Paul Henry-Thornapple Rail Trail
Entering East Paris Nature Park in Kentwood on the trail headed west.
Length42 miles (67.6 km) (when complete)
TrailheadsGrand Rapids, Michigan
Vermontville, Michigan
UseCycling, Hiking
Websitehttps://www.thornappletrail.com
Sections of Trail (Paved, Gravel, and Grass)

The Paul Henry–Thornapple Rail Trail (commonly referred to as the Thornapple Trail or Paul Henry Trail) is a rail trail that when complete will be 42 miles (68 km) long, running from Grand Rapids to Vermontville, Michigan.[1] The trail closely follows the original route of the Grand River Valley Railroad, constructed in 1868-69 and in operation from 1870 to 1983.[2] The trail is managed by multiple different agencies.[3] The trail has multiple paved sections still to be connected, with a 21⁄2 mile gap between Caledonia and Middleville, a 5-mile gap between Middleville and Hastings, and multiple smaller gaps between Hastings and Nashville. Completed sections of the trail have a 10-foot (3.0 m) wide paved surface with a gravel shoulder. The longest paved section of trail is within Kent county between the trail terminus at Kalamazoo Avenue in Kentwood and 108th Street in Caledonia Township. The trail has connections with the Frederik Meijer Trail (previously the M-6 Trail) and the East-West Trail both in Kentwood. A section of the trail from Irving to Middleville (McCann Rd. to Crane Rd.) is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

History

The trail is constructed on a section of the former railroad the Grand River Valley Railroad, which ran from Grand Rapids to Jackson. Originally chartered on May 4, 1846, the railroad remained dormant for 20 years. Construction on the line began in 1868–1869. The first train, pulled by the locomotive 'Muskegon', arrived in Grand Rapids on January 1, 1870. Regular service commenced a few weeks later on January 17.

Shortly after the line's creation on August 15, 1870, it was perpetually leased by the Michigan Central Railroad as a branch for their system. On September 15, 1916, the Grand River Valley Railroad was formally merged into the Michigan Central Railroad. Subsequently, on February 1, 1930, The New York Central Railroad absorbed the Michigan Central.

In the 1920s, passenger service featured a daily train each way between Grand Rapids and Detroit. By the 1950s, the service had been downgraded from a train to a motorized passenger car called a Budd Rail Diesel Car or RDC. New York Central referred to the service as 'The Beeliner'. The tracks were well maintained, with relatively high speed limits of 60 mph for passenger service and 40 mph for freight. Passenger service concluded with the last Beeliner running in December 1959. Freight service continued and usually consisted of a daily train heading from Grand Rapids to Jackson with a return trip the next day.

On February 1, 1968, New York Central merged with Pennsylvania Railroad to form Penn Central Railroad. By 1970, Penn Central was in bankruptcy and track maintenance and service suffered. On April 1, 1976, Conrail took over operation of the line and discontinued service on the line east of Vermontville to Eaton Rapids. While Conrail did not wish to continue operating the line, an agreement was reached to ensure the line's operation under a contract with the State of Michigan. In 1979, Conrail did not renew its agreement with the state.

On July 15, 1979, the Kent-Barry-Eaton Connecting Railway (KBEC) commenced operations under a contract with the state, securing a subsidy for operating the line between Grand Rapids and Vermontville, servicing 11 customers, 6 of them "regulars". It was the first minority owned railroad in the country. Freight primarily consisted of grain, lumber, manufactured goods and scrap metal. A failure to build freight traffic on the line combined with "inexperienced railroad management" led to the state ending its contract with KBEC and service on the line ceasing completely on October 15, 1983.[2][4]

Route Description

Kent

The northwest terminus is at Kalamazoo Avenue just south of 44th Street on the border of Kentwood and Grand Rapids. The trail begins by heading southeast, and after a mile, has a connection with the East-West Trail in Kentwood. Continuing southeast, the trail progresses toward 60th Street and Wing Avenue, where it links to the Frederik Meijer Trail (formerly the M-6 Trail).[5] From there, the trail heads east along 60th Street, connecting to Paris Park Nature Reserve and passing through East Paris Nature Park.

After traversing the park, the trail turns south to follow East Paris Avenue before crossing over M-6. After crossing 68th Street, the trail departs from East Paris Avenue and resumes its southward course through farmland, eventually rejoining the old railroad embankment. At the embankment, a spur follows the old rail line northwest, connecting to Dutton Shadyside Park and 68th Street.

Continuing south, the trail reaches 76th Street before turning east, rejoining the embankment and continuing southeast. The trail extends for 4 miles through rural farmland before reaching Main Street in the Village of Caledonia. At this point, the trail transitions to sidewalks and sharrows through the village until South Maple Street and Kinsey Street, where the trail resumes its southeastward course. The trail then turns east to cross M-37 before quickly returning south to rejoin the embankment, continuing southeast to the county line at 108th Street.[6]

Barry

Looking north-west at the trailhead on Stimson Road.

Headed south across 108th Street, the trail surface transitions from paved asphalt to graded dirt before ending at Stimson Road. The trail section between Stimson Road and Crane Road is currently private property and is in the planning/proposal stage. Trail users in this area must navigate an on-road segment on Stimson Road, heading south to M-37 and then east on Crane Road across the Thornapple River.

