Michigan celebrated another milestone Friday in building the Iron Belle Trail, the state’s signature 2,000-mile route stretching from Detroit’s riverfront all the way to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula. A ribbon cutting on Belle Isle opened a new 5.8-mile segment that winds through the island park’s woods and shoreline. With that addition, the trail is now 71 percent complete.
When finished, the Iron Belle will be the longest state trail in the nation, linking more than 200 communities with a combination of hiking and biking paths that follow river corridors, rail-to-trail conversions, city greenways, and forest routes. Funding for the project comes from state recreation grants, federal transportation dollars, local governments, and private partners, including conservation foundations and trail groups.
Supporters say the trail will provide not just recreation, but also a boost for local economies along the way — from Detroit’s waterfront to Lake Superior’s southern shore.
Another version of this story first appeared at wvbi.net
