we discovered the water route and it was fun to look at all the amazing lakefront summer homes along the way. We were a little disappointed that some of the businesses were already closed for the season, but we had a great lunch at Clementines (I was able to have the steak and gin and tonic I was craving for dinner the night before), the town was super sweet to walk around, I had a great ice cream at Kilwin’s and picked up a dark chocolate giant peanut butter cup for the ride back the next day.

We also had a great visit at the Michigan Maritime Museum (totally worth the visit) and wished we had signed up for their one hour river boat tour. We loved the riverfront in this town. From there we biked three minutes to the north beach and rode to the end of the pier where we were alone to smoke a joint and sit and look at the water. It looked like the South Beach was more crowded since it was much more accessible to people staying in town on the other side of the river.

We picked up burritos and chips at Los Ranchos on our way back to the resort and heated them up later in the room (microwave and refrigerator!) for dinner.

On the way out of town we stopped at Six Chicks Scratch Kitchen which had the one of the best breakfast I’ve ever had. I had the farmer’s hash which was loaded with shaved brussels sprouts, carrots and cabbage. All caramelized. Really, really good with over-easy eggs. We split a cinnamon roll which was also fantastic. The service was very slow which was a bummer since we needed to get on the trail and the cinnamon roll would have been great served while we waited a very long time for our food (as requested). It came out with the rest of the food which was kind of a bummer. I think they were short-staffed since it was off-season and certainly the servers were nice!

I would highly, highly recommend this ride! We did see a couple of campgrounds along the way so I’m sure you could camp, but since I didn’t research it, I can’t get into details, but they did look accessible. Definitely check the wind speeds and direction before you go. We had a bit of a head-wind on our way to South Haven which made the second half of the ride (as the wind picked up in the afternoon) a little more challenging and somehow, we felt like there were a LOT of very slight inclines going west. We were pretty pooped when we got to town, but were lucky the winds weren’t stronger. The tail wind on the return ride was fantastic! Overall because we stopped a lot and just enjoyed the scenery it took us about five hours each way. I’m sure if you wanted to you could do it in 3-4 hours, but we were in it for the leisure and scenery. It was really, really wonderful.

BTW - if you’re looking for the covered bridge, sadly it was taken down which is I think a pretty bad decision by the powers that be. If the Bay Area/San Francisco can retrofit buildings and bridges to withstand earthquakes, I think the county and town could have put in the supports it needed for heavy equipment to go over the bridge if needed. For the amount of money it probably spent to tear down the bridge and build a new one, I’m not sure why they chose to tear it down. We had planned to make that one of our long stops and were mystified when we never found it.

These are great trails to run during the day. Not a fan of night running here. They are well maintained.

Two reasons for not giving the full five stars. First, you go buy some factory farms and the smell is terrible. Second, my athletic nine year old hated the trail because it's straight and not enough action. A big whatever from the rest of the family which includes a 12 year old.

Lots of places to rest, get water, and the tree canopy is stunning. We rented bikes in South Haven and had no problem finding the trail. We plan to do this again in the fall.

Have biked this trail many times now. Sometimes one way and also several as a full out and back. The pulverized limestone surface is fairly easy to navigate on. I noticed much less loose sand and gravel compared to years past. Most of the trail is relatively flat, although there are a few grades - particularly the last few miles headed east to the 10th Street Trailhead. That stretch always seems to take forever! The trail has lots of shade in most places so even on scorching sunny days you get a reprieve. It's very much not fun in the rain, however, as the limestone mud will cover you! Plenty of hand pumps along the way for fresh water so no need to carry a bunch of extra weight.

The Kal-Haven trail was very easy to get to from the Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast. We took long bike rides each morning. The trail is mostly tree-lined and shady, which was a real plus in the 90 degree weather. One small downside is the trail can get a little monotonous.

This trail was perfect for an easy hour ride, could go much further!Along the river, gravel trail, thru the forest. Very enjoyable.

It is a nicely maintained trail with few camping opportunities. We hiked from Kalamazoo thru to the Goddess Campground (about 13 miles), right on the trail. Had plenty of wood for fires and a picnic table. We hiked another 6-7 miles the next day.

My wife and I use the trail for running, walking and biking most of the year. It's a great trail with numerous parking access points. It has water pumps and toilets every few miles the length of the trail. Most of the trail is shaded as it passes through woods, fields and farms. All but a few miles is crushed limestone which makes it nice for running and easy to bike on. You can bike from the trail head in Kalamazoo the 34 miles to South Haven and spend the night in a B&B and return the next day, or return the same day. We've done this a number of times. On a nice sunny weekend it may get a little busy, but during the week days you'll often have the trail to yourself.

The trail is mostly flat and easy to walk or bike. We did both every day! People are very friendly and the trail was clean and well maintained!

great riding at no cost-trail well kept with 10 rest areas and 6 picnic sites-great family fun-check it out

My friend and I ran 4 miles of the trail while on a stay in South Haven. A very nice trail run, specifically for runners and bikers. Mostly shaded which is nice for later in the day. Nice to run in the serenity. Safe from traffic as well.

My husband, son and daughter-in-law took a tow and a half hour ride on this lovely, interesting, and well maintained trail. The day was hot and humid, but on the trail it was delightfully cool.

I was only walking on the South Haven portions of the trail. You can tell a lot of money was put into this trail with the boardwalks, pavillions, benches every 100 feel or so, but there are several areas that were cordoned off due to erosion. There are no lane markers to keep bikers and hikers away from each other or signage to instruct hikers to keep right to allow bikers to pass. This makes those areas of erosion even more unsafe. It's come a long way, but it still needs attention to ensure safety.

