Leg 3 - White Pine Trail

White Pine Trail Expedition

Leg 3 Russell Street Trailhead to Grosvenor Street

Monday, 14 July 2003

Continue Hike 1636 EST

Team Members Present - Chuck Hayden

Russell Street Trailhead to Grosvenor Street

Maintained by: Michigan DNR

Visible Blazes: No. Linear Parkway, blazes not needed

Topography: 100% Flat

Map: Kent County Map, DNR Map of White Pine Trail

Trail Surface: 100% Gravel

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Condition: Good to Average

Unique Features: City of Cedar Springs, Wooded area just north of Cedar Springs, two bridges

Leg Description: After work, I started the gravel. This section is 6.5 miles. The trail is more like a two track. The only unique features were a 2 bridges. One north and one south of Cedar Springs, Michigan. Also, the deep woods just north of Cedar Springs are quite Unique. The trail just north of the City is getting a little over grown, but it is still very passable. Just outside the City, the trail follows Northland Drive (Old 131) for quite a ways, I think to Morley, Michigan. This section begins my old stomping grounds. I remember, as a kid, walking the tracks to Cedar Springs from Sand Lake, at night!! I also took the tracks with my first mountain bike. About 5 miles of sheer punishment.

I ended the trip at the rural Grosveor Road. I uncovered the foliage from my bike and unlocked it from the fence post. Then as I peered across Northland Drive, I noticed the abandoned house that my father spent part of his childhood in the 1940's. It was shrouded in trees with weather beaten siding, a red roof and the window frames had no glass. Some ingenious sole has placed an axled, fully mobile home next to it. I was kind of surprised the old house still stands.

Much less traffic. I probably passed about 10 people in 6.5 miles. Next leg is through Sand Lake (my home town). Ended at Cannondale Mountain Bike Bravo time 1837 hours. Very nice walk.

Notes: None

Submitted by Pathfinder

Russell Road Trailhead

Crossing under M-57

Leg 3 Map A (210k)

Leg 3 Map B (208k)

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