Introduction
Trails, greenways, bikeways, and other non-motorized transportation facilities are a critical part of a community’s mobility infrastructure. Whether helping connect residents to recreation opportunities, visitors to local economies, or residents to their schools and jobs – such facilities play heavily into the quality of life and sense of community.
In St. Clair County, a number of signature regional trails connect to and through portions of the county, including: the Macomb-Orchard Trail, the Wadhams to Avoca Trail, and most prominently, the Bridge to Bay Trail.
These existing trails are already defining elements of the communities through which they pass and greatly valued by residents and visitors alike. The potential for a county-wide system is not yet fully-realized, as there are significant gaps between existing trail segments. Additionally, there are many destinations, important from an economic and recreational standpoint, that are not yet accessible by trails or other non-motorized facilities.
St. Clair County Trails Plan
The purpose of the St. Clair County Trails Plan, completed in 2019 and led by a coalition of stakeholders including St. Clair County Parks & Recreation, Friends of the St. Clair River, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and multiple local townships and cities, was to assess the overall county and its major destinations, inventory the existing trail systems, and understand community desires.
The resulting plan identifies opportunities, needs, and priorities for future trail and bikeway projects. The planning process engaged a broad range of stakeholders to develop three outcomes:
- Identify existing gaps in county-wide trail networks
- Identify preferred alternatives to eliminate the gaps
- Prioritize projects to support implementation decisions
Read more about the trails project:
Smith Group Report: St. Clair County Trails Plan
Smith Group Report: St. Clair County Trails Report Appendix
Public Sector Consultants Report: Economic Impact of Trail Development- Executive Summary
Public Sector Consultants Report: Economic Impact of Trail Development – Full Report
Regional Bridge to Bay Trail Project
An unprecedented opportunity has begun that builds off a two-decade vision and launches another multi-year plan to connect and complete the region’s 54-mile Bridge To Bay Trail. This regional trail plan, stretching from New Baltimore to Lakeport, includes three phases originally estimated at $12M and will add another 18 miles to the Bridge To Bay Trail. Once complete, the Bridge to Bay Trail will be a critical link for connecting to other trails in Southeast Michigan.
Oversight of this initiative is provided from the Regional Trails Governing Board (Board) with oversight by Friends of the St. Clair River and coordination from Local Units of Governments who own, lease or operate land that touches the Bridge to Bay Trail. Support for activities comes from multiple Trail Advisory Committees. The Regional Board is a coalition of stakeholders and community stakeholders invested in the development, sustainability and oversight of the Bridge To Bay Trail and future segments, needs and opportunities. Significant grant funding comes from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
Attention is also being given to the existing 26+ miles of trail infrastructure. Additional funding is rehabilitating and reconstructing additional existing segments as some segments are twenty years old.
Get Involved In Trails
- Build a culture for biking by being an advocate for trails in your community
- Join an Advisory Trail Committee group in Port Huron, Marysville, St, Clair, Marine City and Downriver
- Familiarize yourself with the 54-mile Bridge To Bay Trail
- Send St. Clair County Trails Planning questions to Friends of the St. Clair River at info@scriver.org
News:
St. Clair receives $209K for Bridge to Bay Trail improvements
February 18, 2026
ST. CLAIR, MI — The city of St. Clair received a $209,652 federal grant on Monday, Feb. 16, to improve pedestrian safety along Riverside Avenue and help close a gap in the regional Bridge to Bay Trail.
The funding was presented during Monday’s City Council meeting by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) through the Transportation Alternatives Program and its Safe Streets…
Port Huron preps “Road Diet” to add bike lanes and link growing trail network
November 28, 2025
The city plans to reconstruct Huron Avenue by 2027, implementing a road diet that reduces lanes, adds protected bike infrastructure, and connects downtown to the expanding Bridge to Bay Trail.
Port Huron’s main downtown corridor is set for a major transformation by 2027 as the city prepares to put Huron Avenue on a “road diet,” reducing it from four lanes to three and adding protected bike lanes as part of a full reconstruction project…
Marine City gets $50,000 grant for fishing pier, walkway
July 8, 2024
It may seem a ways off yet, but by the spring of 2025 Marine City will have a new fishing pier and walkway installed and ready for the public’s use in its Marina District.
The project, that will begin taking shape later this summer, is being made possible thanks to a pair of grants that recently came to the city…
Read more stories about trail work at Bridge to Bay Trail.
Related Links:
St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Bridge To Bay Trail
Michigan Trails magazine
Michigan Trails and Greenway Alliance
SEMCOG TrailExplorer map
MDOT Biking In Michigan
National Trails Day
Friends of the St. Clair River