HomeMichiganPortage › Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,196 Google reviews · Running trail in Portage, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Portage Creek Bicentennial Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastRestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

200-acre linear park offering multi-use trails, picnic areas & playgrounds, plus fishing & benches.

What runners say about Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,196 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“Picturesque and well kept bike trail (about 8 miles) from Lovers' Lane to Centre Avenue in Portage, MI.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Picturesque and well kept bike trail (about 8 miles) from Lovers' Lane to Centre Avenue in Portage, MI.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Mostly shaded areas and multiple option routes to head north, park benches along the route allow for pulling off and setting if desired.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Serene, vibrant with flowers, peaceful, and benches to rest as well.”

I live this park. We walk there frequently. Last week a beautiful portion of the forest on a segment of the trail was destroyed by a tornado.

★★★★★ — Tom , May 2024

A nice park system connecting various parks in the area. Decent paths as my husband is legally blind and had no problems walking it. We were visiting the area and the weather was fantastic. Lots of bikes on the path. Went early afternoon and walked about 5 miles.

★★★★★ — Jan , Nov 2022

This is a fabulous place to walk. Take the bridge and go towards Kilgore! Update: so, this summer the city repaved quite a bit of the path towards celery flats. It was already a decent place to skate but buttery smooth new flat asphalt is lovely.

★★★★★ — Chris , Sep 2023

Great paved trails! Newer bathrooms. Air hoses for filling your bike tires. Plenty of benches if you need a rest. Lots of shade.

★★★★★ — W , Aug 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,196 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🚻 Restrooms 9 mentions

“Free open parking, large covered event shelter with flush bathrooms and potable water filling stations, table and chairs in shelter.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Picturesque and well kept bike trail (about 8 miles) from Lovers' Lane to Centre Avenue in Portage, MI.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“Paved multiuse trails for strolling, walking, jogging, running, skating, riding, sury or surying.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Mostly shaded areas and multiple option routes to head north, park benches along the route allow for pulling off and setting if desired.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Serene, vibrant with flowers, peaceful, and benches to rest as well.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“It was already a decent place to skate but buttery smooth new flat asphalt is lovely.”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

“Kilgore entrance has flush bathrooms, bike repair, air, and bottle filling station and a little pagoda with benches under.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Free open parking, large covered event shelter with flush bathrooms and potable water filling stations, table and chairs in shelter.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

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Plan your run at Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteportagemi.gov
  • Phone+1 269-329-4522
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–9 pm
Tuesday 7 am–9 pm
Wednesday 7 am–9 pm
Thursday 7 am–9 pm
Friday 7 am–9 pm
Saturday 7 am–9 pm
Sunday 7 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

910 E Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49024

Get directions

Running trails near Portage

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Portage Creek Bicentennial Trail (Kilgore Trailhead)

4.7 ★★★★★ 29 reviews

Portage, MI

Dog-friendly

1.1 miles away

Celery Flats Kilgore Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Portage, MI

1.1 miles away

Celery Flats Historic Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,109 reviews

Portage, MI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Popular park for dog walks and picnics, as well as biking.

1.4 miles away

East Central Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Portage, MI

LoopMixedLit

1.6 miles away

Central Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

Portage, MI

ScenicDog-friendly

Compact, kid-friendly park featuring a playground, picnic tables, and an amphitheater.

1.9 miles away

Harbors West Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 110 reviews

Portage, MI

PavedLitDog-friendly

Laid-back park featuring basketball courts, hockey rinks, play structures and baseball fields.

2.7 miles away

All running trails in Portage, MI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.