We road the trail from Kalamazoo trail head into South Haven. It was a beautiful ride. There are a few places to stop to grab beverages or snacks along the way (Kendall, Gobels, Bloomingdale). It is relatively flat, nicely graded. We rode through the rain but because of the tree canopy we had a nice ride. We talked to others that have taken the ride in reverse and said there it is a little more challenging (grade goes slightly up) but we didn't bike back. There are lots of out houses, benches and tables along the way, just remember to pack some wipes to wash up. There are a number of hotels you can easily bike to. We stayed at one that was about 1.4 miles off the path, by the expressway. We would recommend trying to stay closer to town so that you can easily get to all the local stores, restaurants and beaches. Make sure you plan some time in South Haven - it is beautiful.

We loved it! Mostly flat; easy to ride, even with our road bikes. Especially beautiful through the woods. We entered from the South Haven side and only went about 7 miles in before we turned back.

This is a walking trail that follows a former railrooad line. We walked some of the first 2 miles, which included views of the Black River and a covered bridge. the trail has some signage on it, including topics such as bridges on the route and the fruit growing industry. Very nice. Overall, more bicycle traffic than foot traffic.

Wonderful biking/running trail. It is just beautiful on this trail. Would love to try this trail in its entirety.

The Kal Haven trail is a lovely place to walk, bike, or run. We walked 2.5 miles, starting in South Haven, and found Geocaches along the way. It's an easy terrain, but lovely.

As an active family, this trail is always on our list of to-do's while in South Haven! Our 6 year old nephew joined us this summer on it & it was a perfect bike ride for all of us!

Have ridden this trail a number of times , really enjoy it across the covered bridge through the forest and past the blueberry fields , love to stop at the 10 mile marker Grand Junction , a restaurant there serves the best blueberry pancakes, makes for a very enjoyable day.

Beautiful trail all the way from South Haven to KZoo to Bell's Brewery Cafe . Not much opportunity for lunch stop - suggest take out picnic at the Panera Bread in KZoo or one of the many restaurants in South Haven.

This is a "rails-to-trails" conversion. The surface is hard packed (though not paved). It is 34 miles long, connecting South Haven with Kalamazoo. The trail is mainly wooded, but also passes by farms and travels though several small towns. We usually ride part way, stop for breakfast in Gobles, and then finish. It is not crowded except during "events" which really destroy your enjoyment: crowds and inexperienced rides who are all over the trail. Avoid the trail during events, and you'll fall in love with it. We have!

This trail is gorgeous! We rode the morning of a very hot day and the shade made it more than bearable. The flat ride worked well for our youngest rider. We rode on a weekday, so it wasn't too crowded.

We walked only a short portion of the trail, starting in South Haven, and found that sections of boardwalk by the river were submerged! It wasn't from rain, since we were told by the cleaning lady that the area had not had much rain this summer, so it must have been from an increase in the water level of Lake Michigan. Very interesting to see, but also worrisome.

Great for a short walk or a long walk. By yourself with a group or family. Have a mini nature walk depending on where you start or stop. It is paved so ware good shoes if walking. Great for biking. Don't forget water.

Get out there and enjoy our lovely trail

This is a nice, well-maintained trail that runs between South Haven and Kalamazoo. It is 34 miles one way. Sometimes we get a ride into Kalamazoo and ride our bikes the 34 miles back (it is very slightly downhill that way) but other times we ride from South Haven and out until we decide to turn back. You pick it up in South Haven on the south side of the drawbridge over the Black River. We have done it when it has rained a lot and it can be buggy but we rode it recently and that was not an issue at all. Watch out for poison ivy along the sides of the trail. Also, it would be more difficult to do with a good road bike because there are some spots with loose gravel. You can rent bikes at Outpost Sports on the other side of the bridge. It was $14 for 2 hours, $20 for all day (24 hours) and $35 for two days (48 hours). Last time I rented for 2 days but was able to get a ride in the day it was due so I rode it three days in a row. There is parking on both ends of the trail.

I went biking over Labor Day weekend and had a great time. This trail is absolutely gorgeous and very peaceful in the deep Michigan woods. You do have to cross roads along the way, so I would be careful riding with kids but it shouldn't deter you from going. There are bathroom and maps/points of interested posted along the way. I would highly recommend this trail for walking, running or riding the next time you are in South Haven.

As others have said this trail is awesome. Almost fully shaded by the trees and very flat. Some hills but very manageable. Covered bridge is only a 5 minute ride in (from the trail head in South Haven) and you can get some great photos there.

This is a good trail for bikes and for people who want to stroll... Not for hikers. My 3 teenagers and I wanted to hike, we were bored on this trail.

Well maintained beautiful trail to walk, or ride a bike. We walked several miles and it was very peaceful. For sure will visit the trail again!

This trail starts behind the courthouse in South Haven and runs all the way to Kalamazoo. Great trail for walking, running, or biking and in the winter you can even snowmobile on it! I wouldn't recommend roller blading as the ground is not paved. There is a really charming covered bridge about a mile into the trail if you leave from South Haven. You can also kayak the Black River below if you wish! Very peaceful and beautiful

We walked from the trailhead in South Haven to the covered bridge and back (apparently the trail goes all the way to Holland). It’s a nice, leisurely, flat walk of over a little a mile.The scenery is nice along the way, following the Black River. There are benches appropriately placed along the way for those who might tire easily.

my family of 5 went on this trail and wow, it was great. i will go on this trail every time i visit the area. it is covered by trees above and jump beautiful.

iBike and walk from Lake Michigan to Battle Creek stop to rest and swim in rivers and lakes.! Downhill from east to west!

Take a mile long walk to the Kal Haven Trail bridge for a great photo op (#Instagram) in a gorgeous part of Michigan.

The start of the trail in South Haven is absolutely beautiful! The covered bridge, the river, the canopy of trees are stunning. We made it as far as Bloomingdale before turning back. My only complaint is that access to potable water is scarce. We all brought quite a bit of water but it wasn't enough. Someone with a water cart or a cooler out there would make a killing! Business venture anyone?

