Kalamazoo Trailhead on 10th St.
From US-131, take exit 38B (M-43 W) to 10th St.
Take 10th St. north past H Ave to trailhead on the left side of the road.
The east trail head is located on
10th Street, near the city of
Kalamazoo.  Kalamazoo offers
lodging, food, bike repair, shopping
and many other services.  Heading
west, you will cross the first of seven
bridges which were railroad trestles.  
This stretch cuts through a hilly
area covered with wildflowers.

Continuing westward, the next
bridge you cross will be the Mentha
bridge.  Here the land is flat and
very dark.  Buildings must be raised
on blocks to prevent floors from
rotting due to extreme moisture.  
Mentha was once the world's largest
producer of mint.  You will cross
one more bridge, an old cattle
crossing, before you get to the
village of Kendall.  The town of
Gobles is a little further west.
The Depot at Bloomingdale
The trail passes the depot in
Bloomingdale.
On your way to Bloomingdale, the halfway
point, you'll cross the Skunk Creek bridge,
the shortest of all the trestles.  In
Bloomingdale is a restored depot and
caboose used as a museum.

Over Barber Creek is a rebuilt camel back
bridge.  The camel back design was used
on country roads to take vehicles over
trains.  In the village of Grand Junction the
operating CSX Railroad crosses the trail.
South Haven Trailhead off of Blue Star Hwy. at Wells St.
From Blue Star Hwy. take Wells St. west.
Turn right on Bailey St. to trailhead parking lot entrance.
Near South Haven, spanning the Black
River, is the largest trestle bridge along the
Trail.  It has since been changed to a
covered bridge.  South Haven provides
lodging, camping, refreshments, shopping,
and a public beach.  Just south of town is
Van Buren State Park with beach,
picnicking, and camping.
Maps and Directions
Trail Heads and Landmarks

The Kal-Haven Trail State Park is a multi-use park linking Kalamazoo, a major southwest
Michigan city, to South Haven, a Lake Michigan resort area.  Originally a railroad completed in
1870, the railbed has been converted to a trail with a limestone/slag surface.  It is usable for all
non-motorized bicycles, hiking, and snowmobiling when there is a 4-inch snow base.

The Kal-Haven Trail provides a unique experience for hikers, bicyclists, nature lovers,
equestrians, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.  As you travel the trail, you will pass
through small towns and villages, cross over bridges, pass points of historical interest, and go
through some of Michigan's most beautiful countryside.  Many of the towns along the way have
food and lodging available for trail users.

See the maps below for directions and more details about the trail in each region.  Click on the
maps to zoom in and out.