The Pere Marquette Rail Trail

Downtown Clare is the hub of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, a paved path built on an old railroad line. From Clare it runs about 30 miles southeast all the way to Midland — a smooth, flat ride through woods and small towns — and the trail system also continues west through Farwell. It’s popular for biking, walking, running, and in winter, skiing.

For a small town, having a long paved trail right downtown is a real perk — you can ride for miles without getting in the car. The Clare trailhead is in town near the old railroad depot.