This beautiful trail runs for 40 miles between Kalamazoo and South Haven. We rented some bikes, and set out from the South Haven side of it. The trail head is right at the edge of town, and it's very family friendly: not very hard, easy to follow, well shaded along most of the way, and of course - beautiful and relaxing. We did about 8 miles, stopped at a tiny farm store and an old fashined Go Kart place, before heading back. You should realy check what's going on a bit off the trail, because you can find some real gems along the way. Have fun !!

An old railroad bed turned in to a top knoch bike path . connecting Kalamazoo and South Haven the path has many interesting features including a covered bridge located just east of I196 . the route also passes through several small towns so stopping for refreshments is no problem.

Stop with your picnic at Celery Pond. So peaceful and beautiful, food for the soul! Bring some binoculars for bird-watching.

Pleasant biking trip in time spent away from the hustle bustle of everyday life on a bike in the woods on a very well maintained trail.

We ride the trail every time we come up to South Haven. We used to do it with a double trailer and a tag a long when the kids were little but now we can all manage on our own. We ride from trail head off Bailey Ave down to Grand Junctions. Exactly 10 miles. Get off and eat at Country Fare. Looks sketchy but food is awesome! It's a great half day activity for the family.

Flat, shaded, quaint, a great ride, you can go for miles or turn around for a short bike ride. Easy access from town.

One of the few dog friendly places in south haven. But it is very buggy; bring bug spray!

Overall, a great afternoon with kids and the dog

This is a good trail for bicycling. Unless you are in great shape, it will take you a few days to go the entire distance.

Almost 34 mile converted railroad trail - Bike or hike fom Kalamazoo to Lake Michigan!

This trail offers a safe path for walking and bicycling. Beautiful scenery along the way. Great for getting in that morning run before shopping or visiting local eateries.

very nice trail, it was cold when we went at the end of March. But overall can't wait to go back to this trail.

even if you can just walk a couple of miles its wonderful!!

Great for riders of all skill levels, this trail goes from Kalamazoo into down town South Haven. There are several stops along the way along with camp grounds. Some fun things to do are stop at Farmers Markets and trail-side stands. Lots of fun for individuals and families!

This is a beautiful, well kept trail. We only walked the first 2 miles from South Haven, so I'm not sure what the rest of the trail is like... would love to bike the whole trail sometime!

We drove to the parking area and began our hike on the Kal Haven Trail. The walk started off following the Black River and was very scenic. We walked a total of two miles before we turned around and walked back. This is a trail for walkers, joggers and bicyclists. If we return to South Haven, we will take this trail again.

This was my second time to visit Michigan and use the Kal Haven Trail. The first time we rode as a family all the way from Kalamazoo to South Haven and had a wonderful 3 generation (grandparents, parents, 3 preteen kids) experience. This most recent time was a little ride from South Haven to Van Buren State Park, a climb of a dune, a dip in the lake and riding back. We enjoyed the trail and its shade very much (it was a hot August day). This trip was done with a couple both of whom ride a lot, and a sister who is fit but never rides. I highly recommend this activity.

The path is mostly pebbles, earth, and leaves, but it easily cycled. The trees offer protection from sun. We cycled 10 miles from South Haven, and then 10 miles back. It is nice that there are stops along the way.

Our bicycle ride got started later in the day due to rain so we only rode half the trail from Bloomingdale East to Kalamazoo to put the wind at our back. Since we rode eastbound it caused us to have almost a constant uphill ride (I think the gain is 179 feet from Bloomindale). If we had ridden westbound from Kalamazoo to South Haven we would of went down approximately 344 feet. So live and learn because the wind at our back did not help that much since we were riding through a Tree-lined trail . The crushed limestone is solid but noisy and takes away from listening to nature while riding. A blacktop or cement paved trail would have made it a excellent, quiet ride. The trail is well marked with 1/2 mile markers and stop signs for crossroads. Out houses and well-water pumps are available at several spots on the trail. When we return we will be doing the full 34 miles from Kalamazoo to South Haven downhill.

Pack some water bottles and a light picnic lunch and plan to spend some time on this beautifully maintained trail. Bike or walk - you will enjoy the day! Bike rentals available in town at South Haven.

Very nice trail between Kalamazoo and South Haven. Goes through many wooded areas as well as along the Black River near South Haven.

My family recently did about a 4 mile round trip walk with the two kids - 3 & 5 - in our Chariot thing-a-ma-bob stroller. It was a very nice and relaxing hour walk, with plenty of shade from some beautiful woods.
Most of the trails back by us our either old canal tow-paths or rail lines in the middle of corn/bean fields, so being in such beautiful surroundings - and shade - was a nice change of pace. The trail is also much more well maintained than we are used to in Illinois (imagine that).
Next time, when the kids are a little bigger, it would be great to bike and see more of the trail, or a trip to Kalamazoo if I'm solo.

I liked the trail . it is in good shape . No tree branches were over hanging the trail . It seemed pretty level with no holes or drop offs,

We've been riding on this converted railroad bed since it became a bike trail. It gets better and better. RIde in woods, near water, through fertile fields (and at least one smelly pig farm!), under a covered bridge. Stop at scenic overlooks or picnic tables, go off-trail to an excellent farmer's market, ride all the way to Kalamazoo if you wish! Great for kids.

A warm day but comfortable riding under a canopy of trees for shade. Surface was mostly hardened gravel.

This was our first time on the trail and we were pleasantly surprised with the trail foliage and neatness of the trail. We loved the covered bridge too! Can't wait to go back in the fall.

We were looking for somewhere to go for a quick hike. Nice trail. Secluded. Leaving from South Haven it is mostly wooded. Thoroughly enjoyable.

My husband and I love walking this part of the trail. The covered bridge is very romantic! We also kayaked along the river and made it to the covered bridge.

