The Border To Border trail, of which major segments have been completed, will span across Washtenaw County, roughly following the Huron River. The pathway will connect communities, parks, and educational facilities, and be approximately 35 miles in length. In addition, other facilities, such as bike lanes, will connect into the Border To Border trail, helping create a larger non-motorized network in the County.
And while the Border To Border trail was originally thought of as a recreational pathway, in times of rising energy costs, the facility is being used more and more for non-motorized transportation. Segments already completed allow users to go from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor completely off street, and in doing so passing immediately next to Eastern Michigan University, the University of Michigan hospital, Washtenaw Community College and St. Joseph’s hospital.
About the Friends Of The Border To Border Trail
Started in 2008, the Friends of the Border To Border Trail are a group of individuals working to see that the Border To Border Trail is completed, maintained, enhanced and most of all, used. While completely independent of government bodies and other organizations, the Friends of the Border To Border plans to work closely and positively with entities that are involved with the path.
Short-term plans for the Friends of the Border To Border include…
- Sponsoring and/or promoting bicycle rides and walks along sections of the Trail.
- Sponsoring cleanups of Trail segments.
- Lobbying governmental units to complete, or enhance, segments of the Trail.
- Expanding distribution of Border To Border trail maps.
- Maintain an active webpage and email discussion group.
Events and Updates
Updated May 2013
New Ypsi To Ann Arbor B to B Map
Michigan Trails magazine has recently published a new Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti Border To Border Trail map that also shows trailhead parking points and restrooms. To view the map page, click here or for a full-color PDF printable map, click here.
Ypsilanti Hosting National Trails Day Event June 1st
The Ypsilanti segment of the Washtenaw County Border To Border walking and bicycling trail will be highlighted as a part of National Trails Day, Saturday, June 1st with guided walks at 11am and 1pm and displays from 10am to 2pm. Events will take place at the Ypsilanti Water Street Trail parking area, on Michigan Avenue, immediately east of the Michigan Avenue bridge across the Huron Rive and east of downtown Ypsilanti. For the full press release on this event, plus maps to the event site and Water Street trail, click here.
Border To Border Trail Video
The Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission has recently completed a YouTube video on the history of the Commission, including non-motorized trail work such as the B to B. The video is at http://youtu.be/zd8rVV9yilQ
with the segment on trails begining right after the 25-minute mark.
Dexter B to B Trail Word Continues
Work started in February 2013on the B2B Trail link between Warrior Park in Dexter and Hudson Mills Metropark. They are currently putting down long wooden poles that the wood boardwalk will use to go over the wetland areas. They are looking at completing this segment by this summer at at that time you will be able to ride all the way from Dexter to Hudson Mills using the new trail on the west side of the river up to Territorial Road, then east into the main part of the park.
Ypsilanti Trail Work On Tap For 2013
Construction of a new B to B Trail bridge across the Huron River from Riverside Park to Michigan Avenue should be completed by the summer of 2013. This will also feature a non-motorized crossing of Michigan Avenue south into the Water Street development area.
