HomeMichiganMidland › Riverview Natural Area

Riverview Natural Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 75 Google reviews · Running trail in Midland, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
4 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Riverview Natural Area'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.

Natural surface4 miLoopShadedScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastRestroomsTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

Wooded trails, some along a river, through a natural area.

What runners say about Riverview Natural Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (75 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Can get a little squishy after some rain but a great place for a scenic walk.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“The parking lot is big enough to hold a small group of vehicles and the trails are well marked and even has a map to help you understand the tree markings!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Just a quiet relaxed area to meander through.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

This new trail has a pretty view of the Titabawassee River and meanders through 2 or 4 mile loops of various terraines. The volunteers have done a wonderful with building bridges and paths over low lying areas.

★★★★★ — Amy , Nov 2025

Very nice trail that has a loop and and a larger loop for lo fer walks. Some of the trail is along the river. Very shaded. Very few mosquitoes. Parking at trail head. A few benches along the way to rest. No restrooms.

★★★★★ — Hayden , Sep 2023

Nice hiking trails which were well marked. No bathrooms but nice place to take my dogs.

★★★★☆ — Mandy , Sep 2022

Riverview is one of my two favorite places to visit. The trail can get wet at the beginning but it gets nice once you reach the river. We've seen bear tracks, bear poop on the trail, and trees chewed by beavers. There are benches periodically to rest. No toilets or picnic tables, but a good parking area.

★★★★★ — Glenda , Dec 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 75 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“This new trail has a pretty view of the Titabawassee River and meanders through 2 or 4 mile loops of various terraines.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 7 mentions

“It has been a wet spring in 2026 so it was muddy along the trail with a couple of areas along the loop that had standing water over the trail but usually it is dry and clear.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“The parking lot is big enough to hold a small group of vehicles and the trails are well marked and even has a map to help you understand the tree markings!”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

“You can take your dog, just keep them leashed as there is plenty of wildlife.”

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🔁 Loop trail 5 mentions

“It has been a wet spring in 2026 so it was muddy along the trail with a couple of areas along the loop that had standing water over the trail but usually it is dry and clear.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“This is a large, wooded area with frontage along the Tittabawasse river.”

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🚻 Restrooms 4 mentions

“No bathrooms but nice place to take my dogs.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Just a quiet relaxed area to meander through.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“The rest of the trail is fairly flat and easy.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“The parking lot is big enough to hold a small group of vehicles and the trails are well marked and even has a map to help you understand the tree markings!”

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Plan your run at Riverview Natural Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • Loop distance4 mi back to where you parked
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitelittleforks.org
  • Phone+1 989-835-4886
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 12–7 am, 7:30 am–12 am
Tuesday 12–7 am, 7:30 am–7 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am–7 pm
Thursday 7:30 am–7 pm
Friday 7:30 am–7 pm
Saturday 7:30 am–7 pm
Sunday 7:30 am–12 am

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 Riverview Natural Area

N Homer Rd, Midland, MI 48640

Get directions

Running trails near Midland

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

Forestview Natural Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 36 reviews

Midland, MI

1.3 miLoopDog-friendly

1.0 miles away

Pere Marquette Rail Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 151 reviews

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3 miPavedShadedScenic

Long rail-trail used for hiking and biking that stretches from Clare to Baldwin.

3.3 miles away

Chippewa Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,082 reviews

Midland, MI

19 miScenic

Educational center featuring a wide range of nature programming, plus 1,200 acres & many trails.

3.5 miles away

Emerson Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 454 reviews

Midland, MI

ShadedLitScenic

Well-equipped park with a softball stadium & fields, an inline skating rink & beach volleyball.

4.1 miles away

Chippewa Nature Center - Ridge Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Midland, MI

19 miLoop

4.2 miles away

Midland City Forest Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 719 reviews

Midland, MI

Natural surfaceLitDog-friendly

Multi-use, tree-lined park offering walking and hiking trails, plus toboggan runs and an ice rink.

4.7 miles away

All running trails in Midland, 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.