Michigan Tech: Big Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Details
14.22 mi
1,136 ft
Make the most of the expansive Michigan Tech trail system with this big loop.
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.
The route shown here attempts to hit the top highlights of the Michigan Tech Trails in one big loop. Even at 14 miles in length, this ride can still be lengthened by adding in even more cross trails, but doing so will increase the navigational complexity exponentially. So for a great tour to get a first taste of the trail system, consider this route.
The ride begins at the Nara Trailhead on some of the most pedal-friendly trails in the network. The first few miles roll up and down the small hills and ridges of the Keweenaw Peninsula, whipping between towering trees and rocketing through an endless onslaught of roots. This section is anchored by the Walk About and Outer Limits trails.
Upon reaching the trailhead at the Nordic Training Center, the technicality of this ride ratchets up dramatically on the Time Trial, Hairy Toad, and Lotsa Rocks trails. As you can imagine, there's lotsa rocks in this section, but these rock gardens are all found on mostly flat terrain, forcing you to pedal through the chunk instead of simply coasting downhill. This type of flat, technical riding harkens back to the good old days of Midwest mountain biking when this sort of thing was en vogue. Not so much anymore. Time Trial offers some of the most entertaining wooden features at Michigan Tech, but they can all be bypassed if you're not feeling up to the challenge.
The next section of the ride ducks into the Lord of the Rings area, which 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.
Next up, the ride drops into Sure Wood and Don't Think, which are the best modern flow trails in the trail system. Don't Think in particular features a series of large back-to-back berms and a few respectable jumps. After the old school singletrack found on Lotsa Rocks, this modern trail build shows that you can't peg Michigan Tech too narrowly into any one category. There's something here for everyone.
Finally, the ride wraps up on the Hillside and Gonzo trails for some high-speed ripping on classic singletrack. The perfectly-sculpted berms have disappeared and are replaced by old school flow, with the trail swooping down into the small valleys and flying back up the opposite side. This trail might be older, but it's still damn fun! Written by Greg Heil
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.
The route shown here attempts to hit the top highlights of the Michigan Tech Trails in one big loop. Even at 14 miles in length, this ride can still be lengthened by adding in even more cross trails, but doing so will increase the navigational complexity exponentially. So for a great tour to get a first taste of the trail system, consider this route.
The ride begins at the Nara Trailhead on some of the most pedal-friendly trails in the network. The first few miles roll up and down the small hills and ridges of the Keweenaw Peninsula, whipping between towering trees and rocketing through an endless onslaught of roots. This section is anchored by the Walk About and Outer Limits trails.
Upon reaching the trailhead at the Nordic Training Center, the technicality of this ride ratchets up dramatically on the Time Trial, Hairy Toad, and Lotsa Rocks trails. As you can imagine, there's lotsa rocks in this section, but these rock gardens are all found on mostly flat terrain, forcing you to pedal through the chunk instead of simply coasting downhill. This type of flat, technical riding harkens back to the good old days of Midwest mountain biking when this sort of thing was en vogue. Not so much anymore. Time Trial offers some of the most entertaining wooden features at Michigan Tech, but they can all be bypassed if you're not feeling up to the challenge.
The next section of the ride ducks into the Lord of the Rings area, which 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.
Next up, the ride drops into Sure Wood and Don't Think, which are the best modern flow trails in the trail system. Don't Think in particular features a series of large back-to-back berms and a few respectable jumps. After the old school singletrack found on Lotsa Rocks, this modern trail build shows that you can't peg Michigan Tech too narrowly into any one category. There's something here for everyone.
Finally, the ride wraps up on the Hillside and Gonzo trails for some high-speed ripping on classic singletrack. The perfectly-sculpted berms have disappeared and are replaced by old school flow, with the trail swooping down into the small valleys and flying back up the opposite side. This trail might be older, but it's still damn fun! Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom to top (NARA to TECH MAIN) | 3.56 mi | 292 ft | 1.5% |
| Yew Too Loop | 0.58 mi | -30 ft | -0.1% |
| Long Climb Back Home | 2.52 mi | 262 ft | 1.8% |
| Sleeping Bear Loop | 0.28 mi | -30 ft | 0.0% |
| Tech Mini Enduro Stage 4 | 0.38 mi | 56 ft | 0.0% |
| Boblsed Loop | 0.16 mi | -26 ft | -0.8% |
| Out limits to Wax Building | 1.29 mi | 217 ft | 3.1% |
| Reverse Outer Limits Climb | 1.05 mi | 180 ft | 3.1% |
| Outer Limits Final Climb | 0.41 mi | 72 ft | 2.8% |
| Time Trial - Part 1 | 0.61 mi | 16 ft | 0.0% |
| Horney Toad | 2.93 mi | 46 ft | 0.0% |
| toadmester to cut off | 2.59 mi | 46 ft | 0.1% |
| Lotsa Rocksa | 0.73 mi | 16 ft | 0.1% |
| MTU Dual Slalom | 0.15 mi | -16 ft | -1.9% |
| MTU Flow Trail | 0.79 mi | -213 ft | -5.1% |
| Don't Think | 0.55 mi | -190 ft | -6.5% |
| Send It | 0.34 mi | 46 ft | 0.5% |
| Gonzo (W->E) | 1.22 mi | -108 ft | -1.0% |
| No Trees? | 0.70 mi | -89 ft | -1.6% |
| Gonzo Down | 0.24 mi | -85 ft | -6.5% |
| Fast With Moments of Glory | 0.32 mi | -69 ft | -2.7% |