Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam and White Pine Trail are highlighted during next week’s Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and DNR challenge
White Cloud, MI: Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and Michigan DNR are highlighting the state’s thousands of miles of trails, challenging community members to get out on their local trails, including Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam and White Pine Trail. Michigan Trails Week begins on Sunday, September 20, and runs through the following Sunday. A key feature of the week will be the Michigan Trails Week Challenge. Michiganders can register for the challenge at https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Lansing/MichiganTrailsWeekChallenge and log their miles on Michigan trails. Registration is free, and badges are earned by hiking, biking, paddling, and more. Badges earn participants the chance to win prizes as well. Challenge organizers have selected six trails to feature during the challenge, and participants have the opportunity to make charitable donations to support the trails, including the Dragon Trail and White Pine Trail, during registration. Both trails are currently fundraising to complete construction on each respective project. Visitors can find the donation link on the sign-up page by selecting “Give to Trails” and then selecting the trail they want to donate to from the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page. “We are excited about the possibility of raising matching funds to be used toward the paving of the remaining 29 miles of our scenic West Michigan ‘rail-to-trail’ from Big Rapids to Sand Lake,” said Paul Griffith, Vice Chair of the Northern Chapter of the Friends of the White Pine Trail. “The Dragon Trail is thrilled to be a featured trail in Michigan Trails Week,” said Jodi Albaitis, fundraiser for Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam. “We should have a little over 13 miles of the total 47-mile trail done by the end of 2020, and our riders and hikers are looking forward to more being added next year.” White Pine Trail and Dragon Trail are close neighbors north of Grand Rapids. The White Pine Trail begins in Grand Rapids and runs 92 miles to Cadillac, nearly touching the 47-mile Dragon Trail, which surrounds Hardy Dam Reservoir in Mecosta and Newaygo counties. Each trail fundraising goal is $6 million and $3.7, respectively. To learn how you can help build or maintain the Dragon Trail or the White Pine Trail, or make a gift, visit thedragon.us or make a gift while registering for the Michigan Trails Week Challenge at https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/MI/Lansing/MichiganTrailsWeekChallenge. ABOUT MICHIGAN’S DRAGON AT HARDY DAM Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam is a 47-mile non-motorized, multi-use trail system located between Hardy and Rogers Dams in West Michigan. The Dragon is managed by Newaygo County Parks, Mecosta County Parks Commission, and the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance. Construction for the trail began in 2019. Learn more at www.thedragon.us. ABOUT WHITE PINE TRAIL The 92-mile White Pine Trail runs from northern Grand Rapids (Comstock Park) north to Cadillac, and is a scenic Rail-to-Trail project. It runs through rolling farmland and 15 rural communities, crosses 22 rivers and streams, and contains several bridges—one of which is 300 feet long. Learn more at whitepinetrail.com.
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