Reed City: the Crossroads of two rail-trails

Reed City has called itself “the Crossroads of Michigan” for well over a century, and it earned the name twice over. First came the railroads — two lines crossed here in the logging era. Then the highways — US-131 (north-south) and US-10 (east-west) still meet just outside town.

Today the crossroads is a draw for a different reason: Reed City is one of the few places in Michigan where two rail-trails cross. The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail runs north-south (it’s the long paved trail between the Grand Rapids area and Cadillac), and the Pere Marquette State Trail runs east-west toward Clare. They meet right downtown at the restored Reed City Depot, so you can set out walking, biking, or snowmobiling in four directions from the same spot. The Hersey River runs through town, too.

For buyers who want an active, outdoorsy small town, that trail access is a real perk — and it’s part of why Reed City bills itself as the rail-trail capital of the state. You can find trail maps and details at reedcity.org.