Nice ride from Kalamazoo to South Haven. Lots of water on the trail and several places to get food. I will definitely do it again

The trail is hard packed limestone and rides nicely. It is about 75% in the shade so it is a great ride on a hot day. Some nice stops along the way.

Great path. A lot of sections are shaded. Crushed limestone. Towns are pretty much within 7-9 miles of each other towards the end. Long uphill climb for two miles when you get close to Kalamazoo.

I've biked the Kal-Haven Trail a number of times over the last 12 years. It is nicely maintained and marked. I typically start in South Haven and go west. There are benches, periodic water fountains, and a few portable toilets. It's predominantly shaded making it a nice choice for hot, summer days. I've never biked it in the Fall, but I bet it would be beautiful -- Guess I better plan another ride :)

Loved the covered bridge and enjoyed the walk on the kal Haven trail. Not crowded and lots to explore and see while walking.

Fun place to bike, hike, meander and enjoy. Well maintained trails that go from Kalamazoo to South Haven. Interesting spots along the way to stop and rest and grab a cold drink. Great place for family enjoyment. Perfect for getting your 'bike' on.

This mostly limestone trail is in good condition and is mostly shaded from South Haven all the way to Kalamazoo. It's 34.5 miles, though that doesn't count an extra 4 into the city of Kalamazoo on the east end. While in nice shape, the only thing that keeps me from a top rating as a trail is that there just isn't much to see and the towns along the way aren't much either. So if you're barreling on through, great, but if you're looking for a decent number of stops at fun places, this isn't it. Good trailheads and regular bathrooms (non-flush).

We rented bikes in South Haven and rode to Grand Junction; @ 20 miles round trip, it's probably pushing the comfort levels of the decent rented bikes. 26 inch wheeled hybrids are fine for town rides but 20 miles is asking a lot. The trail is reminiscent of the Little Miami, if you've ever been on that. Very casual, just a very chill ride. Decent little place to grab a bite @ Grand Junction too.

This trail is very well maintained and very beautiful. There is restrooms along the trail and benches if you need a rest. This trail doesn't present a lot of hills or climbs and is relatively flat but the trails are so well groomed and packed riding a bicycle is not a problem. I highly recommend this trail.

This is a beautiful trail. We walked from South Haven, for three miles. The path was clear, and an easy walk - no crazy hills. Lots of spots to stop and rest, there are many benches along the route we were on. We didn't see any bathrooms on the trail, but probably because we didn't walk far enough. There were many bikers on the trail.

This is a wonderful place to bike. Easy railroad bed trails. It’s so pretty, quiet and a lot of nature to enjoy.

Fairly level well-maintained rails-to-trail ride through the country
South Haven to Kalamazoo

Great ride. We spent part of 2 day's on the trail and really enjoyed our time. Be alert for a few sandy soft shots that can be a problem.

I am an avid power walker and am always looking for a great trail to hike. I walked a short (1.5) miles of the Kal Haven Trail, starting at the South Haven trailhead. The path took me alongside the Black River, under US31 and through the much-photographed covered bridge. The walkway was very smooth, and because it was surrounded by trees, very cool and comfortable. There is enough of a slope at the beginning and where the path meets the highway that your thigh muscles will get a workout, even with a short jaunt. This is definitely a great way to enjoy the scenery and get in a workout. There are porta-potties along the trail for those who wish to bike to the next trailhead (Grand Junction) or all the way to the end in Kalamazoo. There are also a lot of bikers, joggers and walkers so solo travelers need not feel uncomfortable.

We only biked the western end of the trail for 3 miles out and back. First part along the Black River then onto an old rail bed. The trail bed is crushed limestone but is very hard packed and easy bike riding.

We ride about 10 miles out from South Haven and stop at Grand Junction for lunch at Country Fare and then ride back to South Haven. Great trail with beautiful country views. Primarily flat and even trail. Well maintained.

Nice area, bring your bikes, easy ride. Suggest snacks and or lunch. Nice get away for a little exercise. Might want some bug spray this year. Lots of nature to enjoy.

Great trail. Stayed at Sunny Brook RV and rode the trail into South Haven. worked out perfect as parking can be challenging.

The trail has many stops along it so that you can ride part or all of it. It feels safe and is easy to ride.

We rented bikes from the Victoria B&B where we were staying, and rode several miles on the Kal-haven trail. I was concerned about the sun/heat in August, but the trail is almost entirely shaded by the tall trees on both sides, so it was actually rather cool. Very peaceful ride, with only a few other bikes and occasional walkers. We didn't even hear cars except once when going under the highway. Around mile 2, we got off the bike trail and rode some 100 yards to the north and visited Bumbleberry Farms. They sell fresh fruit, pastries, snow cones, and have picnic benches. Overall a great relaxing trail.

Rented bikes in south haven at Rock N Road a few blocks down from the trail. Easy ride to trail and had a wonderful time. Lots of shade, old bridge, and people to say hi to. Would visit again

A tad tricky to find, signage isn't great but just check out a map before you go and you will find it. Trail is beautifully maintained, cool with lots of tree cover and interesting history. Worth a look!

The Kal Haven trail provides over 33 miles of railroad bed to bike, walk and run. It's very well maintained, and has all different kinds of views. There are parking lots in South Haven and Kalamazoo, with other smaller stops in-between. It's one of South Haven's big draws and wonderful to use.

I ran the Kal-Haven Ultra in April, the entire 33.5 mile trail distance. It's a very peaceful trail. It crosses lots of cute small Michigan towns. The kaboose at the trail head in Kalamazoo is neat. There are some places along the way to stop and eat if you want. Make sure to take some money. The replica covered bridge near South Haven is neat. It's not a super wide trail, so just be courteous if you walk, run, or bike 2 across. I was there when it was a little cold. I'd go back and start at the South Haven end and bike to some of the blueberry farms and pick some fruit when the weather was warmer. Cool trail. If you've got the time and ambitious it's worth traveling the whole thing. If you've got to choose, start in South Haven for the bridge and blueberries!

