Mountain Biking in
the Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula has the most biking trails in the state of Michigan.

There are thousands of miles of back roads, bike trails, logging roads, snowmobile and cross-country ski trails open to bikers, national and state forest trails, and even our state highways have very little traffic. Motels, cottages, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds are everywhere. The roads seem to stretch on endlessly as you bike through the spectacular scenery of the Upper Peninsula.

Travel the old logging trails to the Huron Mountains, rivers and beautiful waterfalls. Ride in the McCormick Wilderness for a real back woods ride, or the backroads in the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forest, the State Forests, and the Keweenaw Peninsula. Most areas also have exciting designated bike trails for miles of fun riding.

If you want to escape to the great wild outdoors, the Upper Peninsula is for you.

Guided Tours, Bike Races & Trail Rides, and Mountain Biking Trails

Mountain Biking in the Upper Peninsula, by Ron Stenfors, President of the Range Mountain Bike Club and co-owner and operator of Maple Lane Sports. Location, phone numbers, state and federal lands. Lots of information.

 Mountain Biking Guided Tours

Michigan Cycling Charters  offers all-inclusive cycling vacations specializing in the Marquette area. We can take you to multiple trail locations throughout the upper peninsula. Our cycling charters include transportation from the Lansing area, trail shuttle, lodging, food, and trail guide services. Out of state travelers that would like to meet us in Marquette are welcome and can be easily accommodated. If your flying in, ship us your bike, we will set it up, bring it to you, and pack it up to be shipped out when your done with your trip. We can accommodate up to ten people, and can meet any needs your group has. Come Join us for the Marq-Da-Copper multi-day camping mountain bike tour from Marquette to Copper Harbor. We can provide support and transportation for your next group ride, race or event. Phone Rick at (517) 614-5659.

Mountain Biking Guided Tours with Uncle Ducky Outfitters. Guided mountain biking tours near Marquette in the north central Upper Peninsula. Enjoy spectacular scenery with trails for all levels from beginners to advanced bikers. We offer the Top of the World Tour in Marquette with gentle trails along the lakeshore, around Presque Isle, or up the rocks of Hogsback Mountain. The Noquemanon Trail Network, one of the top 10 trails in the country, will thrill intermediate to advanced bikers, and tours of Grand Island near Munising with 22 miles of trails for beginners to Intermediate bikers. Uncle Ducky Outfitters, 434 East Prospect Street. Marquette, MI 49866. Uncle Ducky also offers a variety of silent sport adventures with packages available. Phone: 877-228-5447 (toll free) or 906-228-5447 or e-mail: wduckwall@chartermi.net

Woods and Water Ecotours, Guided mountain biking tours in the beautiful Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tours for the whole family; 2 hours, 5 hours, day trips, and excursions of several days. Explore Michigan's wilderness and back country with experienced guides. Tours include the Natural Pavement Pursuits Bike Outing on Drummond Island's natural limestone pavement. Take a bike ride to points of interest and enjoy the outstanding scenery. Custom tours. Mountain bike rentals. Phone 906-484-4157. Outfitters Store, 20 Pickford Avenue, Mailing address: P.O. Box 114, Hessell, MI 49745.

Mountain Bike Rentals in Florence, Wisconsin by Iron Mountain and Crystal Falls. Michigan
Wild Rivers Adventure Company in Florence, Wisconsin, just 15 miles west of Iron Mountain, Michigan, rents Hurricane Kayaks and Trek Mountain bikes for enjoying the back roads, trails, lakes, and rivers in northeastern Wisconsin with delivery available. Half day to weekly rentals. Car carriers available. Located on Highway US-2 in downtown Florence. Open Friday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. Call for weekday rentals. 209 Central Avenue, Florence, WI 54121 Phone: 715-952-8027
Upper Peninsula Bike Races and Trail Rides: Summer 2010

June 12, 2010. Bear ""NN"" Down U.P. Fat Tire 25/12 MTN. Bike Race at the Listening Inn near Crystal Falls, MI.Race starts at 9am. over the creek and through the woods. 25 or 12 Mile course $20.00 Entee Fee includes T-Shirt. Prizes 1st. 2nd. 3rd. in each catagory. Family ride 1-3pm. Food and Refreshments on the grounds. For more information e-mail carol@thelisteninginn.com

