This Hidden Michigan Trail System Has Flowing Forest Paths, Lake Views, And Smooth Rides Riders Can’t Stop Talking About It
If you crave the feeling of gliding through dense forest on a trail that seems designed purely for joy, this newly opened destination deserves a spot on your list. Over eight miles of paths wind through vast acres of woodland, alternating between shaded canopy and open views of shimmering lakes.
Mountain bikers will find smooth, flowing routes that reward every pedal stroke, while hikers can enjoy a shorter loop perfect for a peaceful afternoon stroll.
The terrain strikes an ideal balance between accessible and adventurous, making it welcoming for beginners without boring seasoned riders. Since opening recently, word has spread quickly among those who appreciate well-maintained trails far from crowded hotspots.
The forest feels untouched yet the paths are impeccably groomed, creating a riding experience that borders on magical. This caliber of trail riding in Michigan is matched by few places in such a pristine natural setting.
Start With The Trail Map And Slow Your First Loop
The smartest way to meet this trail system is not by charging ahead. Start at the trailhead map, take a minute with the posted layout, and let the scale sink in: more than eight miles total, with roughly seven to 7.4 miles built for mountain biking and 1.5 miles for dedicated hiking.
The signage is helpful, but the network makes more sense once you picture how the loops relate.
Because some trails are directional and others are shared, a slow first lap saves confusion later. I found the terrain more rolling than many northern Michigan woods walks, so easing in helped me notice the flow, the junctions, and where I wanted to come back for a second pass.
The Road Changes Names, Then The Adventure Starts
Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails sits at 3151 Bennett Road in Cheboygan, Michigan, near Topinabee. From Indian River, head north on South Straits Highway and continue as the route becomes M-27 North.
After roughly five miles, turn left onto Beeson Street. The road quickly becomes Bennett Road, carrying you away from the highway and deeper into the wooded countryside.
Continue for about 1.4 miles and watch the left side of the road for the main entrance. Turn into the trailhead parking area, unload your bike or lace up your boots, and leave the pavement behind.
Look For The Landscape Between Two Lakes
The geography here quietly does a lot of the work. The preserve sits between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake, and that placement gives the trails a sense of lift and openness that you do not always get in this part of the state.
The hills are modest, but they are enough to create changing perspectives instead of one long green blur.
On the east side, ridge points offer views of Mullett Lake, and those glimpses arrive as a reward rather than a constant backdrop. I liked that balance.
You spend most of your time inside the woods, reading trunks and shadow and contour, then suddenly the landscape opens and reminds you exactly where you are in Cheboygan County.
Choose Your Trail For Skill Not Pride
A useful thing about this place is that it does not pretend every rider wants the same experience. The system was built to accommodate different skill levels, and the variety is real, from smoother beginner friendly riding to features that demand more attention.
Gravity trails, sidewinder segments, rollers, berms, and skills elements are part of the design.
That means honest self-assessment matters. If a section looks beyond your comfort level, there is no shame in skipping it and enjoying the trails that fit.
The woods are still the woods, the views are still there, and the fun comes faster when you are not wrestling terrain meant for a stronger day or a sharper set of bike handling skills.
Do Not Miss The Hiking Specific Pieces
Although this place clearly leans toward mountain biking, hikers are not an afterthought. There are dedicated hiking trails totaling about 1.5 miles, plus shared use opportunities in parts of the broader system, so you can experience the preserve without feeling like you are trespassing in a bike park.
That distinction matters if you prefer a quieter pace. The walking here feels a little more animated than the flat, straight woodland stroll many people expect in northern Michigan. Small rises, rooty edges, and changing light keep your attention engaged.
If you are coming on foot, I would still study the map first, because the biking emphasis shapes the property, and a little orientation makes the hike much more rewarding.
Pay Attention To The Hardwood Canopy
One of the quiet pleasures here is botanical rather than technical. The reserve is nearly all forested rolling terrain, and the dominant trees, oak, beech, aspen, and regenerating red maple, create a canopy that changes the mood from segment to segment.
On a bright day, the light filters differently through each stand, giving the trail a subtle visual pulse.
That variety matters more than you might expect. It keeps longer loops from feeling repetitive, and it adds texture for hikers, runners, and riders alike.
I noticed that the beech sections felt cooler and more enclosed, while aspen and younger maple opened things up. It is a small detail, but it makes the preserve feel observed, alive, and seasonally expressive.
Remember This Is A Newer Conservation Story
This place feels fresh because it is. The Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails officially launched on April 26, 2024, through the efforts of the Little Traverse Conservancy, and that recent opening gives the whole property an interesting tension between polish and newness.
You can sense both the planning behind it and the ongoing process of how a place settles into public use.
The origin story is worth knowing too. Mark Melvin envisioned protecting this land while expanding outdoor recreation, and 128 donors helped support that goal with the conservancy.
That background changes the experience a little. Instead of feeling like a random amenity dropped into the woods, the trails read as a deliberate conservation project with a recreational heart.
Treat The Open Hours As A Chance For Quiet
Being open 24 hours changes the mood of a place more than you might think. It means you can aim for early light, a post dinner walk, or a quieter weekday hour without feeling squeezed by a gate schedule.
At a trail system this thoughtfully built, that flexibility is part of the appeal. Of course, practical judgment still applies. If you come at the edges of the day, bring what you need, know your route, and keep the conditions in mind, especially on a property with rolling terrain and bike traffic.
I liked arriving when the woods were still settling. The trailhead felt calm, the map was easy to study, and the first section of forest carried that unmistakable northern Michigan hush.
Leave The E-Bike At Home For Now
One practical detail is easy to miss if you arrive assuming every modern trail system works the same way: e-bikes are currently not permitted here. The reason is specific rather than arbitrary.
The conservancy is still collecting data and monitoring trail durability, which makes sense for a newer system where long term wear patterns matter.
That policy is worth respecting, especially because the quality of the riding surfaces is one of the preserve’s strongest assets. A well built trail can still be vulnerable while managers learn how it handles different use over time.
If you are planning a visit, double check your setup before you go. It is a small step that helps protect both the land and the future of the network.
Use The Trails For Running Too
These trails are not only for biking and hiking. Trail running is also supported, and the terrain seems especially well suited to that in between pace where you want more interest than a rail trail but less chaos than a highly technical backcountry route.
The professionally shaped contours make movement feel efficient, not clunky.
For runners, the appeal is the combination of forest cover, rolling topography, and enough route variety to mix short and longer efforts. You get hills that register in the legs without turning the outing into punishment.
The setting between Burt and Mullett Lakes also gives the run a sense of place beyond exercise, which is harder to find than many training minded people admit.
Come For The Ride But Notice The Intention
By the end of a visit, what lingers is not just the fun of the corners or the usefulness of the signs. It is the unusual sense that this property was shaped by people who cared equally about protection, recreation, and how visitors actually move through a landscape.
That balance is harder to achieve than it sounds.
The Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails are a newer addition to Cheboygan County, but they already feel purposeful. You can come for smooth rides, lake glimpses, or a more interesting walk in the woods and leave with all three.
If you give the place your attention, it returns the favor, gradually, through contour, canopy, and the kind of quiet design that keeps revealing itself.