Trails near Muskegon

[blue08]

Hello,

Doing a 2 night camp stay at Hoffmaster this summer, and wonder about nearby MTB trails you could recommend?
Thanks in advance!

[pharus]

Owasippi (sp?) near Montague is supposed to be open to mountain biking this year, for the first time in a very long time. I have not ridden it though. Luton Park north of Grand Rapids is a great trail. Bass River by Grand Haven is short, and one of the loops is obnoxiously twisty. The North Country Trail can be ridden, but as it is not designed as a mtb trail, I didn't find it very enjoyable. If there is anything else nearby, I would also like to hear about it, I have camping property in Rothbury, and there isn't much around.

[yahtzee_99]

Depends when you come to Muskegon for Owasippie, they are closed once the scouts come (June 10th - August 19th). http://ooec.org/trails/

There is a parking pass you would have to purchase (see link above), but well worth it and even more so if you bring 1 or 2 more people. If you do go let me know I could meet you out there and make sure you don't get lost (Owasippie consists of approx 5,000 acres)

If you are camping "in season", it's about a 30 minute drive from Hoffmaster (take 31 north to Russell Road exit, turn right and follow Russell Road north for approx 10 miles and you will run into the trailhead/administration building. I would highly recommend Owasippie, very nice trail but very challenging because you are constantly climbing or going downhill to the next climb (I take friends out who are in decent shape and the 8 mile loop gives their lungs and legs all they can handle)

Bass River in Grand Haven is alright. Very flat, twisty, singletrack good if you have a beginner with you but otherwise probably not worth it and spend the extra 20 minutes and go to Cannonsburg.

[rideondirt]

Clear Springs Nature Preserve (http://montaguetownship.com/parks.html) off of Fruitvale Road has about 4 (?) miles of trails that you can ride on. It's not a lot, but it can be fun. We take the kids there to ride.

Pentwater Pathways nearer Ludington has 7 ish miles of trails: http://www.getoffthecouch.info/oceana/pentpath.htm

There really is nothing close other than Owasippe.

I like riding North Country Trail, but it can be rough in sections. But the drive out to NCT from Hoffmaster is almost as long as driving to Grand Rapids to ride Luton.