After crossing the river on Crane Road the trail picks up again heading along the banks of the Thornapple River and crossing over Main Street in Middleville. A section of the trail south of Middleville is closed in November for hunting season. The trail continues south along the river through some wetlands, eventually crossing the river on an old converted rail bridge, before reaching Irving at McCann Road where the trail changes from asphalt to grass. It then continues for another 2 miles before ending at private property on Irving Road. The section between Irving Road and Hastings is currently in the planning/proposal stage.

The trail within Hastings city limits has been completed and connects to both Tyden Park and Bliss Riverfront Park. To the east of Hastings, there are multiple trail sections divided by private property, comprising approximately 10 miles of mostly grass and some paved trail separated by 4 miles of private property. These sections are currently in the planning/proposal stage.

Currently, there is a grass trail starting at Greggs Crossing Road, extending southeast along the Thornapple River. It then follows alongside M-79 briefly before turning northeast through Nashville.

The path through Nashville predominantly traces the old railroad's northeasterly route. With the exception of a brief 1000ft paved segment of trail west of Nashville over Quaker Brook, the trail remains grass until reaching Maple Valley High School.

Eaton

After leaving Nashville and crossing Reed Street the trail continues northeast, entering Eaton County. The trail continues to Maple Valley High School where the trail changes from grass to asphalt. Continuing it's course the trail crosses the Thornapple River, again on another converted rail bridge, before turning slightly south, ultimately arriving at the trail terminus in Vermontville.[6]

Trailheads

County Location Parking Surface Amenities Coordinates
Kent Northwest terminus (Kalamazoo Ave. & 44th St.) None None 42°53′00″N 85°37′33″W / 42.883325°N 85.625771°W / 42.883325; -85.625771
Bowen Station Park Paved Restrooms and water 42°52′55″N 85°37′23″W / 42.881916°N 85.623128°W / 42.881916; -85.623128
Stauffer Station Park Paved Restrooms and water 42°52′08″N 85°36′24″W / 42.868779°N 85.606731°W / 42.868779; -85.606731
Wing Station Trailhead Paved Water 42°51′22″N 85°35′26″W / 42.856205°N 85.590652°W / 42.856205; -85.590652
Caledonia Lakeside Park Paved Restrooms, water, picnic tables, and covered shelter 42°47′35″N 85°31′01″W / 42.793012°N 85.517011°W / 42.793012; -85.517011
Downtown Caledonia Street Parking Downtown Caledonia 42°47′21″N 85°30′56″W / 42.789278°N 85.515521°W / 42.789278; -85.515521
108th Street Dirt, limited parking None 42°46′08″N 85°29′29″W / 42.768767°N 85.491459°W / 42.768767; -85.491459
Barry Stimson Road Dirt, limited parking None 42°45′39″N 85°28′55″W / 42.760786°N 85.481808°W / 42.760786; -85.481808
Trail Segment Unfinished; Approx. 21⁄2 mile gap
Crane Road Paved None 42°43′30″N 85°28′05″W / 42.724863°N 85.467986°W / 42.724863; -85.467986
Downtown Middleville Paved Downtown Middleville, restrooms, water, picnic tables, and covered shelter 42°42′45″N 85°27′58″W / 42.712419°N 85.465973°W / 42.712419; -85.465973
Irving Trailhead (McCann Rd) Dirt None 42°41′14″N 85°25′04″W / 42.687213°N 85.417672°W / 42.687213; -85.417672
Trail Segment Unfinished; Approx. 5 mile gap
Apple Street Riverfront Trailhead Paved None 42°38′59″N 85°17′44″W / 42.649790°N 85.295425°W / 42.649790; -85.295425
Tyden Park Paved Downtown Hastings, restrooms, and water 42°39′07″N 85°17′32″W / 42.652078°N 85.292224°W / 42.652078; -85.292224
Bliss Riverfront Park Dirt None 42°38′32″N 85°16′12″W / 42.642172°N 85.270101°W / 42.642172; -85.270101
Trail Segment Unfinished; Multiple unconnected segments of trail; Approx. 4 mile gap
Downtown Nashville Street Parking Downtown Nashville 42°36′03″N 85°05′37″W / 42.600819°N 85.093639°W / 42.600819; -85.093639
Eaton Maple Valley High School Paved Restrooms and water 42°36′44″N 85°03′21″W / 42.612208°N 85.055922°W / 42.612208; -85.055922
Southeast terminus (Vermontville) None None 42°37′01″N 85°01′37″W / 42.617039°N 85.026970°W / 42.617039; -85.026970[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail". Thornapple Trail Association.
  2. 1 2 "History of the Railroad and Trail Construction". Thornapple Trail Association. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Paul Henry Thornapple Trail". Kent County Parks.
  4. ↑ Seaberry, Jane (1979-07-24). "Minority-Owned Firm Running Mich. Railroad". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  5. ↑ Makarewicz, Julie (2008-11-27). "Trail Links Kentwood's Paul Henry, M-6 Pedestrian Paths (includes map)". Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  6. 1 2 3 "Paul Henry Thornapple Trail Map" (PDF).
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