Tips for Mountain Biking in West Michigan

Michigan regularly goes through a freeze-thaw cycle as temps dance around freezing. Some of our mountain bike trails can get soggy, and riding during this freeze-thaw can rut or damage the trail. It is important to preserve the condition of singletrack trails by avoiding them if they’re too wet after a rain. Luckily some trails, like Cannonsbug Ski Area, dry out faster than others so you can continue to explore even if it’s a little damp outside. 
 
Thanks to apps like Trailforks, or Facebook pages like the West Michigan Trail Conditions, you can check the condition of a trail before heading out to ride. Riders simply sync their ride computers or phones to Trailforks, and it automatically logs when they ride it. Local riders post in the Facebook page when trails may need some maintenance or when they’re in great shape! It can be a useful tool for finding intel and for meeting new biking friends.  

Ever wonder who repairs all the local trails when they need maintenance, like when ruts or downed trees need to be removed? 

The West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance (WMMBA) is a nonprofit organization that works to promote responsible mountain biking by designing, building, and maintaining trails throughout West Michigan. 

The WMMBA is a volunteer-run organization that relies on fundraising and its members to help keep the trails in good shape. 

The WMMBA hosts membership meetings, trail days where you can help to maintain the local singletrack, and fundraisers like the yearly Yankee Springs Time Trial to help raise funds to give back to the riding community. They are an excellent resource to look into if you would like to help out with our local trails! 

Yankee Springs is a great trail that drains and dries really well; it’s ready to ride very soon after the snow melts and has options for bikers of varying skill levels. Located about a 30-minute drive south of Grand Rapids, Yankee Springs offers camping, too. It’s a great, close spot to check out, whether you’re headed down for an evening after work or with the family for the weekend. 

Yankee Springs also has a swimming area, seasonal camp sites, and some great hiking trails, so it’s easy for everyone to find something to do if they don’t prefer mountain biking. 

It’s also close to the Barry Roubaix gravel racecourse, a race that takes place each April and explores roads through Barry County. Put more miles in on your bike and explore the area by cruising along the course. The Barry Roubaix’s intermediate 22-mile, 36-mile, and 62-mile courses are permanently marked so you can go and ride it just by following the green signs that the city of Hastings has placed around the county. 

Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam, about a 45-minute drive north from Grand Rapids, will be a 40+ mile linear trail jointly managed by the Newaygo and Mecosta County Park Commissions in collaboration with the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance. Michigan’s Dragon is a unique trail system that routes trail users through 5 campgrounds: 1 state park, 2 county parks, and 2 township parks. There are hundreds of feet of wooden boardwalk, 11 fiberglass bridges, and countless unbelievable overlooks!  

This trail is slated to be fully completed in fall of 2023 and has taken trail advocates and volunteers 10 years to gain approval, plan, and build. This trail will truly be a gem for trail enthusiasts in West Michigan with its varying terrain, multi-purpose built trails, and winter grooming efforts for fat bikes. In the summer pack your suit at take a dip in the pond before heading home (or back to your campsite).  

Indian Trails Golf course on Kalamazoo and 28th street in Grand Rapids grooms a trail for fat bikes, skis, and snowshoes during the winter. A $15 season pass gets you unlimited access for one person to the trail system during open hours (daily, 8am to 8pm) for the entire winter season. When open, the clubhouse offers rentals for people who don’t have their own fat bikes, skis, or shoes, as well as beverages to enjoy inside as you warm up. Fat Bikes are $20 to rent for an hour and a half, and helmets and lights are available for people to use as well. One loop is roughly five miles long. 
 
Cannonsburg Ski Area is open all year for bikes to ride singletrack and they also groom specific trails during the winter! Free to ride all year on fat bike, skis, or snowshoes, the Ski Area does require a “trail pass” for people to enjoy the groomed trails in the snow. For just $35 a season pass or $5 for an all day trail ticket, you can do as much riding as your heart needs. Afterwards, warm up in the Cedar Lounge for drinks and snacks! During the summer, Cannonsburg Ski Area boasts 11 miles of trail at no cost for hiking, biking, and trail running. The trails offer a variety of terrain with tight, twisty single track, double track, climbs, and descents. With the Sweet Spot serving up frozen treats in the warmer months and the Grand Rapids Dirt Dawgs practicing their skills here, it’s equally as amazing any time of the year that you visit. 

In addition to these two trails, many of the other mountain bike trails in West Michigan are groomed for fat bikes to enjoy in the snow. Check the weather forecast, grab your bike, and have a great time!