Michigan Trails

[socrates]

OK...this will take some time but here's the first trail info

Poto (formal name is Potawatomi Trail)

Located about 15-20 mins north of A2 (Ann Arbor-which is Western edge of Detroit Subs) in Pinckney State Recreation Area (MI does charge entrance fees into state parks/recreation areas)

Pinckney offers boating/mtn biking/camping

Biking trail is open year round (yes I said year round)

Parts of this trail are in hunting areas, both bow and gun-so if you're in hunting season (especially bow) wear bright colors

Trail can be very technical in areas and very mild on other areas, when I last road it 3 years ago MMBA was not into man-made stuff like teater-toters so don't expect them....MI is more into speed on their trails then technicals stuff (which is the way I prefer it). Trails in MI are open to hikers so BECAREFUL and courteous and camping is allowed in different areas of the park as well as a set aside section so you might see a tent very close to the trail.....every few years MMBA and the MI DNR have been known to reverse the trail direction at other parks to ease erosion so please read the sign at the trail head. Ranger station, fee collection booth at park entrance & trail head will all have maps of the trail which is not always marked as well as it should be so make sure you pick up one.

Potowatomi Chapter of MMBA has weekly rides (after frost season has ended) on Thursday's at 6pm (Eastern) except the last Thursday of the month when they ride Brighton State Park. Riders of all skill levels are welcome.

From MSP I'd say it's about 12 hours drive (or $1200 via NWA given that it's their largest hub)

Potowatomi Chapter of MMBA's web site is http://home.twmi.rr.com/elpepejr/poto/index.htm

MMBA's trail info on Poto is at http://www.mmba.org/trail.htm#psra

Edited to add hunting info above


BTW: Michigan has over 680 legal trails....I'll post the trails I've rid'n as I get a chance

[Burke]

If you're on the west side of the lower peninsula, there are a couple of good trails near Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Yankee Springs State Park has 13 miles of sweet fast singletrack. Good flow. Good elevation changes (for the midwest) and a 700ish person time trial race to kick off the Michigan summer racing season.

Fort Custer state park has 20+ miles of singletrack and is one of my favorite places to ride. Just outside of Kalamazoo, and a couple miles off of I94, it's pretty convenient to get to.

Up North, Boyne Mountain Ski Resort has some sweet singletrack that is open to the public, and I've heard that the north country trail outside of Muskegon is pretty sweet. Resembles Idaho, they say.

[socrates]

Originally posted by Burke
I've heard that the north country trail outside of Muskegon is pretty sweet. Resembles Idaho, they say.

Unless they've added some trails in the past few years it's mostly paved rails to trails....yuck

[Hellrider'03]

Originally posted by socrates
Unless they've added some trails in the past few years it's mostly paved rails to trails....yuck


Dude you need to come to Michigan. The North Country Trail is NOT even close to any rail-trails. It is in the middle of a National Forest. The trail is awsome.
Other places to ride are the POTO- 4hrs from Chicago(18 miles for the Big loop and some shorter loops also). And if you are there the Brighton Rec. area has some great rides also ( just 10 miles from Poto). Most State lands have MTB trail access. There is also great riding in the UP in and around Marquette.

[socrates]

Originally posted by Hellrider'03
Dude you need to come to Michigan. The North Country Trail is NOT even close to any rail-trails. It is in the middle of a National Forest. The trail is awsome.
Other places to ride are the POTO- 4hrs from Chicago(18 miles for the Big loop and some shorter loops also). And if you are there the Brighton Rec. area has some great rides also ( just 10 miles from Poto). Most State lands have MTB trail access. There is also great riding in the UP in and around Marquette.

Rid'n all of them...POTO is still my favorite trail...I use to live in A2...so it sounds like the north country tail is more in the center of the state (maybe by Kalkaska)

[Hellrider'03]

Originally posted by socrates
Rid'n all of them...POTO is still my favorite trail...I use to live in A2...so it sounds like the north country tail is more in the center of the state (maybe by Kalkaska)

North of Kalkaska (the start of the Iceman). Manistee National Forest is the home of the North Country Trail. The trail is only open to bikes in certain sections. Probably best to come down from the UP from MINN. It is not far from the bridge. A good start point is from Mesick down to Red Bridge and back. It takes at least 1.5 hrs oneway.


Poto---- I live 6 miles from the parking lot. I am there every Thursday night in the upper lot. For the PWC (Poto World Championships) and a few BELLS beers afterwards.

[socrates]

Originally posted by Hellrider'03
North of Kalkaska (the start of the Iceman). Manistee National Forest is the home of the North Country Trail. The trail is only open to bikes in certain sections. Probably best to come down from the UP from MINN. It is not far from the bridge. A good start point is from Mesick down to Red Bridge and back. It takes at least 1.5 hrs oneway.


Poto---- I live 6 miles from the parking lot. I am there every Thursday night in the upper lot. For the PWC (Poto World Championships) and a few BELLS beers afterwards.

So you must live in Hell, MI (Yes guys there is a town in MI named Hell)....POTO is the thing I miss the most from MI, Being only a 3 hr drive from Poto is the thing I miss the most from OH.

So how much did the trail change when U of M and the DNR did their land swap a few years ago....I use to be a member of the Poto Chapter of MMBA and I hear it created quite an uproar.

Not sure I'll ever make it up to the North Country Trail (at least this year)...I'm more apt to ship my bike and fly back to DTW

[Hellrider'03]

Originally posted by socrates
So you must live in Hell, MI (Yes guys there is a town in MI named Hell)....

So how much did the trail change when U of M and the DNR did their land swap a few years ago....I use to be a member of the Poto Chapter of MMBA and I hear it created quite an uproar.



Actually I live in the Pinckney area (Townships are bigger than most city limits around here). Hell has a bar ( The Damn Site Inn), a Party store/ Post office and a Ice cream Shop. The annual Buzzard Fest is a big draw to Hell (Turkey Buzzards). It is the kind of hicksville I enjoy or used to be. Damn commuters.


The land swap never happened. The current Land manager John Labosie(?). Pulled the OK you want this then we want that (Being a nice piece of property with some large inclines). U of M got the picture. The property John wanted also contains a radio wave telescope(?) and a few other goodies. Sooooooo, the Poto is the same, but wider from all the use.

JL

[Burke]

Hah! Jason, Are you the Jason Lummis that, a few years back, was duking it out with Rodd Nelson at the MMBA races and Tailwind time trials?

Don't know if you remember me... My brother and I raced the orange/yellow tandem at the time trials, and I raced expert 24-under in the other events...

How're things in the MI racing scene?

[ice ice baby]

Any trails within an hour of IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN?:crazy:

[Hellrider'03]

Iron Mountain Trails?
The only trials I have ridden in the UP of MI are in Mraquette. If you try thewww.mmba.org (http://www.mmba.org/) link and go to the Message Board. Login and leave a post under General then I am sure you will get plenty of suggestions.


Hi Scott I remember you and the battles with Ron. Hope things are well. The closest I will be to MINN. is Chequamegon this Sept. We have a fun Triple Crown of Point to point races, Ore to Shore ( Marquette, MI), Chequamegon (Cable, Wisc.) and the Finally ICEMAN (Traverse City, MI). Scott Quiring "Q" won last year.

jl [URL=http://www.bellsmtbteam.com/URL]