Made the ride from South Haven to Kalamazoo and back. It wasn't easy. Did it on a mountain bike and I was tired after. No real places to stop to eat or drink so bring your own.

The trail is mostly crushed stone and designed for bicycling. It is about 35 miles long from Kalamazoo to South Haven. It goes downhill from Kazoo (or its all uphill from South Haven). Bloomingdale is half way. Stop in the supermarket and have some of their broasted chicken in the park. Yummy!

The reason I say "easy enough" biking is because we rented bikes and rode about 10 miles when I was 6 months pregnant, so it was a little more challenging for me! :) Regardless, the trail is beautiful, and is pretty flat for the most part. I would highly recommend bringing your own bike and biking it or renting one for the day. It's worth it.

Disappointed there wasn’t any snow, but we didn’t let that stop us. We started out in South Haven and hiked a few miles one way. We enjoyed the covered bridge. Maybe next time we’ll be able to ride snowmobiled!

We were in town for a fishing charter and I came here since I arrived early and had some time to kill. I very quickly found myself hiking along this trail finding some Geocaches. Next time I'm up for our next trip, I'll be bringing a bike so I can really experience the whole trail. Love the covered bridge and gazebo in the water.

While on a fall foliage car tour we wanted to walk the Kal Haven Trail in late October. While attempting to find the trail head in South Haven construction detoured us but did not give us clear directions to the trailhead. We plugged "Kal Haven Trail" into the trusty GPS that proceeded to take us to several places to join the trail but these were in residential areas off of country roads that did not supply pull-off parking or tell us where to go for the actual trail head. The portion we did get to walk was busy with bikers but beautiful with changing fall colors and a flat and easy trail. Hoping we can eventually start at the trailhead in South Have.

Hubby and I rode this trail for the first time yesterday. We started in Goebels and ended 21 miles later in South Haven. It was a week day, so not many other riders. Be advised it is a limestone trail, so I did not ride my road bike, and so glad I made that decision. I borrowed a friend's hybrid instead-good choice. Also, there are a few places where the trail is not well marked and we were not 100% sure which path to take, so be advised of that so you don't go down the wrong part of the trail!

This mostly hard-pack dirt path is a beautiful, scenic 33.5-mile trail across southwestern Michigan. It was excellent for running and for biking. It is very shaded and there are multiple places to stop and rest, either at benches or picnic tables, and even multiple restroom facilities (think port-a-potty or outhouse, no running water).

We usually walk part of the trail when in South Haven. Still had good colors when we went (Oct 23). Nice views of the black river. easy trail to walk.

Flat, straight (used to be a railroad track), very well kept, partly under a tree canopy that was beginning to change colors. Enjoyed it.

Very clean and well kept. Very quaint little restaurants in neighboring towns. Takes you past blueberry plantations that were in season while we were there!

We rode the majority of this 32 mile trail and found it to be a good ride but clearly some sections are in need of some attention--I would guess that after being constructed the funding for upkeep is limited--it is generally a wide trail and depending on location it consists of slag or a packed dirt/clay. There are not many places to stop along the way--the city of Gobles would bean exception--so you should be able to take care of minor repairs like flats yourself or you may have a long walk back. It is generally flat although the section near the Kalamazoo trail head had some long grades which could be challenging to some. There are some outhouses, some with water pumps along the way, but generally pretty primitive.

This is an easily walkable/bikeable sometimes-shaded, bucolic trail created as a "rail trail" on a former railroad bed from the 1870's. It is all asphalt, flat, & winds alongside bodies of water, sometimes busy main roads and with lots of wildflowers growing alongside (also flies...so, bring bug spray). It is 33.5 miles long, has a campground, Kal Haven Outpost, on the South Haven end of it, as well as a water fountain, bike tools & rest rooms. There are covered bridges & overpasses to go under and through, nice views alongside & benches to rest on. Not sure if its recent closing is a temporary one while work is done on it but, we got super lucky and walked it maybe an hour before barricades were put up, closing it down.

Great, well-maintained trail. We took it from our campground into downtown South Haven...7+ miles, and it was pretty enjoyable.

While training for races I often resort to the Kal Haven Trail in the spring, summer, and fall seasons since it is close to my house. The trail tends to be maintained although there are a few occasions of horse poop on the trail. After mile 4 there is a Pig farm which is a bummer. There are a few spots to sit, and rest through out, there is even a spot to picnic at mile 1. I have never gone beyond mile 11 so I can not speak to what is beyond there but I enjoy the trail with it's quite nature feel. All in all not a bad trail with a port a potty every few miles.

Its a great bike trail! We rode from south haven out about 6 miles and it was great. Most of it is dirt, but it is very well taken care of. Also there was a nice little shop on the side that sells snacks and things when you're tired. It was also very flat.

Rather then repeat so many others comments...I will add that from the bike parking lot to downtown South Haven is only 1 mile and the sidewalks leading you there are well marked (not for youngsters due to ridding by traffic while downtown). From downtown you can pickup the boardwalk along the south side of the river channel and ride your bike all the way out to the light house. Really a great way to end a bike trip.

We began our visit to South Haven by riding 8 miles on the Kal-Haven trail. The trailhead was packed with a riding event. Still we found a parking spot and didn't feel crowded on the trail. It's one of the prettiest rails to trails I've been on, running alongside the Black River and through thick canopy of hardwood forest. It was a sunny day but very shady and pleasant on the trail. We also stopped for a bit to walk along the riverside boardwalk. It was great to see so many out on the trail, serious cyclists, families, older couples, joggers, dog walkers. Great to see Michigan's wonderful trails in use. Can't wait to ride this one again.

