Whether you are looking to take a casual ride down wooded areas with hard-packed dirt or ride along paved trails that traverse a combination of farm fields and wooded areas, mountain bike trails near Traverse City, Michigan offer something for everyone. Many of the available trails are open year-round and provide easy access along their routes, while other trails are used as part of official area bike races and offer dedicated biking trails away from hikers and cross-country skiing visitors.
Boardman Lake Trail
Completed in October 2005, this trail is located along the eastern part of Boardman Lake. The mountain bike-friendly trail features two miles of wooded area. The northern part of the trail is paved, while the south mile of the trail is composed of crushed limestone. The trail is open year-round. Parking is available on the north end of the trail just off Hannah Road and at the south end of the trail at Medalie Park in the Logan's Landing area.
Leelanau Trails
Bikes are allowed on the Leelanu Trails, which consist of 8.5 miles of paved trail and seven miles of packed-dirt and sand trails. The trails are open year-round and restrooms are available at the Inland Seas Education building, while a port-a-potty is placed at the De Young Natural Area during the summer months. The trail takes you alongside farm fields followed by lush woods, giving two distinct experiences on a single trail, while it runs along the former Leelanau railroad corridors. You can find the trailheads at Cherry Bend Road, on Fouch Road and at 4th Street in Suttons Bay.
Muncie Lake Pathway
Muncie Lake Pathway stretches 11.5 miles and features five different loops that range in distance from 0.95 miles to 5.35 miles. The trail is located 13 miles southeast of Traverse City and you can access via Garfield Avenue, Hammond Road, High Lake Road, Supply Road and Rennie Lake Road. The trail is open year-round, with cross-country skiing replacing mountain bikes on snow-filled days.
Vasa Pathway in Pere Marquette State Forest
Located in Pere Marquette State Forest, the Vasa Pathway was named after the Swedish King Gustav Vasa and features 16.7 miles of wooded trails. You can find the trail seven miles east of Traverse City at US 31, Bunker Hill Rd and Bartlett Rd. The trail features loops of varying distances and includes easy trails and challenging routes for more adventurous and experienced bike riders. The trail also hosts "The Iceman Cometh Challenge Bicycle Race" and various high school racing events. The Vasa is one of the few dedicated mountain-bike pathways in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and offers 13 miles of single-track bike trail.
Traverse Area Recreational Trail (TART)
Starting from the eastern end at M 72, Bates Road, in Acme township, this trail, which is skating, hiking and bike-friendly, will take you along a paved trail with views of both West and East Grand Traverse Bays and the Mitchell Creek watershed to end in Traverse City. The trip is 10.5 miles and the western end of the trail meets the Leelanau Trail, which runs north to Suttons Bay.
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