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Michigan water trails receive recreation designations

National Trails System seal
National Parks Service

Two water trails in Michigan have been given national recreation designations that are expected to increase public access to outdoor opportunities.

The Flint River Water Trail is 73 miles (117 kilometers) long and the Shiawassee River Water Trail is 88 miles (141 kilometers) long.

They are among 30 new national recreation trails designated in 25 states, adding more than 1,275 miles (2,051 kilometers) to the National Trails System, according to the U.S. Interior Department.

Officials say the Flint River Water Trail crosses through two counties, natural areas and an urban core. People use the river for fishing, hunting, boating and paddling.

The Shiawassee River offers a diverse range of paddling experiences for canoeists and kayakers. It is considered a warm-water river ecosystem, with a fairly slow-moving current, suitable for families in a canoe or groups of novice kayak paddlers.