If you like to walk, jog, or bike along rivers, trees, and bridges, this is a must for you while in South Haven. Additionally, I enjoy, most of the time, looking at street art and graffiti, which you can see under the bridges.

My boyfriend and I took a bike through the first couple of miles of the trail, and it was gorgeous with all of the leaves falling and covering the trail. It was really nice being paved. There were benches every so often and plenty of picture opportunities!

We were a bit leery of it being "crushed stone", but it was so hard packed we had no issues at all with our road bikes. We started in South Haven and rode as far as Gobles and had no issues with the trail being too rough or rutted. We thoroughly enjoyed it and want to come back and finish the rest of the trail. Not much along the way as far as towns, etc. to grab food/drink, but we did find a bar in Gobles.

Nicely shaded and easy access from South Haven. Portable toilets available at intervals. Did not have my bike so I didn't go as far as I would like to. I'll be back with my bike.

We were visiting Van Buren State park and were looking for a trail - deciding between the two main options in the area. We decided to check out this trail as it sounded much more interesting and unique. We headed off East along the trail, not really sure of what to expect or how long we would ride for. We were told about a cafe to check out in the town of Grand Junction.

Fortunately for us, the trail was shaded to help protect us from the beating sun. Additionally, as long as you kept a decent pace, the wind felt great. We ended up making it out to Grand Junction, but didnt get a chance to try the cafe.

I would highly recommend this trail to anyone visiting the area. Part of the trail is submerged but passable with water (it came up to right about the pedal). I saw another group take a detour that we tried on our way back but that requires you to cross a pretty busy highway.

Rented bikes for the day and this was the perfect trail to explore! An easy going ride that was really beautiful. The trail follows the river and the canopy of trees is breathtaking!

This was a wonderful bike trail and was just bursting with gorgeous fall colors when we were there in early October. Absolutely beautiful!!

Wonderful bike trail. Easy but still a pretty forest ride. You can go as far as you wish. Well worth doing. Various trailheads available.

I only rode a short distance on the trail but what I saw was amazing. The scenery changes from river, to marsh, to field and woods. Then again from road side to small town. There are benches, campsites, trail markers, covered bridges and trees. The trail is well maintained and clean. A must do for any biker, runner, walker, man, woman or child.

Rent a bike and go for a wonderful ride easy trail. Wear bug spray. Wear sunscreen. Some spots are not shaded at all.

Trail from South Haven to Kalamazoo for biking, walking or running. Maintained and marked. Good parking area at trail head in South Haven. Attractions along the trail such as Bumbleberry Farms (Mile #4) and Stokes Farm in Grand Junction. Will be beautiful with the Fall colors in October.

My wife and I enjoyed riding the first five miles of the Kal-Haven trail out of South Haven last weekend. Lovely canopy of trees, a covered bridge, and beautiful farmland and streams. Easy trail--generally level slope. We are no more than day-tripper bike riders, but we loved the trail and plan on returning for a longer trek.

If spending some time in South Haven, MI, recommend the Kal Haven Trail between South Haven and Kalamazoo. Great ride in the country side. It is a dirt path so hybrids and Mt Bikes are the way to go. But we rode in the drizzle rain and it didn't seem to affect the surface at all. There's a few farms along the way that challenge the senses but other than that, great experience.

Good parking at both ends and a number of places along the trail. Only the ends are paved.
Lots of wild life , spring wild flowers, fishing areas at south haven end

Great place to ride along the river and into the town of South Haven. So Haven now has bike lanes, public restrooms and places to park and lock your bike. Loved the covered bridge over the Black River.

I started at mile marker 2 in South Haven on 70th street. We went west towards the lake and covered bridge. The trail was well groomed, not a puddle mess that I expected after how much rain there was that week. Benches to stop and relax and many photo options.

One of the coolest things was at the trail head was a station for bike repairs. There was a pump bolted to the ground and every tool you would need on tethers for you to use. Also a rack to hang your bike while doing repairs. A very cool amenity that I have never seen before. I would ride this trail from from to end and I plan to in some warmer weather. That is the only thing that stopped me from continuing on.

The trail is very pretty going in and out of town to both the north and the south, loaded with things to see and benches to sit on and enjoy the views. A mile or so out of town it becomes plain old trail through the farmland, but mostly shaded, and well maintained. The main value we found was the convenience of being able to bike through town to get everywhere. So much to see and do in South Haven, and if you do it on bike it is much more convenient that in a car.

We did the complete trail from Kalamazoo to south haven. The trail drops 310 feet between the 2 cities. So start at Kalamazoo. It is about 34 miles. We averaged about 10 mph. The trail between Kalamazoo and Bloomingdale was just improved the trail condition after that is ok. There are no great cities along the way. Most everything is closed on Sunday. Best stop is south haven. Bring your own food and water you won't find much along the way. Lots of outhouses and well water stops along the way. The scenery is very consistent. Lots of shade. The bike shop in south haven rock and ride did offer to pick us up. South Haven is bike friendly and a great city.

The trail goes from South Haven to Kalamazoo. Since we were walking we just did a four mile hike. The trail is mostly covered by trees so it stays cool even in the heat. It is nicely paved with rocks. It has some water views and a covered bridge. So it is nice.

It was a bit crazy that day because there was about 40 or 50 high school runners on the trail so a bit crowded.

We recently walked for a couple of miles on the trail starting in South Haven. Wish we had brought our bikes. Lovely scenic trail, nice and flat and comfortably wide.

Two of us cycled 10 miles from South Haven and then turned back. What a relaxing ride. The paths are well groomed and shaded by numerous beautiful trees. We were able to ride side by side and move over when others approached.

