Saginaw Valley Rail Trail
TRAIL GUIDE (Printable)

Park Hours
Daylight Hours

The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail covers 9.55 miles of abandoned rail corridor in Saginaw County, stretching from St. Charles to Saginaw. It incorporates a number of natural features including:

Seven bridges over various rivers and creeks

The Shiawassee State Game Area

Many wetland areas

Designed for various recreational uses, the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail provides:

  • Safe, quiet places for hiking, bicycling, jogging, walking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and nature study.
  • Safe, handicap accessible transportation for all ages.
  • A linear, county park open to the public all year.
  • A unique way of experiencing the landscape, without using fossil fuel or endangering the environment.
  • Economic benefits as a tourist destination.
  • Preservation of transportation corridors.
  • Shelter for wildlife
  • Protection for rare plants
  • A sense of history, with old railroad relics and memories
Vehicle Admission Free

Would you like to be a friend of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail?
Visit the Friends webpage by clicking on logo.

How do I get to the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail?

There are three parking facilities for the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. These areas are located on Stroebel Rd. and Van Wormer Rd. in James Township and at Lumberjack Park on Water St. in St. Charles.

The Stroebel Rd. parking lot is still under construction and not yet open for use.

Directions to Van Wormer parking lot.

Travel M-52 to Swan Creek Rd. Turn East. Travel Swan Creek Rd until you see a yellow blinking light over the road (the light warns you of the trail crossing the road). Turn North (left) on to Van Wormer Rd. and then Turn West (left) into the parking lot

From Saginaw
Travel M-46 to Center Rd. Turn South (left on to Center Rd. Center Rd will curve to the west turning into Swan Creek Rd. Follow Swan Creek Rd to Van Wormer Rd. Turn North (right) on Van Wormer Rd. then turn West (left) into the parking lot.

Directions to the parking lot at Lumberjack Park.

From the North:
Travel M-52 (South) through the Village of St. Charles. At Water St. turn left. (if you make it to the stop light you have gone to far) Follow Water St. the parking lot is on the left hand side of the road.

From the South:
Travel M-52 (North) to the Village of St. Charles. At the stoplight turn left to follow M-52 then turn right on to Water St. Follow Water St. the parking lot is on the left hand side of the road.