Hart Montague Trail - Whitehall to Country Dairy

Tree tunnel on Hart - Montague Trail

The scenery of this trail brings a smile to our faces year after year.

Road closure due to high water between Whitehall and Montague

Although the storms in western Michigan haven't been as severe as in Oklahoma, there has been more than enough rainfall to cause problems.  The road between Whitehall and Montague was closed from flooding.  No problem for us since the bike trail crossing the river was still open.  I wonder if a delivery truck for Montague Foods might park at the Visitor Center (see next picture) and run his groceries across the bike trail.   It would be about a 20 mile detour if he chose to drive around the flooding or a 1/2 mile tote of goods.  I suspect the 20 mile workaround would be best.  

Visitor Center (old rail stop at Whitehall)

We begin our ride at the Visitor Center in Whitehall rather than the gazebo in Montague.  This only added about a mile total to our planned ride.

The caboose shows the Chesapeake and Ohio ran their train along this route in olden times.

Trikes are a little slower than conventional bikes, but stopping for pictures is easier.

The White River delta, (Michigan)

This marshy area is just before the river flows into White Lake.

Debbie looking over White River off the trail bridge.  

The White River begins near White Cloud, Michigan and flows into 

White Lake which flows into Lake Michigan which flows into Lake Huron which flows into Lake Erie which flows through Niagara Falls and into Lake Ontario which flows into the St. Lawrence River which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.  Perhaps Debbie is wondering how long it takes a drop of water falling at White Cloud to make it to the Atlantic.  

A crop of wildflowers that come out each year

I think God likes purple

Selfies at a creek crossing

I think I see a few fish or is it just moss swirling

The trail from Montague to Hart is the oldest converted rail-trail in Michigan, but the surface and bridges were redone just a couple of years back. 

The smooth trail makes for a great ride

The trail approaching New Era

All along the trail are these pink honeysuckle bushes.

The white variety is more predominate than the pink

Dogwoods are now in bloom - but not for long

Our final destination on this trip is the Country Dairy which lies between New Era and Shelby

Our roundtrip from Whitehall and the Country Dairy and back was about 24 miles.