Trail Showcase - Merrell Trail & Luton Park

The helmet cam headed to the west side of the state to the suburbs of Grand Rapids to ride the Merrell Trail (Belmont, MI) and Luton Park (Rockford, MI). 

The Merrell Trail, named after the local hiking shoe company of the same name (looked it up), is a little over five miles according to my phone but may have missed a turn so it could be longer. It was built/created with the intention of mountain bike use so it has some 'flow-ee' areas to it where you are zoom-zooming through the woods at a pretty good clip. It reminded me of sorts to the DTE/Waterloo Recreation Area trails in Chelsea. 

Luton Park is named after Dr. Harry H. Luton (you are getting some history knowledge today), a Grand Rapids area native who did some great things for the area and was an avid outdoorsman. The trail network is comprised of five sections, each about 1-3 miles. The green loop into blue into yellow, into orange, into black, into red and close back on green. Not initially built specifically for mountain biking as Merrell is, the trail still has some cool parts, my favorite being the tall pine tree portion (right around the 5:19 mark of the video).

trailhead

Both trailheads are minutes from each other. About 10 minutes north of Grand Rapids, Merrell is about 1/4 mile east of highway 131 on 10 Mile Road and Luton another four miles east of there through the town of Rockford (cool little town). 

My idiot phone acknowledged both locations so there is that option as well.

positives
All positives as both trails were well maintained and served their purpose well.

negatives

Stupid people. Not trail related as there is nothing negative to report in that area. The stupid people referring to the morons who destroyed some of the store fronts in downtown Grand Rapids. 

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Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Holdridge Lakes/Holly Recreation Area - man down...again

The helmet cam takes us to northern Oakland County to Holly Recreation Area, specifically Holdridge Lakes mountain bike trails, about 4 miles west of the main park.

Close to 30 miles of trail, it offers something for all types of riders. Short loops north and west with the east loop, Gruber's Grinder, 15 miles and the marquee loop of the network. The first four miles of Gruber's aren't heart attack hills but there are many (many) of them. Once you get past those though, the flow levels out a bit and is a fun, twisty trail.

trailhead

As noted above, the trailhead is not in the main portion of the park; it resides off of Hess Rd which runs off of Grange Hall Rd, east of the town of Holly. The sign for the road/trailhead off of Grange Hall always seems to be blocked by some shrubs so best to have the idiot phone warn you when you are close.

positives

Again, a trail for all riders. Even Gruber's, while a bear, has two exit points at miles 7 and 9 if the mojo is not there.

negatives

No trail negatives but Hess Rd scares the hell out of me as it is one narrow dirt road with trees hovering over it. A dead end to boot, I'm waiting for either a tree to fall onto my vehicle while coming down the road or getting stuck at the trailhead because of a tree blocking the road. 

Attached is a mix from Gruber's with yet another fall from yours truly at about the 40 second mark. A lesson learned in respecting the caution signs and not trying to start pedaling in the middle of a large downhill. 

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Trail Head

In search of rocking the cradle (and not finding it)

The stay-at-home (or at least try to) order brought about a treat from the junk drawer; the yo-yo. After dusting them off and un-spinning them (need to un-spin to make the yo-yo sleep), I gave each a good throw and got a few sad efforts at "walking the dog" and "sleeping it" but getting the almighty "rocking of the cradle" is near impossible with my motley crew. 

Back in the day they could do it though (queue the way-back-machine). It was 1970-something and there was a yo-yo contest in Highland when I was in 5th or 6th grade. I'm going off of faint memory on it but believe the competition was on the side of a party store off of Milford Road (real classy, eh?). It was more or less a H-O-R-S-E contest with yo-yos. My brother came in third (which got some form of recognition) but he was not happy in not taking the overall trophy so never picked up his consolation yo-yo. Bitter bro.

Enjoy the view of the attached as the editing room makes the 1,000th yo-yo throw look clean (lot of throws). My arm hurts.

Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Hickory Glen Park

The helmet cam today takes us to Commerce, Michigan for a ride at one of the underrated trails in the area, Hickory Glen Park. A basic 5+ mile loop with no major ball breaking hills, it is ideal for the beginning rider. The terrain works great as well for winter riding as it is one of my favorites for a fat bike winter pedal.

trailhead

The park is located off of Glengary Road, west of one of the many 'Commerce' directional roads, east of Benstein Road and north of the village of Wolverine Lake. A word of advice on parking; avoid the ball field area during baseball season as the foul balls are aplenty. 

positives

A great, simple trail for the rider looking to decide if the activity is for them. If the bike breaks down or the mojo is not there, the walk out is not a marathon. 

