By Brighid Driscoll
Your mountain biking guide to the North
VASA Skillz Loop, Williamsburg: This 2-mile course was designed in partnership with Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association (NMMBA) for beginners of all ages. Two one-mile loops give riders a chance to experience jumps, tabletops, berms, and rock gardens at low-level intensity. For added comfort, the trails allow you to ride around some of these features so you can take them on when you feel ready. “This is a great place to prepare someone to get out on the more advanced trails,” says Beauchamp. “What’s nice about this trail is that it’s near the VASA Singletrack off of Supply Road. This is a really cool 12-mile trail managed by NMMBA through state forest land. It’s a combination of flat and hilly sections, and it flows really nicely.”
We already know that cherries, beer and wine, beaches, and unbeatable views are attractions that cause visitors to flock to northern Michigan. While these are all tried and true reasons to enjoy the area, mountain biking is proving to be a dark horse in the region’s tourist industry. With growing trail options attracting riders from downstate and beyond, northern Michigan is quietly becoming a mecca for mountain biking, and there’s no better time to start taking advantage of the many local trail offerings. “People have options up here, even if you’re just getting started,” says Communications and Policy Director for TART Trails Brian Beauchamp, an avid mountain biker himself. “It can be an intimidating sport to get into, but it’s a lot of fun and a great way to get outdoors.” Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or novice, there’s a trail begging to be explored. Northern Express has compiled a list of three beginner trails and three trails better suited for those with experience. Choose your own adventure.
Boardman River Trail, Traverse City: For a more unique mountain biking experience that is still beginner friendly, Kate Lewis, the community engagement manager for TART, suggests the Boardman River Trail. The 24-mile multi-use trail recently added 7 miles of a newly constructed singletrack that connects Mayfield Pond Park to the North Country Trail. You’ll get a variety of views on this mostly flat terrain, including the lake, forest, seasonal wildlife, and more. The trail is part of a larger, mostly wooded 41-mile loop that includes intersections from North Country Trail and VASA Pathway. A small portion of the trail that crosses through Brown Bridge Quiet Area to Muncie Lakes trailhead is hiking only. However, the rest of the trail permits mountain biking.
Cadillac Pathway, Cadillac: Thirteen miles of trail await you at Cadillac Pathway. Eight different loops are accessible through the trailhead, all with varying skill levels. The forested loops are on state land that’s managed by the DNR; the trail, however, is managed by none other than NMMBA. Loops are well appointed with signs, with most getting gradually more difficult the further out you ride. However, there are a few unmarked singletracks that splinter off the marked loops. These jaunts will eventually lead you back to the main trail, but you won’t be able to anticipate difficulty until you’re already on it. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
10 • april 11, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly
