The Tridge in Midland is One of Michigan’s Coolest and Most Unique Bridges

You may have noticed that we have a slight fascination with Michigan’s bridges (see our Historic Bridges of Michigan page) and we recently visited one of Michigan’s coolest and unique bridges for the first time. The Tridge in Midland is a three-way wooden footbridge and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the area. The bridge’s three spokes connect to parks and trails just a few blocks from downtown, passing over the intersection of the Chippewa River and the Tittabawassee River.

The Tridge was constructed in 1981. Each of the three spokes is 180 feet long and eight feet wide, and one 31 foot tall pillar supports the spokes. The river is a popular spot for fishing, kayaking, and more. We parked near the Farmer’s Market (north/east spoke) and took a stroll out to the center of the bridge. From there we could see what looked like a newer and fully-accessible kayak launch that was quite busy and a very nice park area with a splash pad, playground, and lots of benches offering scenic views. The west spoke connects to Chippewassee Park, which has a skate park, dog park, playground equipment, and picnic shelters. The south spoke leads to St. Charles Park and many ballfields, the Chippewa Trail (a 4 mile ride to the Chippewa Nature Center), a disc golf course, and the Towsley Bike Trail. The Pere Marquette Rail Trail, a 30-mile paved trail running from Midland to Clare, starts near the Farmer’s Market.

While access to all of these outdoor recreation opportunities draws people to the Tridge, it also doesn’t hurt that this bridge is located just two blocks from downtown Midland where there are lots of food and beverage options along Main St. A summer music program called “Tunes by the Tridge” offers weekly concerts covering a variety of music genres. Midland has also offered a Labor Day Tridge Walk each September. Check out the video below for a 360-degree look at Midland’s Tridge: