{"id":18452,"date":"2016-08-05T23:21:50","date_gmt":"2016-08-06T03:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuxx.net\/blog\/?p=18452"},"modified":"2020-04-26T09:25:11","modified_gmt":"2020-04-26T13:25:11","slug":"marquette-mountain-biking-for-trolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nuxx.net\/blog\/2016\/08\/05\/marquette-mountain-biking-for-trolls\/","title":{"rendered":"Marquette Mountain Biking for Trolls"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This article was originally published in 2016 for downstate Michigan folks who are heading to Marquette to ride, but after two years of trips to the UP with Kristen and seeing more and more trails developed, this article has been updated for the 2018 summer riding season. Originally a handful of suggestions — shared via email or chats or talking over beer — it all has been written down, consolidated, and made available for everyone.\u00a0 Even if you aren’t from Michigan, the recommendations below are a great way to get accustomed to cross-country mountain biking (XC MTB) in and around Marquette County.<\/p>\n

Please know that this is not intended to be a thorough\u00a0overview of all\u00a0trails in the area, but instead recommendations from a Lower Peninsula rider’s perspective for how\u00a0those new to the Marquette area\u00a0can get started riding comfortably on fun\u00a0and challenging trails, without\u00a0getting in over one’s head too quickly. The greater Marquette area offers a huge range\u00a0of mountain biking, with routes that anyone who is comfortable riding in Southeast or Southwest Michigan (eg:\u00a0Stony Creek<\/a>, Potowatomi<\/a>, Pontiac Lake<\/a>, Fort Custer<\/a>, Yankee Springs<\/a>) can thoroughly enjoy.<\/p>\n

When first arriving in Marquette it’s highly recommended to visit one of the many great local shops (eg:\u00a0Sports Rack<\/a>, Down Wind Sports<\/a>, Lakeshore Bike<\/a>, Quick Stop<\/a>) and pick up the official trail maps. Older versions of these are available as PDFs\u00a0on the Marquette Township Documents website<\/a>\u00a0(under Recreation Committee<\/em> \u2192 Recreation Maps<\/em>), but they lack some of the newer trails, and it’s a really good idea to have an up-to-date\u00a0copy in your pocket until you are familiar with the trails. The South Trails<\/em> have maps at most intersections, but the (slightly easier to\u00a0memorize) North Trails<\/em> do not. These shops are all great, have treated me well, and are perfect for both route suggestions and parts or repairs.<\/p>\n

For those of us from lower Michigan, we’re pretty accustomed to one-way trails. In the UP the trails are all two-way, unless marked otherwise\u00a0(typically only downhill trails). When I first rode two-way trails I was a bit worried about how it’d go, but in practice it’s not a problem. Trails in and around Marquette are much lower traffic than those\u00a0downstate, and tend to be a little wider with better sight lines. Same as one does for hikers, keep an eye out for other riders, keep to one side or stop and let them by (downhill riders yield to those climbing) and all works out well. When passing by others, tell the other person\/people if you are riding alone,\u00a0how many more there are behind you, if you are last, etc. (eg: “just me”, “two more”, “last one”.)\u00a0Others will do the same, and this’ll lets everyone know\u00a0what to expect.<\/p>\n

Another notable change from downstate trails is difficulty and consistency. I find that many of our downstate trails are of easy to moderate difficulty, but will occasionally have surprise, sudden transitions mid-trail. Sharp, off-camber turns or blown-out rooty downhills after a fast, flowing section prompt me to ride slower than needed until I know a trail. Trails in the Marquette area tend to be more consistent with far fewer of these abrupt surprises. While they are overall more difficult, the consistency, flow, and lack of surprise features makes a first-time ride on them feel very welcoming.<\/p>\n

In the Marquette area there are effectively four different systems of trails, South Trails<\/em>, North Trails<\/em>, RAMBA Trails<\/em>, and Harlow Lake<\/em> area. Here’s my take on each:<\/p>\n

South Trails<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/strong>\u00a0Located just south of downtown, these are generally seen as the main Marquette trails and are the most popular riding in the area. The main trailhead off of M-553 (Google Maps<\/a>) is where the\u00a0widely-photographed trailhead sign, picnic, and changing areas are at. A huge range of trails start here;\u00a0this is a great place to begin. (These trails are built and maintained by the NTN<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Where to Start:<\/strong>\u00a0Start with the Purple<\/em>-signed\u00a0Grom Loop<\/em>. Yes, the kids trail. It’s a great warmup, and a fun ride to get a glimpse of\u00a0the rolling terrain in the area; comparable\u00a0in difficulty to Addison Oaks<\/a>. Next\u00a0ride either Green<\/em> (Morgan Creek Loop<\/em>) or Red<\/em> (Pioneer Loop<\/em>) clockwise. Access these by following the signs and crossing M-553. Green<\/em>\u00a0clockwise begins immediately across the road on your left, Red<\/em> requires a climb up Benson Grade<\/em> (the gravel two track) and then begins straight ahead. Ride down the two track at the top of the hill for 100′ or so and then veer left on to the trail if you don’t want to ride across the top of the pipe.<\/p>\n

Green<\/em> is pretty smooth, with some twisty turns,\u00a0good ups and downs, and the trail takes you over the top of a waterfall (Morgan Creek Falls<\/a>). Red<\/em> starts out with a bit of rock and roots and has some (signed) optional tech lines, but then gets smoother and more flowing, particularly as you enter the Greywalls<\/em> golf course area.\u00a0Two good routes that mix up Green<\/em> and Red<\/em>\u00a0and make for some fun riding are:<\/p>\n

South Trailhead<\/em> \u2192 Climb Benson Grade<\/em> \u2192 9 (via Red<\/em>) \u2192 10 (via Red<\/em>) \u2192 11 (via Green<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 South Trailhead<\/em> (via Green<\/em>)<\/p>\n

South Trailhead<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 11 (via Green<\/em> \/ Carp Eh Diem<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 10 (via Green<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 5 (via Red<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 7 (via Red<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 6 (via Red<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 8 (via Red<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 South Trailhead<\/em> (via Red<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Near the end of Red<\/em>, before getting back to the trailhead, you’ll find yourself back at M-553. Cross, turn right on the sidewalk, and a few hundred feet later at the top of a rise look for a trail sign on your left. Enter the woods here and ride this section (known as\u00a0Mossy<\/em>) and you’ll pop back out at a road. Cross at the crosswalk and continue south along M-553 for a short while longer and you’ll be back at the trailhead.<\/p>\n

After riding Red<\/em> and Green<\/em>, for more of a typical UP feeling with rocks, roots, and exposure, take Yellow<\/em> (Gorgeous<\/em>) east from the trailhead down to the Cliffs Power Road<\/em> trailhead, the Blue<\/em> back to the main trailhead. This section has\u00a0a good bit more climbing and is a lot harder than Red<\/em> or Green<\/em>, but is still fun.\u00a0Just before returning to\u00a0the trailhead on Blue<\/em> there is a split labeled More Difficult<\/em> and Less Difficult<\/em>. This choice is in relation to the very last section ridden, and the More Difficult<\/em> section has chunkier rock than anywhere\u00a0in SE Michigan; it’s quite a sight to see. This route is as follows, but has a few unmarked intersections. Just go straight, following the more-worn groove:<\/p>\n

South Trailhead<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 17 (via Grom<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 18 (via Gorgeous<\/em>)\u00a0\u2192 13\u00a0\u2192 15\u00a0\u2192 16\u00a0\u2192 South Trailhead<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, be sure to climb Benson Grade<\/em>\u00a0again\u00a0and ride Down Dogger<\/em> and Eh Line<\/em>. Down Dogger<\/em> is a flow trail that’s completely rollable with only a bit of rock. Keep\u00a0speed in check and anyone comfortable riding fast on twisty SE MI single track will have a blast. Eh Line<\/em> is a jump line that begs to be ridden fast and getting air, but is completely rollable. Part-way up Benson Grade<\/em>\u00a0you’ll cross\u00a0Eh Line<\/em>, indicated by a large set of rocks on your right. I personally am more fond of Down Dogger<\/em>, as it’s a bit more rough trail and less jumpy, although there’s still plenty of places to get in the air.\u00a0Both of these trails are just to the left at the top of Benson Grade<\/em>, with Eh Line<\/em>\u00a0before the pipe and Down Dogger<\/em>\u00a0just over. We have no trails like these in Southeast Michigan.<\/p>\n

Don’t be afraid to\u00a0go explore; trails here really aren’t as remote as they may seem when riding. They almost all cross two track at some point, and many adjoin neighborhoods. You won’t become truly lost. Anything labeled as Black Diamond<\/em> (Very Difficult<\/em>) should be doable to an experienced rider from SE Michigan, but will be a step (or three)\u00a0beyond what is\u00a0found downstate.<\/p>\n

The only section I would suggest avoiding at first is the climb from 18 to 19 into Marquette Mountain\u00a0Ski Area<\/em>. It’s a fairly uninspiring climb, and finding one’s way through the ski area and back down can be a bit confusing. This is being built out to make a big yellow loop that connects with\u00a0Pipe Dreams<\/em> and\u00a0Off Grade<\/em>, but as of early 2018 it’s not done. Currently it can be a fun ride, but isn’t as good as other parts of the South Trails<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There are many other trails in the South Trails<\/em> area, including very-technical and drop-filled freeride \/ downhill trails. Before venturing into an unknown trail be sure to note the difficulty designation. Sticking to the main colored loops (Red<\/em>, Green<\/em>, Blue<\/em>, Yellow<\/em>) will keep to the XC trails and avoid any real surprises.<\/p>\n

