Description

The Michigan Tech Trail System in Houghton is renowned as one of the original mountain biking hot spots in the UP of Michigan.

These long-standing trails offer an incredible variety of mountain bike adventures, including flowy cross country trails; brutally rocky, narrow singletack; built-up wooden features; professionally-built flow trails; jump lines; and more. For a true beginner-friendly mountain bike ride, head to the Lord of the Rings zone.

This area is home to the most beginner-friendly trails in the trail system.

With names like "Troll Loop," "Hobbit Loop," "Ring Loop," and more, you'll feel like you're rolling through Middle Earth as you swoop and flow through this dense forest. Here, the singletrack is smooth and flowy, rolling on dark black dirt that's punctuated by the smallest of roots.

In fact, to further help these trails appeal to beginners, the Ring Loop that forms the spine of the system features a very wide trail tread that reduces the intimidation level.

This loop alone would be the perfect spot to help a total newbie get into the sport. To help a beginner progress, consider starting them on the Ring Loop, and then slowly adding some of the narrow trails that branch off of it for more distance and slightly more difficult singletrack.

This place offers a fantastic beginner progression that you simply won't find in many areas of the country!