This is a great trail for a nice, easy ride through rural farmland and small towns. We took our 9-yr. old son for an almost 30 mile, roundtrip, ride on a hot summer day. We stopped for lunch at a nice local, small-town café. Stopped for ice cream at a mom-and-pop venue, and cold drinks along the way. This trail has a nice trail head now, with clean outhouses and a nice parking lot.

We lived in South Haven for a couple of years after I retired. I rode the trail almost daily. Loved it then, still love the peacefulness, good easy ride. But, about 2 years ago, I was doing my normal ride, came around a corner I had passed probably a hundred times before, hit a pothole in the ASPHALT part of the Trail, fell and broke ten ribs plus my collarbone. I watched the Trail where it passes under Blue Star Highway deteriorate because no one would fix the terrible erosion problem. Have not returned since my accident (probably won't anytime soon), but these bike trails are real gems (both Kal Haven and also Van Buren Trail going south, but the maintenance always was ignored completely when I lived there. I filed many reports with DNR, but never saw any results.

Nice trail to walk, we did it from the South Haven end of trail. Walked about 3 miles, and then walked back. Trail was in good shape for walking. Wide enough for bikes to pass us with no problems. Very nice parking area at that end of the trail.

Easy ride and mostly shaded for the several miles we travelled as novice bike riders. Not crowded at all. Would do again.

Smooth path, beautiful day. Loved the covered bridge. When rode our bikes to the point of Bumbleberry Acres. Quaint, friendly store with blueberry farm where we picked blueberries, got cold water, ate our blueberry biscuits outdoor on the swings. The store owner and her daughters were so friendly. They tended to our dog while we picked blueberries. A must stop!!

We walked this trail last October when colors were at their peak. It was a great trail to enjoy the cool air and fall colors. We talked to a biker from Kalamazoo who had stopped to take a break by the river (creek?) As another reviewer mentioned it is not a particularly challenging trail if that is what you are looking for. Try upper Michigan or Colorado for that. ;) But if you want a peaceful hike or run to just enjoy being outside this place will do just fine. I am looking forward to returning this fall.

A great trail to enjoy nature and scenery. We did not ride the entire trail to Kalamazoo since it was pretty hot out, but we did ride several miles and enjoyed every bit of it.

Nice and flat terrain and good cruising trail. Not too difficult. Went from south haven to grand junction, which is ten miles. ride to GJ is harder than the return as you have a slight downhill ride back to SH. Super fun. Stop at the cafe in GJ for lunch, its right off the tracks when you get to town. Water fill spot is around 4 miles out of SH, and there are bathrooms along the way too.

I enjoy cycling and riding trails that are longer than a few miles. I've rode the trail multiple times. Mostly from one of the ends of the trail to Bloomingdales then back. The trail approximately 34 miles long is for most long enough that most would not ride it from one end to the other then back in a single day. On this ride, we rode from Kalamazoo to South Haven, spent the night then rode back the next day. A quite pleasing ride. The Kalamazoo end of the trail appears to be maintained at a higher level and there are mile markers every half mile. The South Haven end of the trail is close to downtown South Haven where numerous dining and shopping options exist. The Kalamazoo end is out in the country. The parking area is substantial and many people use the trail daily. We will bike it again.

Beautiful trail, flat and perfect for biking. We went 10 miles out from South Haven and back. There are outhouses along the trail, but bring water.

Highly recommend for a gorgeous bike ride! Well maintained and lots of shade. Not too crowded on a summer, Tuesday morning.

Hard packed cinders on this former railroad bed make for an easy ride (not good for road/race bike tires). Weekends are the most popular and organized events happen every few months. Most of the trail is wooded and wild flowers in the spring are expecially nice. Little towns along the route from Kalamazoo to S. Haven offer places to take a break, grab some lunch, etc. The trail now hooks to the Kalamazoo trail which meanders by the Kalamazoo Nature Center (it is not flat there).

My wife and I are avid outdoors people - we hike, bike, photograph, boat/kayak, and I fish. We generally plan our get-aways to include trails and in the central Midwest primarily bike trails (rails-to-trails). That's how we came to do the Kal-Haven and it was well worth the trip. It's not a challenging trail - elevation wise or steerage wise - it is simply a nice, well maintained, low impact trail through some beautiful woodland and farmland countryside. We only did ten miles out from South Haven and back (20 miles RT), but we do plan to go back to segment it further. There are numerous photo-shoot opportunities along the way and the much photographed covered bridge is only one such opportunity.

We did the trail on a morning that started out at about 48 degrees. Much of the trail is shaded so if you go in the Fall, make sure your gear includes sufficient cool weather clothing. Also, becaause we did the trail after Labor Day and on a weekday, we nearly had it to ourselves. Weekend traffic could be pretty heavy, particularly during "leaf peeper" season.

We did not ride all the way to Kalamzoo but out of South Haven for many miles and it was a well maintained crushed stone trail through woods, farming areas, and small towns. Very nice ride and plenty to see in nature.

This trail is a treasure! Great for bikers, walkers, and runners. I have ridden the trail all the way from SH to Kalamazoo, and love the trip (about 34 miles).

We love discovering great bike trails where we can bike & explore the area. We drove three hrs to South Haven based on reviews on TA. Arrived 8/8/16, a very hot day. Parking lot had almost no shade & a pit toilet which should be maintained better. We biked 10 miles RT with these comments: Trail mostly flat with some gradual grades, some segments shaded, surface very good for hybrids (mostly dirt or hard pack). You will need to stop at a few rural road crossings along the trail, be careful! We went by a (poultry?) processing farm & the smell was disgusting. We will not be back for this trail, we have far superior trails much closer to us with superior amenities.

My husband and I rented bikes and rode 16 miles out-and-back, from South Haven to Bloomingdale. The Trail is well-cared for and well-maintained. There were occasional surface changes (perhaps due to recent downpours), but generally flat and easy. There was absolutely no litter. Trail markings were clear and helpful. We found the best stop for water and snacks at a gas station in Grand Junction. We seldom ride bikes (generally do more walking and hiking) - this was a great change of pace and a really good Sunday afternoon activity.