June 19: Keweenaw Chain Drive, Hancock, MI Phone: 888-766-0325. Race begins at 10 am Saturday at the Franklin Square Inn

June 25, 26, 27: 7th Annual Superior Bike Fest Marquette, MI. A range of cycling competition for all ages and skill levels Phone: 1.888.578.6489

June 27: 27th Annual Menominee River Century Ride Phone: 800-234-6681 (tentative)

June: 24th Annual "Tour da Lake" Bike Ride. Phone: 906-932-5858. A 38 mile ride around Lake Gogebic

July 10: "Miner's Revenge Mountain Bike Race". Underground mountain bike race through the historic Adventure Copper Mine in Greenland, MI. in the Western Upper Peninsula. 11 am.

July: 20th Annual North Country 100 Bike Tour Wakefield, MI begins at Sunday Lake for a ride through the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Phone the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce at: 906-224-2222

August 14: 9th Annual Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. Marquette. Phone: 866-370-RACE

August 21: The Great Deer Chase Held at Swedetown Recreation Area on newly developed bike trails. Starts and finishes in downtown Calumet. Distances are 15 & 25 Mile xc races, 3 & 4.5 mile youth races. Adult races feature over 50% single track. Phone: 906-337-1300. E-mail: gpc49913@charter.net

September 5: Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival in Copper Harbor. 23 mi & 13 mi cross country mountain bike race. Race begins at 2 pm. Kids races. Phone: 906-289-4303

September 11: Tour da Woods Bike Ride in Munising. Phone: 906-387-2138

September 19: Delta County Century Ride. Beginning at the Gladstone High School in Gladstone, MI Phone: 906-786-2192 or the Delta County Chamber of Commerce at 888-335-8264. (tentative)

Rails to Trails

Hancock-Calumet Rail Trail - Jack Stevens Trail
Keweenaw Rail Trail
Mass City to Houghton - Bill Nicholls Multi-Use Trail
 
