Lower Grand River Declared Official State Water Trail

A portion of the Grand River that runs through West Michigan has officially been declared a State Water Trail.

It's one of just 10 in Michigan!

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has named the Lower Grand River an official Water Trail. The Lower Grand River covers 275,237 acres and runs from Ionia County to Lake Michigan. Currently it has 35 public access points for paddlers and boaters.

Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds - LGROW/ Canva

The DNR defines a Water Trail as a "designated route on a navigable waterway such as a lake, river, canal or bay, that is designed and managed to create a positive outdoor recreation experience for the user." They are specifically designed for people using small boats like kayaks and canoes.

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Water Trails have well- developed access points and are often near historical, environmental, and cultural points of interest. You'll also often find restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds nearby. Water trails (sometime called blueways) are similar to hiking and biking trails (greenways).

The Lower Grand River Organization and Watershed (LGROW) is behind the years-long effort push to get the Water Trail designation from the DNR.

There are 630 miles of state-designated Water Trails in Michigan. The Michigan DNR evaluates waterways on the following criteria:

Provides a quality trail experience.
Offers clear information for users.
Enjoys broad community support.
Has an appropriate water trail plan in place that addresses components like safety, stewardship, historic and cultural resources, education opportunities, funding, signage, management and development, local land and water use laws, and marketing and promotion.

LGROW says it is crafting a water-resistant guide packed with information on amenities at each access point on the Lower Grand River and distances between them.