We use this trail every year to walk our dog while on vacation at South Haven. It's so beautiful and quiet. There are a lot of bike riders on the path but they just let you know that they are behind you and then go around you. The path is crushed limestone and pretty wide. There are also mile markers along the way and benches to use for a rest.

Kal Haven trail was beautiful. We will definitely plan to bike this trail again. We are from the other side of the state, but I am glad we made the 2.5 hr drive to South Haven to bike this trail!

fun thing to do for a change of pace. I'm a runner, but really enjoyed this. Would be beautiful to take the ride in the Fall. We went 7 miles out and back. Took us about 1 1/2 hours at a comfortable pace.

We rode 10 miles out from S. Haven and back. It is a very flat, straight trail (rail trail), so not too exciting. The covered bridge was nice. The canopy provides shade most of the way.

We liked the wide, shaded pathway and the covered bridge. There are benches conveniently placed along the way.

This trail is 33 miles long and links South Haven to Kalamazoo. The trailhead at South Haven is a state park and has parking. The trail is very flat and wide. We walked only to the covered bridge then returned. Would be lovely in the fall.

This trail is 33.5 miles long, and most of it is crushed limestone. It goes through mostly flat woods and fields, and although I love woods, otherwise it is not too scenic other than when you get to South Haven and can ride on past the end of the trail to Lake Michigan. Options for food and drink along the trail are relatively minimal.

My husband and I drove to South Haven, unloaded our bicycles from our car and biked about 10 miles on this trail from South Haven toward Kalamazoo. The trail is compacted - mostly crushed gravel. It has a canopy of trees over a good portion of the trail so it is good for bicycling on those hot summer days. We biked on this trail on a hot summer day. We biked on this trail on a Tuesday and it was not crowded. This is a covered bridge you bike through that goes over a river. This trail is well maintained, quiet and peaceful. We enjoyed our ride on this trail.

This was a great bike trail. Nature mixed on the country with homes surrounding the area. Starts downtown south haven and rides for miles. It's peaceful and rustic and lots of shade with bursts of sun to make you feel warm for a few minutes. Lots of stops to pass roads and driveways but not annoyingly so. The trail is a little busy but not to bad. I have a Townie cruiser and I had no problems going up the hills and riding the trail. Good for kids if you have them as well. We would come back if we lived here. It's just a peaceful day when you ride this trail.

Nice trail but not great for road bikes. Most of trail is crushed limestone. Very pretty be nice for walking or cruiser bikes

We walked a couple miles of the trail out of South Haven and enjoyed the scenery and the trail was flat and easy to navigate. We liked the beautiful trees that canopied the entire trail. We did manage to get a photo of the covered bridge which was a nice sight.

This is my favorite bike trail to go on when we're in Southaven. Not only is there port a potties but there is shade and pavement and it's good for families as well as long distance rides. It's fun to look at the properties and you can ride as long or as short as you'd like. Great peacefulness while riding. There is a pond you can ride around and a covered bridge. The best part is if you park in Southaven you can ride downtown and to the beach too. Recommend going and bring sunscreen and water for the ride.

Fairly flat and easy trail that goes 35 miles to Kalamazoo.

one of the best nature activities in South Haven to do whether by bicycle or walking. Extends south from South Haven to the state park and beach, extends North through downtown South Haven and far beyond into the wilderness surrounding the area running by and through bridges, creeks and rivers.

Nice trail...You can stop along the way for fresh blueberries and peaches. Not paved but hard packed. Mostly well shaded.

We biked from Kalamazoo to South Haven. The trail was refreshingly cool as it progressed through a tunnel of trees through much of the route. The beauty of God's creation is remarkable throughout this trail. The surface is crushed limestone, which is passable most of the way. There are a few locations where there is too much gravel for safety, but most of it is good. (loss of good traction in these few spots) The trail has some slight upgrades and downgrades like any rail to bike trail. Overall, though, it's pretty easy pedaling. I suggest being extra cautious by some of the trail-road intersections because it is difficult to see oncoming traffic. We noticed a lot of small animals and even a deer. Come prepared with snacks because there's nothing outside of Gobles, Bloomingdale, and Grand Junction. It's the best crushed limestone trail that I have ridde in Michigan.

Our family rode round trip from South Haven to Bloomingdale and found the number of 'outhouse' facilities along the way quite useful. The trail itself is well taken care of and for the most part is a very firm setting making it extremely user friendly. At Bloomingdale we stopped and had lunch in the well maintained Augustus Haven Park where they have picnic tables and a nice little gazebo. On the recommendation of another Tripadvisor traveler, we went into the Wagoners grocery market next to the park and bought what we needed for our lunch - broasted chicken, drinks etc.. Bloomingdale itself is really just a small village, but a great stop. If you're looking for a bike challenge this is not for you, but like the many that we seen along our trip, if you enjoy cycling and being outdoors this is definitely something you should try. I give an A+ to those with the vision to make this happen and to the state of Michigan and the volunteers that ensure it continues.

I love that there are mile markers now! I only biked about 10 miles round trip but it was fun to use the trail to get to three blondes brewing! I can’t wait until businesses open so I can bike from south haven to Kalamazoo!

It seems to be used very little. We were on the trail, biking or walking, on a Fri., Sat., and Sun. and hardly saw anyone. It goes right into downtown South Haven, by the harbor. It's nicely shaded and smooth riding. Has a nice covered bridge.

We had bikes at our resort and biked from there to the trail. it was beautiful, tree covered and cool. Very nice option for this area.

We walked five miles on the trail and the reviews are accurate. Well maintained straight and marked. Well shaded. Had many more bikers than walkers. Easy walk or bike.