Official Trails
 
Alger County
Bruno's Run, 11 miles S of M-28 near Munisig on Forest Highway 13. 1-5 segments
Grand Island National Recreation Area, off shore of Munising.
Valley Spur, on M-94, 4 miles south of M-28 near Munising. 1-4 segments. 21 miles.
Grand Marais (5 trails - over 300 miles)
Chippewa County
Paradise Pathway, 1 mile W of Paradise on M-123. 7 miles
Whitefish Point Road, 11 miles from Paradise to Whitefish Pont.
Delta County
Days River Pathway, 2 miles NW of US-2 & US-41 between Gladstone and Rapid River
Escanaba Pathways, on N-30th Street behind the Delta Plaza Shopping Center
Rapid River Trails, 7 miles north of Rapid River on US-41
Dickinson County
Fumee Lake Natural Area, US-2, Lake Antoine to parking lot. loops 1-3, 16 miles
Merriman East Pathway (Map)
Iron Mountain City Park, US-2, W on A Street to end. loops 1-4. 3 miles
Strawberry Lake Area, US-2 to Norway, N on Main St. Right turn after viaduct, 3 miles
Gogebic County
Copper Peak Mountain Bike Park North of Bessemer. 4 miles
Pines & Mines Mountain Bike Sustem, trails throughout Gogebic County including new Powers Trail. 100 miles
Wolverine Mountain Bike Trail near Big Powderhorn. 9 miles
Hoghton County
Bill Nicholls Multi Use Rail-Trail from Mass Cit to Houghton. 41 miles.
Churning Rapids, off M-203 North from Hancock
Jack Stevens Rail-Trail, Hancock to Calumet
MTU Trails, off US-41 & M-26 to Sharon Avenue in Houghton. 17 miles
Swede Town Trails, off US-41 in Calumet to Swede Town Road. 15 miles
Iron County
Glidden Lake Footpaths on Lake Mary Road, S of M-69. 3 loops, 12 miles
Ottawa Lake, on Ottawa Lake Road, W of M-73, 1 mile S of US-2 (9 miles of trails) Pentoga Park, Brule River Trail by Chicaugon Lake
Wolf-Track Nature Trail, on Co Road 424, SW of George Young Recreation 1 mile
Keweenaw County
Copper Country Trails. 20 miles
Luce County
Canada Lakes Pathway, 2 miles south of M-28 on County Road 403. 12 miles
Mackinac County
Fitness Expo Route, trails meander through the Hiawatha National Forest. 40 miles
North Country Trail, 35 miles
Railroad Grade, 1 block behind Chamber of Commerce in St. Ignace. 100 miles
Sand Dunes Trails, 12 miles W of St. Ignace, W on US-2 to Brevort Lake Road. 7 trails
Marquette County
Al Quaal Trail (Map) Ishpeming, Al Quaal Recreation Atrea. 5-10 miles
Anderson Lake state owned trail system. 6 miles
Big Bay Trail. 7 miles
Blueberry Ridge Trail, 7 miles
City of Marquette, runs from Presque Isle Harbor past NMU campus to Marquette Harbor. 13 miles
Country Village Range Mountain Bike Trail System (Map) connecting to
Al Quaal Trail (Map) and Suicide Bowl/Cleveland Trails (Map)
Danny's Trail, N of Teal Lake, Ishpeming/Negaunee. 13 miles
Lower Noquemanon Trail. 15 miles
Norm's Hill Street Trails, Hill Street, Ishpeming. 2 mile loop signed.
Mountain Biking in the West end of Marquette County by Ron Stenfors, President of the Range Mountain Bike Club
Private mountain biking trails for guests to use at Lost Lake Lodge in Republic, MI.
Ontonagon County
Porcpine Mountains Wilderness State Park. 5 trails . 26 miles
Ottawa National Forest 37 miles
Schoolcraft County
Ashford Lake Pathway, 3 loop trail system, on M-94, 16 miles N. of Manistique
Bruno's Run, Forest Highway 13, 7 miles
Coalwood Trail, on M-94 & M-28 in Shingleton 24 miles
Haywire Trail, M-94 Shingleton to Water Treatment Plant in Manistique through the Hiawatha National Forest. 33 miles
Indian Lake Pathway on M-149 in Manistuque. 4 miles
Pine Martin Run, 5 loop system, 30 miles N of Manistique, CR 440 & 437 and Forest Road 2258
Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Marxhland Wildlife Drive and connecting trails. 100 miles
Van Winkle Nature Trail, Camp 7 Lake Campgrounds, 8 miles E. of forest Highway 13 on County Road 4427. 28 miles.

Cross Country Ski Trails - Mountain Biking in the Summer

Snowmobile Trails - Mountain Biking in the Summer

Wilderness Rides

Big Bay, 23 miles north of Marquette, was once a thriving lumber town. The logging trails are no longer in use and are open for mountain biking, hiking and camping. On the edge of the McCormick Wilderness tract. Incredible scenery. From beginning to very advanced riders.

Grand Island, one half mile off of Munising MI in Lake Superior. Ferry service available. A perfect spot for wilderness camping, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling.

Grand Marais, over 300 miles of mapped trails from beginner to advanced.The trail system is located in one of the remotest areas of the state and takes you through pristine forests, along the shore of Lake Superior, and through canopied roads in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Keweenaw Peninsula

Ottawa National Forest - The Ottawa National Forest in the western Upper Peninsula provides a wide variety of mountain biking opportunities ranging from well maintained and signed loops to more challenging cross country travel. Except for wilderness areas and specifically designated hiker only trails (including the North Country National Scenic Trail), the entire forest is open to mountain bikes. Near Ontonagon, MI

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Western Marquette County Mountain Biking, some of the finest, if not the finest, mountain biking in the U.P. offering trails with all levels of difficulty, from beginner to expert.

 

Links
Michigan Mountain Biking Association.
 Lodging in these Towns and Cities

Big Bay, MI
Calumet,MI
Grand Marais MI
Iron Mountain, MI
Ishpeming, MI
Munising, MI
Newberry, MI
Ontonagon, MI
Keweenaw
Curtis, Germfask, Gould City, MI - Manistique Lakes Area
Towns and Cities of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

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Upper Peninsula Lodging Page

Towns and Cities of Upper Michigan

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