By Dave Foley

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Finding trails designed for mountain and fat biking in northwest Michigan is never a problem. What's tough is choosing among so many great options. You could go on a different trail every day, week after week, and all your rides would be first-rate. Part I of this feature presents four of the best-known trails.

Cadillac Pathway

Riders on Michigan trails will be treated to a spectacular color show in late September through October. Photo by Dave Foley. (Click on each photo to enlarge.)

In the 1980s, I did my first mountain bike riding on the Cadillac Pathway Trail. That original 11½-mile trail still gets year-round use: as a groomed ski trail, then giving way to bikers, runners, and hikers. Over time, single-track loops have been added.

The Pathway is located about 3 miles east of Cadillac, MI. Most access it from the north end off Seeley Road. Here you will find an outhouse, pavilion, fireplace, bike/ski rack, bike fix-it station, and a parking lot big enough to handle this trailhead's increasing popularity. The loops at this end are generally quite flat. The southern half of the trail system has more hills and most of the single track.

In 2017, an eleven-mile winter sports trail was added dedicated to fat-biking and snowshoeing. The Winter Sports trail is a seasonal trail available only from December through March. A snowmobile and groomer were purchased, and a team of volunteers packs the trail after every snowfall. With the Michigan DNR’s assistance, plans have been made to add an additional eleven miles to the trail system.

In late September, the Pathway is the site of the Bear Claw Epic Mountain Bike Race (www.bearclawepic.com). Heading into its 6th year, the Bear Claw draws over three hundred riders, and all proceeds go to the maintenance, development, and improvement of the Cadillac Pathway.

Big M and the Udell Hills

Originally a National Forest downhill ski venue in the 1960s, Big M is now a destination for mountain and fat bike riders. Located about halfway between Cadillac and Manistee, the recreation area is south of M55 off Udell Hills Road. During winter, an 18-mile network of trails are groomed for cross-country skiers while the remaining 15 miles are packed for fat bike riders.

More than 300 bikers race the Bearclaw Epic on the Cadillac Pathway. Photo by Dave Foley

Before the fat bike trail system’s development, the ski trails received plenty of use by mountain bikers. The trails are wider than single-track and suitable for novice bikers with two exceptions—the Oh Me II and the Catamount loops are for experts only as their steep climbs and rapid descents may be more than average cyclists should attempt.

Last fall, I spent an afternoon exploring Big M's single-track loops. Entering off the Corkscrew loop, I soon encountered a long, grueling climb that would turn out to be the toughest hill on the loop. Shortly after that, a downhill’s steep drop and hard-left turn spooked me, a descent for expert riders. I opted to walk. From then on, through most of the fifteen-mile outer loop, the riding was easy.

If you begin the trail on the north end of the parking lot, the 6 and 9-mile loops starting there would be rated easy or moderate, and can be ridden without trepidation by most bikers. The North Country Trail crosses the Big M trails at two points. The NCT is marked with blue markers.

In addition to a popular ultra-distance trail run, Big M hosts two bike competitions. In March, there's the Big M Fire Tower Fat Bike Race, which features a 6-mile, fairly flat loop, and a more difficult 16-mile circuit. On the third Saturday in June, the Big M hosts the Lumberjack 100, an ultra-endurance mountain bike race (lumberjack100.com). Capped at 430 racers, selling out in under an hour in 2019, the Lumberjack 100 is part of the National Ultra Endurance Series. Three laps of a 33.33-mile course, gives riders over 9000 feet of climbing.

Crystal Mountain Resort

For most recreational enthusiasts, Crystal Mountain Resort conjures up thoughts of downhill or cross-country skiing, or the staging area of the Peak2Peak Mountain Bike Classic. What is less known is that the resort has a first-rate experience awaiting mountain and fat bike riders.

During my recent stay at the Thompsonville Resort, attending the Michigan Outdoors Writers’ Association Conference, I explored this trail system after picking up a map at their bike center. Known as the Mountain Adventure Zone, there you can rent bikes and helmets, as well get lessons, or hire a guide to take you on the trails.

There is no charge for riding the trails in summertime, except for bikers using the chairlift to access Gravity Park; after paying a $20 fee, cyclists take the chairlift with their bikes attached and pedal down. These are black diamond runs with starting points for trails named Screaming Eagle, Crystal Climb, and Peak2Crystal, best left to expert riders, which meant I wasn't going to experience these firsthand.

The first part of my ride was on the paved Crystal Mountain Drive, passing condos and the golf course before leaving the road to enter the Aspen Trail, which stays relatively level throughout its four-mile length. A packed-dirt path, the main trail is wide enough to prevent handle bars from clipping a tree. A left turn led to the Pineapple Loops, a group of pancake-flat circuits.

The 11-mile loop of the Cadillac Pathway is used by skiers and bikers. Photo by Dave Foley

At a junction, a sign points to an option labeled “Aspen Tech Trail.'' This trail is for those wanting to test themselves a bit. It's got some tight turns and a couple quick drops and climbs. It's not hard for an intermediate rider, and it's only about three-tenths of a mile. A little farther up the trail, an intersection gives riders the option of staying on the main trail or taking a side trail labeled “Aspen Singletrack.” The side trail narrows and becomes a series of tight squiggles, so keep your eyes focused on the trail as trees crowd closer to the path.

At the end of Aspen, you can loop back until reaching the Betsie River Pathway. This portion of the trail is part of the Pere Marquette Forest. Here there are a series of looping options, the farthest north bringing riders to the Betsie River. Between this and the Crystal Mountain trails, there are 14 to 16 miles of marked pathway. However, numerous two-tracks and forest trails provide an infinite number of ways to configure a ride. There's good signage with maps and numbered posts to keep you oriented.

Make sure you note a phone number on the map (231-378-2238). In case of injury or mechanical failure, you can call that number to reach the resort's recreation office for help.

In winter, trails are groomed for fat biking. Folks can bring their own bikes or the resort offers rentals. A ten-dollar trail-usage fee offsets the cost of winter grooming.

Arcadia Dunes

About 20 miles southwest of Traverse City, just north of the village of Arcadia, the Arcadia Dunes Trail System can be accessed off St. Pierre Road. Riders will find the trail tight and technical, and the 10-mile loop, with about 1000 feet of climbing, is considered more challenging. While the climbs may be tough, the downhills are either exhilarating or scary, depending on your skill level. Often described as having trails that are “smooth and flowy,” Arcadia Dunes has a 4-mile loop that may be more appealing to less-experienced riders.

A few years ago, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association to create this trail system.

September Issue

Part II will cover four other top-tier rides: Hanson Hills, VASA, Glacial Hills, and Palmer Woods trail systems.

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