Discover Midland: Trails, Winter Activities, and History

Midland offers several distinct highlights for a stay: the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, Midland City Forest, Dow Gardens, Heritage Park, and the kayak and canoe launch at the Tridge. There is also a city BMX track and groomed winter trails in the forest. The options range from longer trails and seasonal activities to gardens, local history, and paddling. If you’re looking for a hotel in Midland, a practical starting point is to consider which themes will shape your trip. Plan your stay around these interests: trails, winter activities, and historical themes each offer a different focus.

The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail

The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail begins at the Farmers' Market in downtown Midland and runs 30 miles west to the city of Clare. This gives you a specific starting point, direction, and endpoint. At 30 miles long, the trail is a clearly defined route option. This sets it apart from individual sites and facilities such as Midland City Forest or the BMX track at Stratford Woods Park. If you include the trail in your travel plans, you can follow its route from its starting point in Midland to its destination in Clare. The route connection is the main consideration when choosing this option.

Forest and winter trails

Midland City Forest covers 520 acres of deciduous and coniferous woodland. It has 7.5 miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The two figures describe different things: 520 acres refers to the area of the forest, while 7.5 miles refers to the groomed trails for these winter activities. Winter conditions and operating details may vary. If you’re planning to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, check conditions before your visit. This lets you account for the seasonal activity in your plans without assuming that conditions will remain the same.

Gardens and Midland County history

Dow Gardens was originally created in 1899 for Herbert H. Dow’s home. The garden therefore has a specific historical connection: the year and original purpose are part of its story. At Heritage Park, visitors can learn about the history of Midland County. The two places offer different cultural perspectives: Dow Gardens is associated with a specific historic estate, while Heritage Park focuses on the county’s history. If you’d like to include culture and history in your travel plans alongside outdoor activities, you can choose between them based on this difference in focus.

Paddling and BMX

At the Tridge in downtown Midland, there is an accessible launch for kayaks and canoes. Seasonal launch hours and weather-related access may change; check the conditions if you’re planning to paddle. The city’s BMX track is located in Stratford Woods Park. The two activities have clearly different uses: the Tridge provides access for kayaks or canoes, while the BMX track is at Stratford Woods Park. This lets you identify the activity that interests you when planning, rather than treating different offerings as interchangeable.

Plan your stay around your main interest

Conditions also vary depending on when you travel: cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are the winter activities at City Forest, while seasonal launch hours and weather may affect access at the Tridge. If one of these activities is essential to your trip, take the relevant conditions into account when planning. Other highlights range from the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, which runs west, to gardens and local history.

For a broader travel overview: Midland County.