Battle Creek Linear Park

Battle Creek has a multiuse trail along its rivers--the Kalamazoo River and the Battle Creek River (the Battle Creek is a tributary of the Kalamazoo). Especially in the downtown area, the riverfronts are well developed to attract tourists.

The trail is called the Linear Park, and it extends over 26 miles around the city. We rode the Perimeter Loop, which is 10.5 miles, but with side trips we ended up with 12 miles total. We parked at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and started on the trail near the Kellogg House and the Underground Railroad Sculpture, across the Battle Creek River from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which is responsible for the beautiful landscaping here.

The Underground Railroad Sculpture is adjacent to the path.

The nation's largest monument to the Underground Railroad. The 28-foot long, 14-foot high bronze statue depicts abolitionist Harriet Tubman, known as "Black Moses," and local "conductors" Erastus and Sarah Hussey as they lead a group of runaway slaves to safety. Designed by sculptor Ed Dwight. Near the Kellogg House in downtown Battle Creek. Built by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to honor men and women who operated the Underground Railroad, as well as courageous fugitives who fled north to freedom.

In addition to being an important station along the Underground Railroad, Battle Creek was also the home of Sojourner Truth for the last 26 years of her life. We visited her grave here in 2008.



After following the Battle Creek River to Bailey Park, the path veers north and later west before circling outside Leila Arboretum and heading back south to the Kalamazoo River.

Parts of the trail are not well signed, so we had to stop, get our bearings, and check Google Maps to find the way forward. The parts of the trail along the rivers are lovely, as are the parts by the Arboretum, but some sections along streets are not so inviting.

The Linear Park section along the rivers forms part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, and we hope to ride more of that trail in the future.