Your Four-Season Biking Paradise
For mountain bikers, there's no place in Michigan more scenic, more varied in its terrain or more thrilling in its races than the Upper Peninsula. Late spring through fall, you'll discover nationally recognized trail systems, breathtaking scenery and enough singletrack to keep you exploring for days.
And the adventure doesn't end when the snow falls. From late fall through early spring, swap your mountain bike for a fat tire bike and tackle snow-covered trails for a whole new kind of challenge.
Besides the renowned U.P. trails listed below, you can spend years adventuring solo or with a group on thousands of miles of logging roads, abandoned railroad grades, state and national forest trails, single tracks, off-season cross-country ski trails and low-traffic highways.
Ask mountain bikers across the Midwest where to ride, and the Upper Peninsula is sure to come up. Whether you're learning the sport or chasing your next big challenge, you'll find exceptional trails here—including three recognized by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
Silver Mountain Mountain Bike Trail
St. Ignace | 1.58 miles
Just three miles west of the Mackinac Bridge off US-2, this exposed bedrock trail is also groomed for fat tire bikes in the winter months. The ride features berms, jumps, rock features and beautiful views of Silver Lake and Lake Michigan.
Day’s River Pathway
Gladstone | 9 miles
This postcard-worthy trail winds along the Days River. Choose from five loops; two are perfect for kids and those new to the sport. A 3-mile loop is exclusively for mountain and fat tire bikers. Watch for white-tailed deer, songbirds, hawks, eagles and other wildlife along the way.
Grand Island Trail
Grand Island | 21.2 miles
Grand Island is accessible only by private boat or a short ferry ride, but once you get there, you’re in for a seriously scenic ride. The first 10 miles are uphill, but doable even for beginners. If you don’t cross over to the island with your mountain bike, you can rent one at Williams Landing when you arrive.
Munising Bay Trail Network
Munising | 33 miles singletrack and 26 miles of two-track
This diverse trail network includes the Valley Spur Recreation Area, where riders of all ages and abilities can choose from easy to challenging routes. Nearby, the Munising Mountain Bike Park welcomes both bikers and hikers with trails ranging from beginner-friendly to expert. Newer riders can build confidence on flow trails like Superior Air, while experienced cyclists can tackle the black diamond-rated Rock On with its gap jumps and steep wooden roll-downs. For a ride with unforgettable scenery, the Munising Bay Loop delivers spectacular views of Lake Superior.
Morgan Creek Loop
Marquette | 8.2 miles (Green Loop)
This beginner-friendly trail in the Noquemanon Trail Network winds through gentle terrain alongside Morgan Creek, leading riders to a beautiful waterfall. For an even more approachable ride, follow the adjacent utility road to the falls.
Harlow Lake Mountain Bike Trails
Marquette | Nearly 15 miles
This ride offers an exhilarating challenge, and it’s tough to top the vistas of Harlow Lake and Lake Superior.
North Trails
Marquette | 10.6 miles
Technically, this Noquemanon Trail Network ride starts at the Marquette Board of Light and Power trailhead, but many locals prefer to begin from Tourist Park. Built using modern IMBA trail-building principles, the North Trails offer something for every rider, from flowing singletrack and technical features to jump lines, freeride terrain and beginner-friendly routes. The Noquemanon Trail Network's nationally recognized singletrack has been featured in publications including Bike Magazine, Singletracks, Freehub, DIRT RAG, MTBR and Silent Sports Magazine. Along the way, riders pass waterfalls and dams while navigating bench-cut singletrack, berms, bridges and other memorable trail features.
South Trails Loop
Marquette | 30 miles
During your mountain biking lifetime, check out both the Benson Grade side and Mt. Marquette side of this section of the Noquemanon Trail Network. The Benson Grade has flow lines, steep berms and jump lines. You’ll love the downhill trails. Mt. Marquette grade dishes out steeper climbs, technical rocky trails and some milder enduro rides.
Among the South Trails Loop there are two double black diamond trails — Chunder Muffin and Bertha — and one black diamond trail — the Down Dogger. Be sure to catch the glorious thrill of the Freak N Nature blue/black diamond stretch of the Pioneer Loop.
Iron Ore Heritage Trail
Ishpeming to Marquette | 47 miles
See a cross-section of Marquette County’s scenery, history and culture. This trail takes you into the heart of Marquette for a restaurant or brewery stop. Views of Lake Superior are worth the calorie burn. Pick up a map to know the part of the trail designated for biking.
RAMBA Trails
Ishpeming and Negaunee | 77 miles of hand-built singletrack | 20+ miles of groomed snow bike trail
This twisted singletrack climbs, winds and descends along the Dead River in the western part of Marquette County. Over the decades, it’s been hand-built (no machines) by the grassroots trail organization Range Area Mountain Bike Club (RAMBA). It is a Bronze Level IMBA Ride Center with trailheads throughout the Iron Range. The RAMBA trails’ rocks, roots and punchy climb will pound you into submission and leave you woozy with an adrenaline high.
Copper Harbor Trails
Copper Harbor | Nearly 40 miles
If you want an epic ride with incredible scenery, there’s no better place in the U.S. Midwest than the Copper Harbor Trails on the Keweenaw Peninsula at the northernmost point of mainland Michigan. Old-growth forests, pristine inland lakes and streams, historic locations, mountaintop vistas and rugged Lake Superior shoreline punctuate these trails’ series of rocky undulating ridges and valleys. The cedar-planked boardwalks and bridges are hallmarks of these trails. This is a daredevil’s paradise!
Want even more thrills? From Copper Harbor, you’re within an hour of the Keweenaw Trails that spur out of Houghton, Hancock and Calumet.
Porcupine Mountains Trails
Ontonagon | 20+ miles
Michigan's largest state park offers more than 20 miles of mountain biking, with loops ranging from 1.5 to 10.5 miles through rugged forests and rolling terrain. Riders are rewarded with sweeping views, quiet wilderness, and the chance to experience one of the Upper Peninsula's most scenic trail systems inside Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Miners Park Bike Trails
Ironwood | 10 miles
The Miners Park Mountain Bike Trails in Ironwood, Michigan, offer 10 miles of trails for all skill levels, built on a historic 167-acre mining site. Designed by Flowtrack in 2022, the trail network connects Ironwood neighborhoods and utilizes Michigan's Iron Belle Trail, making it easy to bike across the city.
Copper Peak Mountain Bike Trails
Ironwood | 10 miles
The Copper Peak Mountain Bike Trails offer a thrilling, free cross-country experience suitable for all levels, featuring a 5.5-mile route with a significant 600-foot elevation gain. Riders descend from the Copper Peak ski jump landing hill to the scenic Black River before tackling the exciting ascent back up for breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views and a close-up look of the massive ski jump structure.
Whether you’re riding into the wilds or on trails near our cities, these resources will help you plan your trip:
After racking your bike, you’ll be ready for a hunger-stopping meal, refreshing drinks and a chance to share your adventures. Luckily, you won’t have to drive far to reach restaurants and drinking establishments near our mountain biking trails.
We also know the importance of a good night’s sleep after an epic ride. Find the amenities and rates you want, and even an occasional sauna or hot tub, at these lodgings. These are also good places to ask locals where to hit the trails tomorrow.