Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Posts that don't fit in the other train categories. Off Subject Chit Chat I tell you. :)
Raildudes dad
Roadmaster
Posts: 4753
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:12 am
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by Raildudes dad »

AARR wrote:FYI
Posted by Joe on 5/25/2015, 12:57 am, in reply to "Bike the Owosso-Ionia Trail"
Its not exactly "packed" limestone. I have gone from St Johns to Pewamo and back. I don't believe the trail is really complete all the way to ionia however, it seems to be a 2 track and larger stones towards Ionia. Better check it by car first. the gravel portion can slow one down a bit as it is softer than you might be used to, so like you mentioned, fatter tires will be preferred.
It's crushed limestone to Prairie Creek which is right next to the American Bumper plant now Ventra Ionia. That was finished last fall and dedicated on April 18, 2015. The contract has been let to pave it from there west thru Ionia with a bridge over M-66. Crushed limestone picks up again west of Ionia to Saranac. I am working on the plans for crushed limestone from Saranac to Lowell.

Closest fast food in Ionia is Burger King on M-66 just north of the fairgrounds, south of the rail grade. Good pizza on the east side of M-66 across from the fairgrounds.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37905
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by AARR »

Posted by AGHudley on 5/25/2015, 9:05 am, in reply to "Re: Bike the Owosso-Ionia Trail"
First, and I'm not sure why, but the trail name is Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee, or CIS. That trips a lot of geocachers up. Information is available at

I have ridden parts of the trail twice, once on my Fatboy around Muir and Pewamo, and I rode the trail from the east side of Ionia to St. Johns and back on my road on the day trail had its ribbon cutting ceremony at St. Johns in April.

It was rough between Ionia and Muir because horseback riders who are not supposed to be on the trail have left their mark in the packed stone, but other than that, it was rideable. The packed stone will take some time to firm up. When it does, it should be a good trail to ride with any bike. Until then, I would follow Don's recommendation of using a mountain bike or fat bike. I'm working on getting a set of cyclocross tires for my roadbike and may try that approach.

I think work through Ionia may be happening this summer, but I'm not sure.

I'll be watching for your ride date. I could be coerced.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

User avatar
Jetlink
Not a Railfan
Posts: 3571
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:41 pm
Location: 2.5 miles from CH 116.3

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by Jetlink »

I'm working a trip that ends Saturday June 27. Could probably do Sunday June 28. And I'll second RDD. Crushed Limestone all the way to the creek by the Bumper. There is parking at a small city park right there.
interested in trains

Patiently waiting for LansingRailfan to antagonize me in his tagline

pbmaxno15
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 252
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Caseville, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by pbmaxno15 »

June 27 or 28 would be great. :D June 20 and 21 is Father's Day Weekend. That would be bad. :x

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37905
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by AARR »

If it's loose I'm not going to attempt biking it. Loose stone is a b***** to ride.
Posted by Ren Farley on 5/26/2015, 3:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Bike the Owosso-Ionia Trail"
About three weeks ago, I started to ride from St. John to Owasso on this trail using my hybrid bicycle. I found it very difficult to travel since the gravel was so loose and soft. At one point I thought that I had a flat tire. I got less than 8 miles into my journey and turned around. Perhaps the new trail will become much more firm in the future.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

User avatar
~Z~
Sofa King Admin
Posts: 12908
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:14 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Contact:

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by ~Z~ »

Hearing a lot of loose stone issues along most of that route...hmm... maybe we could just do a different trail for June 28th?
Thoughts:
1. Start in Stanton, ride to Greenville, back through Stanton to Edmore, and back to Stanton? Asphalt trail, 45 miles total.
2. Rockford to Cedar Springs, south to Comstock Park, and back to Rockford? Asphalt, 32 miles total.
3. Grand Junction, ride to South Haven, back east to Bloomingdale and back? Crushed stone, but supposedly very firm. 35 miles total.
4. Teft Rd parking lot west of Jackson, ride east to Jackson, then west to Concord and return, asphalt, 29 miles total.

