Hart-Montague Trail

Nov 3, 2021

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Address: 43.55,-86.342778
Countie(s) trail is located in: Muskegon <> Oceana
Trail Type(s): Cross Country Skiing <> Hiking <> Road Biking <> Snowmobile
Trail Measurement: 22.5 Miles
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The William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park is a paved, 22-mile trail passing through rural, forested lands. Scenic overlooks and picnic areas are located along the route. This is designated a wildlife viewing area.

Trail Distance:

22.5 miles long.

Directions:

From US 31 exit at Hart Exit (Polk Rd.), go East 1/4 mile to parking lot on left.

Trail Description:

It is a bicycle trail which runs from the city of Montague in Muskegon County to the city of Hart in Oceana County, Michigan. The trail is on the route of a former railroad. It was one of the first “Rails to Trails” projects in the state of Michigan, its success paved the way for more trails throughout the state and Midwest. The trails total length is 22 miles, however continuous expansions have increased that length in recent years with the hope of linking it to other trails throughout Western Michigan.

The Hart-Montague Trail State Park is a paved, 22-mile trail passing through rural, forested lands. Scenic overlooks and picnic areas are located along the route. The DNR currently provides only emergency maintenance services and seeks governmental agencies to operate and maintain its linear park trails.

Features:

Designated Watchable Wildlife Site – The Wildlife Viewing Guide is now on line at www.michigan.gov/miwildlifeviewing
Biking
Hiking
Snowmobile Area – 4″ of snow is required in order to snowmobile on this trail.
Cross Country Ski

Hart-Montague Trail State Park is a linear state park in Michigan consisting of a bicycle trail running from the city of Montague in Muskegon County to the city of Hart in Oceana County. Recognizing its potential, Bill Field of Shelby purchased the former railroad and donated it for trail use to the State of Michigan. Opened in 1991 and officially adopted as a Rails to Trails park in 1996, it was one of the first “Rails to Trails” projects in the State of Michigan. Its success paved the way for more trails throughout the state and Midwest. The trail’s total length was previously 22 miles (35 km); however continuous expansions have increased that length in recent years with the hope of linking it to other trails throughout Western Michigan. A number of local businesses, such as restaurants and ice cream parlors, in the towns along the trail have posted small, discreet signage near the trail to attract cycling visitors who might not otherwise ever notice the little shops in the intervening small municipalities. A whimsically themed ice cream / dairy bar in New Era, roughly halfway along the trail, is often mentioned by trail visitors, although there are also a number of others spread along the trail. There is a bicycle shop for repairs on Water Street in Montague in the south, as well as a bike rental shop on Silver Lake Rd in Mears near the northern end of the trail.

Waypoints

Waypoints for the Hart-Montague Trail. ↑ in the Distance column points to the other waypoint that the distance is between.

Location	Services	Distance (approx.)	Coordinates
Hart, Michigan	Parking, Restroom		43°41′21″N 86°22′22″W
Mears, Michigan		↑ 2.5 miles (4.0 km)	43°40′39″N 86°25′07″W
Shelby, Michigan	Drinking Fountain, Parking, Restroom	↑ 5.3 miles (8.5 km)	43°36′42″N 86°21′54″W
New Era, Michigan	Drinking Fountain, Parking, Restroom	↑ 3.8 miles (6.1 km)	43°33′35″N 86°20′42″W
Rothbury, Michigan	Drinking Fountain, Restroom	↑ 3.9 miles (6.3 km)	43°30′12″N 86°20′40″W
Montague, Michigan	Parking, Restroom	↑ 6 miles (10 km)	43°25′01″N 86°21′10″W