Ranked among America’s top 50 bike-friendly cities by Bicycling Magazine and the Best Town for Mountain Biking by Outside Magazine, Grand Rapids is an ideal year-round destination for cyclists. There are hundreds of miles of paved and natural-surface routes for trail biking, mountain biking, fatbiking and adaptive biking, all within minutes of downtown GR restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and cultural attractions. Spend your days on the trail and your nights on the town!
If you live in the city or one of its closest suburbs, you can take a bus to or near your trail of choice. All buses in our award-winning transportation system, The Rapid, are equipped with a bike rack. Many city streets are lined with bike lanes if you prefer to pedal between trails.
Whether you bring your own bike or rent one here, you’ll find trails for every age, fitness level and skill set. Get out into our Grand Outdoors and enjoy the ride!
Grand Rapids and Kent County are home to a fantastic network of paved pathways that are perfect for biking and walking – including the in-progress Grand River Greenway, which will link 80+ miles of trails and parks from downtown Grand Rapids west to Lake Michigan and east to Ionia County. These non-motorized, multi-purpose trails tend to be wide and smooth – many are rail-to-trail paths – and they traverse a wide variety of terrains, including forests, meadows, wetlands, riverfronts, residential neighborhoods and commercial districts.
We’ve prepared several suggested bike routes to get you started. Many feature stops along the way for rest and refueling – like these self-guided Riverside Park and Monroe North tours, which include separate routes for ice cream afficionados, foodies, disc golf players, hammock-and-leisure fans and water lovers. You can also try the Reeds Lake Bike Route, a 4.2-mile off-road trail around picturesque Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids; Kent Trails, a 15-mile paved trail that travels through Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker, Wyoming and Byron Township; and the White Pine Trail, which spans 24.5 miles in Kent County and 92.6 miles overall.
For a fun guided tour, hop on board the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser or Grand Rapids Party Pedaler. These party bikes accommodate up to 16 people and travel through downtown Grand Rapids for pub crawls, special events, company outings, sightseeing tours and more.
Many downtown GR hotels offer convenient access to the Grand River Edges Trail, which guides you along the Grand River through the city center and links to other trails throughout the region. Downtown GR’s Canopy by Hilton Hotel offers complimentary bikes for guests to cruise around the city, while the Embassy Suites Downtown maintains a Bike, Pump, Repair & Wash System for guests. There is also a public bike repair station at Louis St. and Monroe Ave., close to downtown’s AC Hotel by Marriott, JW Marriott Hotel and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Additional downtown bike repair stations are located outside Founders Brewing Company and the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, and at four sites across the downtown campus of Grand Valley State University.
The West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance (WMMBA) maintains 16 trail systems and more than 120 miles of mountain biking trails throughout West Michigan. From the two-mile Underground, an old-school XC-style loop wound into a city neighborhood to The Dragon, a 45-mile trail named America’s Best Backcountry Mountain Bike Trail by Singletracks.com, WMMBA trails offer opportunities for every skill level. A number of trails are groomed in winter for fatbiking.
In summer 2026, the WMMBA will introduce new mountain bike trails at Johnson Park, part of the Kent Trails and Grand River Greenway systems. Trail options will include beginner and family-friendly loop trails, intermediate trails and feature-rich progressive XC loops, all accessible to adaptive cyclists.
If you’re the competitive type, you might want to enter April’s Yankee Springs Time Trial, the longest-running mountain bike race in Michigan, held each spring; Skirts in the Dirt (August), a women’s mountain bike race; and The Lowell Classic (October), an old-world-style gravel road race featuring roughly 95% unpaved roads. The Gran Fondo (June), Michigan’s signature cycling event, is primarily a road race, but one of its four route options includes the trails of Millennium Park, a 1,500-acre green space a mile or so from downtown GR.
We use the terms interchangeably in our articles about biking trails and activities around Grand Rapids. Generally, though, “biking” can imply a casual, off-road or trail-based activity, while cycling often refers to more structured, long-distance or road-based biking.
What kind of cycling can I do in Grand Rapids?
There are endless opportunities for street biking, trail biking, mountain biking, adaptive biking and winter fatbiking in Grand Rapids.
Do I have to be an expert rider to ride the trails in Grand Rapids?
Not at all. Many paved trails are wide, smooth and level, and are appropriate for all ages and skill levels. If you’re new to mountain biking, the Cannon Township Trail, Ken-O-Sha Park and Wild Card at Paris Park are beginner-friendly.
Can I ride BMX bikes in Grand Rapids?
The primary spot for BMX biking in Grand Rapids is the Grand Rapids Bike Park, a 16-acre facility with dirt pump tracks, jump lines and wooded trails for all skill levels. Rock City BMX in Rockford, 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, hosts weekly practice nights and races.
Do I need to wear a bike helmet in Grand Rapids?
You are not legally required to wear a bike helmet in Grand Rapids, but it is strongly recommended that you do, whether you’re riding on a trail or on the street. Anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while riding on public roads, sidewalks or paths in East Grand Rapids.
Can I rent bikes in Grand Rapids?
Yes, you can rent street bikes, mountain bikes and electric bikes at various shops around town. The City of Grand Rapids also has an e-bike (and e-scooter) share program. Check the Shops & Rentals section above.
Where can I store my bike while staying in Grand Rapids?
Hundreds of standard bike racks are located around downtown and other business districts. The DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) parking lot at 250 Seward Ave NW has secure parking, including bike lockers from Grand Rapids-based CycleSafe. Many hotels will allow you to bring your bike into your room if they don’t have secure storage options available – call ahead and ask.
Are there races I can ride in?
Yes, there are on-road and off-road races – and races that combine on- and off-road legs – throughout the year around Grand Rapids. Check the Biking Events section above and the events pages for the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition and West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance.
Are there tools for me to use with my bike?
It’s a good idea to carry a set of essential tools with you, especially if you’re riding remote backcountry. Consider a multi-tool including Allen keys, screwdrivers and often a chain breaker; a tire lever used to remove tires for tube replacement; a patch kit/spare tube to fix tire punctures; and a mini-pump or CO2 inflator for inflating tires after a flat. See the Shops & Rentals category above for local bike shops that can help you assemble a tool kit.
What is the 75 rule in cycling?
The 75% rule in cycling is a training guideline stating that at least 75% of weekly training time or mileage should be done at a low intensity – specifically, at or below 75% of your maximum heart rate (MHR), with the remaining 25% reserved for high-intensity efforts. This approach builds aerobic endurance, reduces fatigue and prevents overtraining. Grand Rapids offers a mix of challenging and easy bike trails to help you meet this target.
Thank You for Practicing Good Trail Etiquette
Knowing how to share trails with other users and protect trail environments from damage helps ensure a safe, enjoyable and sustainable experience for all. Check the Michigan DNR’s Courtesy on the Trail guidelines before you venture out.