AARR, if you are still interested in doing one of these rail trails, want to pick one and lets get the date set?
Webmaster
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37905
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by AARR »

Good suggestions, ~Z~. I'll give it some thought and circle around to you.
~Z~ wrote:Hearing a lot of loose stone issues along most of that route...hmm... maybe we could just do a different trail for June 28th?
Thoughts:
1. Start in Stanton, ride to Greenville, back through Stanton to Edmore, and back to Stanton? Asphalt trail, 45 miles total.
2. Rockford to Cedar Springs, south to Comstock Park, and back to Rockford? Asphalt, 32 miles total.
3. Grand Junction, ride to South Haven, back east to Bloomingdale and back? Crushed stone, but supposedly very firm. 35 miles total.
4. Teft Rd parking lot west of Jackson, ride east to Jackson, then west to Concord and return, asphalt, 29 miles total.

AARR, if you are still interested in doing one of these rail trails, want to pick one and lets get the date set?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

Raildudes dad
Roadmaster
Posts: 4753
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:12 am
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by Raildudes dad »

The White Pine is paved to Sand Lake, that would add 8 miles to the 32 just going to Cedar Springs.

pbmaxno15
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 252
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:47 pm
Location: Caseville, MI

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by pbmaxno15 »

Pere Marquette out of Midland has lots of distance options.
Fred Meijer Heartland Trail out of Alma would be another option with numerous distance options.

User avatar
J T
Hates Supper
Posts: 11367
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Grand Rapids
Contact:

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by J T »

~Z~ wrote:Hearing a lot of loose stone issues along most of that route...hmm... maybe we could just do a different trail for June 28th?
Thoughts:
1. Start in Stanton, ride to Greenville, back through Stanton to Edmore, and back to Stanton? Asphalt trail, 45 miles total.
2. Rockford to Cedar Springs, south to Comstock Park, and back to Rockford? Asphalt, 32 miles total.
3. Grand Junction, ride to South Haven, back east to Bloomingdale and back? Crushed stone, but supposedly very firm. 35 miles total.
4. Teft Rd parking lot west of Jackson, ride east to Jackson, then west to Concord and return, asphalt, 29 miles total.

AARR, if you are still interested in doing one of these rail trails, want to pick one and lets get the date set?
Please let's not do Rockford. I've been on that trail dozens of times and I'm bored of it. :twisted: A crushed rock trail for my mountain bike would be much more enjoyable, otherwise I'd bring my road bike for the Fred Meijer trail through Rockford.

The other three sound very interesting, and I especially like the sound of #1. I've yet to try #3, so that would be cool as well.

Zack, I have a hitch mounted double bike rack, so if you wanted, I could drive and carry our two bikes.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimthias/
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.

User avatar
PAT.C
Green BS SPECIALIST
Posts: 1808
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:33 pm
Location: LANSING MI---DELTA TOWNSHIP .

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by PAT.C »

WHEN I RODE THIS LINE FROM DURAND TO MUSKEGON AND BACK,I WAS IN A GP38.

I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF THE TRACKS WERE STILL IN PLACE.

User avatar
SW
Rail Trail Explorer
Posts: 11082
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:51 pm
Location: Owosso, MI - 1 mile north of the GLC

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by SW »

I'm in. Did the section from Fowler west to Muir (10.3 miles) and back a couple weeks ago. The non-paved sections are OK for a road bike. Very nice trail.
Owosso Steve

User avatar
SW
Rail Trail Explorer
Posts: 11082
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:51 pm
Location: Owosso, MI - 1 mile north of the GLC

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by SW »

AARR wrote:If it's loose I'm not going to attempt biking it. Loose stone is a b***** to ride.
Posted by Ren Farley on 5/26/2015, 3:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Bike the Owosso-Ionia Trail"
About three weeks ago, I started to ride from St. John to Owasso on this trail using my hybrid bicycle. I found it very difficult to travel since the gravel was so loose and soft. At one point I thought that I had a flat tire. I got less than 8 miles into my journey and turned around. Perhaps the new trail will become much more firm in the future.
Don, the section I rode had a quality similar to the Paint Creek Trail. Not bad at all.
Owosso Steve

User avatar
Jochs
Iron Horse Whisperer
Posts: 7279
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:52 pm
Location: On my laptop!

Re: Owosso-Ionia Bike Trail Railfanning Ride

Unread post by Jochs »

FYI, I don't think the White Pine Trail is paved south of Cadillac, but it is near downtown.
(And I just blew a good 'Where am I?'..... :? :lol: )
wtpinecaddy.jpg
Jeff O.
Celebrating 11 years dial-up free!

(18:36:45) MagnumForce: Railfanning is way more fun when you stop caring about locomotives and signals
(19:11:29) cbehr91: I can't believe I'm +1ing Brent but +1

Post Reply