Experience Grand views, Grand bridges, and the Grand River during the Grand Explorers' Trail Race on June 21. ??





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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 10, 2025 
Press contact: Rylie Dorman <[email protected]>, (616) 994-4774

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Grand Explorers' Trail Race

Saturday, June 21 @ 8:00 AM
Grand River Park to Grand Ravines Park
10K • 5K • 1 Mile Kids Run/Walk

[ [link removed] ]??>> grandexplorerstrailrace.com [ [link removed] ] <<??

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Lace up your running shoes and experience the beauty of not one, but "two "breathtaking parks in the highly anticipated #2Parks1Race trail event! This unique course connects Grand River County Park and Grand Ravines County Park, offering participants an unforgettable journey through some of West Michigan’s most scenic landscapes.

The course starts at Grand River County Park with the newly completed Idema Explorers Trail segment that leads you along the Grand River to Grand Ravines County Park. As you enter Grand Ravines, you will see an old, covered bridge and go up an incline to a spectacular view of the river. If you’re lucky, you might even see the resident bald eagles out fishing!

If you are running (or walking!) the 5K, you will turn around at this point. If you are running the 10K, you will continue to wind yourself through Grand Ravines Park, around the dog park, through the meadow, across the Idema suspension bridge, and back through the woods to Grand River Park.

*What can we say? This trail race is Grand: Grand River, Grand Ravines, Grand bridges, and Grand views!*

*Register Online* [ [link removed] ]

GET 2025 [ [link removed] ]
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*Why another trail race?* Because we want to celebrate our amazing Ottawa County Parks and the projects the Ottawa County Parks Foundation [ [link removed] ] has helped to fund.

The Ottawa County Parks Foundation (the Foundation) is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed benefiting the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission. The Foundation relies on private donations and grants to do its work.



*Why** participate?*


* Because your participation helps support our parks.
* Your participation will help bring awareness to parks and projects like the Grand River Greenway and the Idema Explorers Trail.
* Because parks are for everyone.
* Because parks, nature, and open spaces are essential for our mental and physical health.

*Can't participate the day of the race? *


* If you want to support the parks but can't come the day of the race, you can sign up [ [link removed] ] to participate virtually! 

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Trail Maps and Courses

Kids Fun Run Map
Kids' 1-mile Fun Run/Walk - *$16/person*

The kids’ 1-mile fun run/walk will start at 8:00 a.m.

This course takes place on a paved trail, so *strollers are allowed. *We suggest children running this race be under 12 years old. 

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5k Course Map

5K Course - $45/person

The 5K race will start at 8:30 a.m.

No strollers will be allowed on the 10K/5K route due to difficult terrain and narrow trails in some areas of the course.

Dogs will be allowed to run the 10K and 5K races with their human, but they must be on a six-foot leash at all times. We just ask that you be considerate of those around you and that you only bring a dog that is well-mannered and comfortable around people, including children, and other dogs.

The 5K is a mostly flat course that follows the paved Idema Explorers Trail by the river until it gets to the lodge at Grand Ravines Park. There is an incline to navigate as you go around the lodge (where bathrooms are available) before heading down a short-but-steep dirt hill back to the river trail where you came from. There is water available at an aid station near the lodge. Once you get back to Grand River Park, you’ll do a loop on a natural surface trail before you hit the finish line.

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10K Course Map

10K Course - $48/person

The 10K race will start at 8:30 a.m.

No strollers will be allowed on the 10K/5K route due to difficult terrain and narrow trails in some areas of the course.

Dogs will be allowed to run the 10K and 5K races with their human, but they must be on a six-foot leash at all times. We just ask that you be considerate of those around you and that you only bring a dog that is well-mannered and comfortable around people, including children, and other dogs.

The 10K course will challenge you with some hills (who doesn’t like hills?) and stairs as you wander further into Grand Ravines Park. The start of the course will mirror the 5K course until you reach the Grand Ravines Lodge. At that point, the 10K course will branch out and continue to climb the hill behind the lodge. You will then follow the edge of the woods until you cross the park entrance road and head down towards the dog park. You will follow the edge of the dog park and cross the parking lot for the dog park (where there will be an aid station and bathrooms) before running around to the east of the dog park and heading back into the woods. You will then cross the suspension bridge, turn right, and descend the East Ravine stairs onto the Statema Woodland Trail. From there, you will get back on the Idema Explorers’ trail and head back to Grand River Park. When you get to Grand River Park, your work is not done, as you will run the natural surface trail and have two more big climbs and descents to conquer before heading to the finish line.

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Directions to the Park

Please be aware that the start/finish area is at Grand River County Park [ [link removed] ]. Google Maps will give you the correct routing to get there. Do not go to Grand Ravines North or South! These parks are nearly adjacent to each other and are similarly-named, which does cause confusion at times. "Address: 9473 - 28th Ave. Jenison, MI 49428."

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*"Images included with this press release may be reproduced for editorial use."*

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Operations, improvements and programs are funded by grants, private donations [ [link removed] ], and a parks millage. If you own a $150,000 home, you pay $26 annually investing in opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature education today and for future generations. Thank you. Learn more about the 7,000 acres of park land in Ottawa County at miOttawa.org/Parks [ [link removed] ]

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Ottawa County Parks &
Recreation Commission



 

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The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners: Chairperson John Teeples | Vice-Chairperson Josh Brugger | Jordan Jorritsma | Jim Barry | Jacob Bonnema | Phil Kuyers | Doug Zylstra | Joe Moss | Sylvia Rhodea | Allison Miedema | Kendra Wenzel 

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