Morton Taylor

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Address
Michigan Avenue and Morton Taylor Road
Canton, MI 48187

Trail Description
This trail system is a Canton Township / Wayne County funded multi-phase project. There are 4 miles of compacted crushed gravel pathways and in between are 6 miles of hiking/biking singletrack. The trail consists of 5 (non-directional) half mile and mile long loops with some straight sections in between and more trail will be developed as the township progresses in the future phases. The terrain is relatively flat, but rolling with some small hills, many areas are twisty and scenic with optional technical sections and 8 large wooden bridges connecting the two sides of the river. There are many varieties of birds, wildlife and deer that can be seen while in this area and at the western end of the gravel path look for a chainsaw carved totem pole artwork flanked by two similar style benches.

The 5 individual sections include:
* South loop, AKA Whitetail (including the sections Buckshaver and Dragon's Tail)
* East loop
* Crooked Vulture
* West Loop (including an optional technical section called Lucky Dawg)
* Wetland Loop

Hours
Sunrise to Sunset

Entry Fees
None

Other helpful links:
Trail conditions on MMBA forum: mmba.org/forum/viewtopic.ph…
Poto chapter trail website (with detailed descriptions of each loop): potomba.org/morton-taylor/

The GPS track shown here is one of many ways to combine the trail segments in Morton Taylor. They are multi-directional, so you can mix them up each time you visit to create a new experience each time.

Here are descriptions of the five individual loops or sections:

South Loop (Whitetail) This trail starts from the West end of the parking lot and has a larger 3/4 mile of easy level trail that circles a wetland pond and a smaller more tight, twisty and technical section called the Dragon's Tail. There are 3 small wood bridges that will help keep your feet dry in the wetter months. Just past the trailhead and the first small bridge on the right is the entrance to another fun technical section called Buckshaver Loop. It offers 2/3 of a mile of tight & twisty trail with 2 more wood bridges and 6 logpiles & reconnects to the main trail.

East Loop: This trail starts just across the road from the entrance of the main parking lot and travels East towards Lilley road. The first half loop section (before the ITC power lines) is flat and considered easy with the second half getting more difficult because of the hilly and tight terrain. Just south of the main first loop is a small technical section called Jessie's Run which has some tight & twisty singletrack that contains a spur that leads to a downhill section connecting with the downhill entrance to the ITC powerline corridor.

This trail offers some very nice ridge line views along the river. When reaching Lilley road, you can make a sharp left, go North along Lilley road for a short distance, take a left onto the wide gravel pathway going west and just 100 feet past the large wooden bridge you'll see the entrance of the Crooked Vulture Loop on the right. (look for the sign).

Crooked Vulture Loop: This trail section is in between the East and West loops on the North side of the river. It is a tight & twisty trail with some small hills that can be used to access the West loop without having to go back on the East loop. It takes you to Morton-Taylor road and across from the entrance of the West loop. Also, shortly after passing east through the ITC powerline corridor and before making a sharp left, there is a 1/2 mile extention that contains some more tight & twisty stuff with 4 more log piles. (look for the sign).

West Loop: This trail starts on the left (West) side of Morton-Taylor road just North of the main pedestrain bridge # 5. It starts out straight with a loop at the end and contains 9-10 optional log piles along the way that gives the rider a choice of riding these or going around them. There is also an optional technical section called Lucky Dawg with 6 cedar ramped logs and 5 additional log piles that do not have a go around to them for the more advanced rider. There is also a 40 foot "FAT skinny" log ride, the 32 foot elevated "Trestle bridge" and two 28 foot long boardwalks to ride.

Wetland Loop: This small 1/2 mile trail lies within the Northern wetland area & is in between Morton-Taylor road and the West loop. It is an easy level trail with hilltop views of the open grassy pond area and contains abundant wildlife and a skating pond in the winter months.