A range of bicycling opportunities for beginners to experts are offered along the Valley Spur Mountain Bike Route. Four separate loops take advantage of both cross country ski pathways and low traffic woods roads to provide a total of 26 miles of marked bicycle routes. The woods roads are shared with other vehicles, though traffic levels are low, ride with the expectation that you might meet other vehicles.
The majority of the 26 miles pass through northern hardwoods forest. However, the routes take the cyclists past meadows, hemlock groves, 40 inch diameter white pine, red pine areas, and several small lakes.
The routes are open daily during daylight hours from May to November. There is no trail fee.
The main trailhead at Valley Spur Day Lodge is six miles from Munising on M-94-west.
Trail Segments:
Each loop has been marked with a brown trail marker with a white bicycle symbol on it. The average distance between markers is one quarter mile. Routes are also numbered. Route numbers (three inch numbers on blue diamonds) are posted at each intersection. For example, to follow route 2 starting at the parking area, look for a blue diamond with the number 2. Ride in that direction looking for white bicycle symbols. At each intersection look for a diamond with the number 2. Intersections of routes also have location maps.
Trail 1 (12 miles)
Gentle, flat terrain with a steady 1/2 mile long uphill climb near the
beginning. The trail is very easy after the uphill section. Most of this trail is along woods roads where cyclists may choose to ride side-by-side. A short side trip can be taken to Truman Lake off FR-2266 (see map).
Trail 2 (4 miles)
This loop is the most challenging route and was designed for experts. There are very steep up-and-downhills on the back half of this route.
Trail 3 (7.5 miles)
This route has generally flat terrain with the exception of one steep uphill climb just past the point where Trails 2 and 3 split. Most cyclists will need to walk up this hill. The last 1/2 mile of this trail is all downhill, so use caution in this section.
Trail 4 (3 miles)
This route features flat terrain and a relatively short distance. This is a perfect route for a ride with the kids. The access to this route is from the second trail head on FR-2264.
There is a singletrack trail being built in the Valley Spur Recreation area beginning June 2014. To date there is 4.6 miles of singletrack that is rated as easy. If you would like more information about the singletrack trails being built in Munising and the surrounding area please visit mbtn.org.
