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Fort Custer MTB Trails - Singletrack Tour

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate
 4.4 (46) RECOMMENDED ROUTE
  1. Areas
  2. MI
  3. …Western Michigan
  4. …Battle Creek
  5. Fort Custer State Recreation Area
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“A combination of the best singletrack of the area into one loop. ”

ESG Greene
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Map Key

15.1

Miles

24.3

KM

95%

Singletrack

880' 268 m

High

814' 248 m

Low

393' 120 m

Up

393' 120 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

8%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Do not ride the horse trails, they are marked and no fun to bike on anyway.

Overview

Fort Custer Recreation Area has a fun and scenic collection of purpose built singletrack mountain bike trails. The trail surface is mostly hard packed, fast, and there is little elevation change in the whole area. There are unfortunately lots of short sections of soft sand, so stay on your toes.

This ride combines the two main loops, the Red Loop and the Green Loop, into one suggested ride. The Red Loop generally has a little more twisty but smooth riding. The Green loop is of the same general character, but tends to be a little more technical and has more straight and wide trail.

Need to Know

There is an entry fee to get into the park. It is currently $11 for an in-state yearly pass, $8.40 for an out-of-state day pass, and $30.50 for an out-of-state yearly pass. After the gate, follow the main road to the clearly marked mountain bike parking area.

There's hunting here in season, so be careful!

Description

From the parking area, head to the obvious trailhead with a map posted. Head straight out and take the first right onto doubletrack, then the Red Loop starts on the right. Follow the signs to stay on the Red Loop until its end for this ride. There are scenic ponds throughout with abundant wildlife including birds and beaver.

All of the trails are well marked with signposts. These often give a name to the section of trail that is coming up. The trail winds sharply in a very fun manner through what seem to be old trenches for the first bit. It then turns into a typical mix of twisty smooth singletrack, short technical uphills or downhills, and straight stretches on wide trail.

You'll eventually end up just about back where you started and then you'll take the doubletrack path to the left. Soon the Green Loop will enter the woods on the left. Follow this trail around Eagle Lake until you once again end up back at the parking lot. There are both greater difficulties and longer sections of wide trail on the Green Loop.

Contacts

Local Club: Southwest Michigan Mountain Bike Association

Mar 5, 2017: test

Land Manager: MI DNR - Fort Custer Office

Shared By:

ESG Greene
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 46 votes

#1

in Fort Custer State Recreation Area

#280

Overall
  4.4 from 46 votes
5 Star
52%
4 Star
35%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Fort Custer State Recr…

#11

in Michigan

#280

Overall
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27,633 Since Aug 30, 2013
Intermediate
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Photos

Loose but Fast - Green Trail
Sep 12, 2015 near Springf…, MI
Hard packed rock descent into a fast singletrack on the Red Loop
Sep 11, 2015 near Springf…, MI
Nice climb on the Green Loop
Sep 12, 2015 near Springf…, MI
Riding into a wood and dirt coaster on the Green Loop.
May 27, 2017 near Augusta, MI
A log skinny on the Red Loop.
May 27, 2017 near Augusta, MI
Fort Custer Trail Review
Mar 24, 2021 near Augusta, MI

3 Comments

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Check-Ins

Aug 28, 2020
Mark Schuster
Red then green then yellow 18.7mi — 2h 20m
Aug 1, 2020
Danny Clark
Jul 11, 2020
Jeremy Sorrell
Trail in great condition. Some sections of the trail not marked well so pay attention or you end up off trail. Definitely an awesome ride.
Jul 9, 2020
Nick Nunnally
Sandy dry. Trail built very much in same vein as Potawatomi. Looked the MWF direction would've been more fun.
Sep 7, 2019
Dom P
11h 30m
Aug 20, 2019
Dan Krueger
Jun 29, 2019
Scott Pope
Green red awesome. Yellow confusing and pointless 23mi
Jun 19, 2019
Tommy Grill