North\u00a0Trails<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/strong>\u00a0Often overlooked or dismissed\u00a0as too-easy, located on the north side of town, across the lake from the popular Tourist Park<\/a> campground, and continuing northwest to the NTN’s Forestville Trailhead<\/a>. Typically more mellow and smoother than the South Trails, but with some truly beautiful views and fun riding.\u00a0(Built and maintained by the NTN<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Where To Start:<\/strong>\u00a0For an easy start, I suggest starting at\u00a0Tourist Park Trailhead<\/em>\u00a0(Google Maps<\/a>) and exploring to the west, sticking to the single track.\u00a0This is milder climbing and far less technical riding than most\u00a0routes\u00a0on the South Trails<\/em>, but still a lot of fun, and a good way to get a feel for riding in the area. Some of my favorite sections are the climb to (and descent from) the Blue Heron Overlook<\/em>, Collinsville Cut<\/em>, The Oxbow<\/em>, and portions of EZ-PZ<\/em> which run directly along the river.<\/p>\n

Once you have a feel for the North Trails<\/em>, consider riding out to the Forestville Trailhead<\/em>\u00a0and back, making a loop. You can do this starting at Tourist Park Trailhead<\/em>, or\u00a0start in the middle of the North Trails at the Marquette Board of Light and Power<\/a>\u00a0(BLP) trailhead located just west of 2200 Wright St.<\/a>. Here’s a great route from the BLP Trailhead<\/em> to\u00a0Forestville Trailhead<\/em> and back:<\/p>\n

BLP Trailhead<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 Dead River Trail<\/em> (West)\u00a0\u2192 Collinsville Cut<\/em> (West) \u2192\u00a0BLP Rocks<\/em> (under the penstock)\u00a0\u2192 Lower Falls View<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 Blue Heron<\/em> (turn left \/ climb up the hill)\u00a0\u2192 Blue Heron Connector<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 At the end, cross the train tracks to your right \u2192 up Ramblin’ Man<\/em> (to your left after the tracks)\u00a0\u2192 Forestville Trailhead<\/em> (water on the left side of the shed)\u00a0 \u2192 down Ramblin’ Man<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 Blue Heron Connector<\/em> (cross the tracks again, ride for a few hundred feet)\u00a0\u2192 Silver Lead<\/em>\u00a0(cross an old road bridge in the middle, trail continues on your left) \u2192 Collinsville Cut<\/em>\u00a0\u2192 Dead River Trail<\/em> (East)\u00a0\u2192 BLP Trailhead<\/em><\/p>\n

As you explore be sure to ride under the penstock itself; the large wooden pipe seen in countless MTB tourism videos (and above) and is a really neat experience. This can be done either when riding the BLP Rocks<\/em> trail or at the east end of Blue Heron<\/em>, just south of where it connects to The Penstock<\/em> trail.<\/p>\n

There are a number of small offshoot \/ casual trails along here, so watch for the main groove and stick to it. In some places the trail spiderwebs a bit, but don’t be afraid of getting lost. It’s a pretty easy area to understand, and most of the trail is fairly close to roads. Periodically you’ll encounter the Noquemanon Trail<\/em>, an XC ski trail that’s open to bikes between the\u00a0Forestville Trailhead<\/em> and the Tourist Park Trailhead<\/em>. It can be a bit sandy on the west end, but towards the east it’s quite beautiful, passing by ROTC Rock<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By heading east on the North Country Trail<\/em> from the trailhead (blue rectangular blazes) one can get quite close to Lake Superior and connect to the bike path into Presque Isle<\/a> or town.<\/p>\n

The North Trails<\/em> are extremely popular with runners and dog walkers, so keep an eye out for other users, particularly in late morning or after work.<\/p>\n

RAMBA Trails<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/strong> Mostly located in the space between Ishpeming<\/a> and Negaunee<\/a>, about 20 minutes\u00a0west of Marquette, built and maintained by the Range Mountain Bike Club<\/a>\u00a0(RAMBA Facebook Page<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Where To Start:<\/strong>\u00a0These\u00a0are a collection of hand-built, rugged trails. Maps of some trails are available via Trail Genius<\/a>, Trailforks<\/a>, or in print at shops. This area is\u00a0a spiderweb of trails that is now pretty well signed signed, but at times it can be a little confusing\u00a0to navigate. I suggest starting at The HOB — the official RAMBA trailhead — which can be found either by following the\u00a0RAMBA Trailhead<\/em> signage off of US-41, or by navigating to here<\/a>. There are also official trailheads at Jackson Mine Park in Negaunee<\/a>\u00a0or off of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail<\/a>\u00a0(IOHT<\/em>) in Ishpeming at Cognition Brewing Company<\/a>, but the signage is easiest to follow from The HOB.<\/p>\n