The Glengary Inn about 4 blocks west of the park has a bare bones grill but produces some outstanding food.

negatives

One negative I guess is the township who has asked the local mountain bike chapter to jump through too many hoops to build a simple wood bridge over a creek that would extend another mile of trail.

A nice fall by yours truly at about the 50 second mark of the attached.

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Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Pontiac Lake Recreation Area

Today's helmet cam takes us to the land of more sump pump activity than anywhere on earth (whole lot of water), Waterford, and a loop at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. Roughly a 10-11 mile loop, it is a bear, especially the first four miles which includes a climb up heart attack hill. Heart attack hill is about a 100 yard climb with six or seven turns. If you survive the climb, there is a 'fast fast' descent afterwards so stop crying. Once you conquer the first four miles, there are some great flows within a very mature forest.

trailhead

The park/trailhead is off of Williams Lake Road, about a 1/4 mile north of M-59. Park at the main parking lot for the beach area. The loop starts and ends back here; well marked. 

positives

No more sharing with the horses. The trail way back when used to share a portion with the horses but is now separated.

Post ride feeling that you have accomplished something as your lungs will get some activity. 

The lake is right there after the ride for a dip.

The Pontiac Lake Inn is down the street for a VERY large hamburger and a beverage.

It's a beautiful trail.

negatives

As with Highland Recreation Area, not a negative but don't send a boy. It's not for the rider deciding if they want to take up the activity.  

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Trail Head

Trail Showcase - Northwest Lower Peninsula

The helmet cam trail showcase takes us off the beaten path of the northwest portion of the lower peninsula via M-22 (Arcadia Dunes) and M-55 (Big M) this past week. Both great trails. 

trailhead

The Arcadia Dunes trailhead is a few blocks north of the landmark Lake Michigan lookout on M-22 in Arcadia. Look for St. Pierre Rd just north of the lookout and the trailhead is there. Preferred way is clockwise (follow the numbers) for the 9-10 mile loop.

For Big M, about 20 miles east of Manistee on M-55 is Udell Hills Rd (Big M signs are also noted). Head south about four miles on Udell and the signs will take you to the parking lot. Many different options but well marked. 

positives

The Arcadia gets some great love from the local riding community so the trail is always well maintained (and incredibly developed) for a fun riding experience. A great flow.

The Big M is old school in maybe not getting the love of Arcadia in terms of maintenance (VERY rugged) but is blessed with some incredible downhill descents. 

negatives

Hard to be negative in such beauty but with large, mature forests (and some nasty spring storms), trees come down. The trail workers were out at Arcadia when I was out but a tree was down just about each mile through. The same with the Big M. 

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Trail Head

Trail Showcase - C Loop of Highland Recreation Area

Today's helmet cam trail showcase takes us to Highland Recreation Area and the C loop of that trail network. Last count I had were four total loops, A, B, C and D (roughly 16 miles total for the four loops), however, it is one large ass recreation area and wouldn't be surprised of some non-sanctioned loops somewhere in this vast forest, excluding the horse riding-specific trails in there as well.

The video at the bottom was from last week but Amy and Ed P. joined me for another loop on it yesterday for the Milford Bike Fest, corona style (ride the trails but no post ride gatherings; wink wink). All in all, a good showing as we saw quite a few riders out on this beautiful weekend.

trailhead

The main trailhead resides off of Livingston Road, about two blocks west of Duck Lake Rd. This is where the A loop starts. Normally getting to the start of the C loop is a bear as you need to get through A and halfway into B; by that point you talk yourself into just doing the A and B loops as it is not a trail network for the leisure rider. A mile at Highland Recreation Area versus one at Island Lake are apples and oranges; a whole different (and beautiful) beast. With that, the C loop doesn't get the exposure that the other loops receive but in my opinion, is the most picturesque of the four. However, over the years I learned of a back way into the C and D loops via Beaumont Road. Park in downtown Milford, go past Muir Junior High on Weaver Rd to Cooley Lake Rd east to Beaumont (all dirt roads) and about a mile on the right is a DNR sign onto a path. The path there leads into the beginning of the C loop.  Access to the D loop is a bit further down on Beaumont.

positives

It is a bear of a trail and you have to keep aware at all times but I think it's the most beautiful trail in the area. Rolling hills within a thick forest. With pain comes pleasure.

negatives

Not really a negative but not a trail for the beginning rider with a chain that is ready to snap (and your chain will get some work) while deep into the B loop and said chain does snap. Riders unaware of the area are in for a long walk back to their vehicles if shi* happens.

Trail Head