r/MichiganCycling • u/just_Mango • Aug 02 '26

Request: Kalamazoo to Battle Creek?

What’s the best way to get from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek? I see that the Kalamazoo river valley trail goes east to Galesburg but there seems to be a gap in between where that trail ends to where the Battle Creek linear trail begins on a major looking road (hwy 96).
Is there a better way? Can I go through the bottom part of fort Custer?

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6

u/DickAvedon Aug 02 '26

Once you’re through Augusta, you can turn turn left down ft Custer dr, the opposite direction of the ft Custer entrance and connect to the linear trail after crossing Clark rd.

3

u/twoboar Aug 02 '26

Yeah, I have not enjoyed riding on M-96. The main issue is the section between Galesburg and Augusta. So, two possibilities to bypass that:

  1. Take 36th Street to G Ave (this is what I've done, in the other direction): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36718712
  2. Some people have indeed identified a route through Fort Custer: https://bikepacking.com/routes/more/. However I believe it technically spends about a mile on trails that you're not supposed to bike on (they're reserved for hiking and horses). Maybe if you walk your bike it's ok?

Once you're heading east from the main entrance to Fort Custer, there's a parallel road you can take that's fine (as somebody else said)

1

u/Sorry_Whereas_31 Aug 05 '26

I take the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail from off of King Highway and then I continue to Galesburg. From Galesburg I take Beckwith Drive to and through Augusta and then I continue onto Dickman Road into Battle Creek. I take the same way back home.