For a hefty, but fun, ride seeing typical Ishpeming area trails, I suggest riding the Epic Loop. Plan on three hours for this ~18 mile loop, but expect some seriously wonderful views and fun climbing and descending amazing hand-built rocky stuff. This is a much harder ride than anything recommended above in the Marquette area, but it’s fun and a nice variant on UP riding.<\/p>\n

After finishing, detour over to Jasper Knob<\/a> — the world’s largest exposed gemstone — that offers a wonderful view of the Ishpeming and Negaunee area including the Tilden Mine tailing piles. Make your way to Jasper and Hill Streets (map<\/a>), and on the north side of Jasper St. there’s a small wall with a stairway built in. Go through the stairway and follow the path up the hill to the top. (Yes, it’s ridable the whole way up and down.)<\/p>\n

On Wednesday evenings there is a group ride which meets at Cognition<\/em>\u00a0in Ishpeming and\u00a0leaves at 6:30 pm during the summer, moving back to 6:00 pm as the year moves on. (Check the RAMBA Facebook group<\/a> for details.) At these rides there are groups which\u00a0range from extremely fast locals who intimately know the trails to more casual riders who will head out for a stroll on the two track. Introduce yourself, ask around, and find a group\u00a0that seems right to ride with. Don’t be intimidated; folks on this ride are super friendly and it’s an excellent way to see the RAMBA trails and meet up\u00a0with\u00a0some great people. And after, grab a pizza-to-go from Congress<\/a>\u00a0and eat it at\u00a0Cognition<\/em>. Mmm!<\/p>\n

RAMBA trails to range from fast and fun to rocky and challenging, with a number of sections that\u00a0are currently way beyond my skill level. Each time I’ve gone to ride here alone I’ve become a bit lost and frustrated that I couldn’t find trails I’d been on\u00a0in the past, but still had a good time. One of my favorite parts is riding through the Negaunee Caving Grounds \/ Old Town Negaunee<\/a>, a portion of the town which was literally undermined and closed down. Trails run along the old streets, sidewalks, and stairways which are now a park.<\/p>\n

Harlow Lake<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overview:<\/strong>\u00a0Trails located in and around Harlow Lake and the Little Presque Isle Cabins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where To Start:<\/strong>\u00a0Home to some of the more\u00a0photogenic and technical trails in the area, Harlow Lake is often touted as some of the most rugged riding in the Marquette area. This area contains everything from the infamous wall ride featured in Jeff Lenosky’s Awesome riding in the UP of Michigan<\/a> video to Bareback as seen in Travel Marquette’s 4 Trails 2 Minutes<\/a> video.<\/p>\n

Since becoming officially recognized by the Michigan DNR there have been wayfinding signs installed, and an official map is now available (link<\/a>). It’s not as well marked as either the NTN North or South Trails, but there are now signs at each official trail and maps located throughout the property. It’s now pretty easy to find your way around without a guide.<\/p>\n

There’s some incredibly scenic trails here, but they are seriously rugged, and I’d caution a new rider from downstate about riding here without a bit of preparation. Bring a copy of the map as cell phone service is spotty. This area is fairly remote, you’re unlikely to encounter others, let someone know where you’re going to be at. Bring some offline maps via OsmAnd+<\/a> and\/or Trailforks<\/a>, ride cautiously, and be ready to do a bit of exploring. But also be ready to have your jaw drop at the scenery.<\/p>\n

Riding in the Marquette area is great, because it’s usually possible to safely ride from wherever you are staying to the trails. In Marquette itself there are rail trails, multi-use paths, and safe residential streets that connect almost everything. One can even get to the RAMBA Trails<\/em> from Marquette via the IOHT<\/em> and up into Harlow Lake<\/em> via dirt roads that connect into the SBR<\/em> (off of the North Trails<\/em>).\u00a0When I’m staying in the area I’ll typically ride from wherever I’m at to the trails. It’s a great way to see the town and warm up one’s legs before getting to the single track.<\/p>\n

After a day of riding you’ll want food and beer. Here’s a post I did in mid-2015 covering\u00a0good places to eat\u00a0in Marquette:\u00a0Marquette Food Recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finally, the great trails in the Marquette area are mostly built and maintained by volunteers, with the NTN<\/em> having a small paid staff of trail builders and groomers. Sign up for a\u00a0Noquemanon Trail Network Single Track membership<\/a> (I’m at the $50 level myself, which seems good for an out-of-towner) and give a bit back to the trails you enjoyed. Support RAMBA<\/a> by clicking the Donate<\/em> button at the bottom of their page<\/a> and tossing them some money as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This article was originally published in 2016 for downstate Michigan folks who are heading to Marquette to ride, but after two years of trips to…<\/p>\n

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