NCT: Mackinaw (Thumb Lake to Brubaker)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

Features Commonly Bikepacked

There is a creek crossing on the north side of Chandler Hill (the hill itself, not the road).

A fun, rustic biking trail with lots of great winding singletrack in densely wooded terrain. This is mostly singletrack but there are sections of two-track and is part of a multi-state hiking trail.

This section allows mountain bicycling and it's a terrific section. It features great terrain, a couple of small bridges, and some steep climbs. Make sure to keep riding north to check out sections north of Chandler Hill Road. You can ride on this trail for many miles north, with various road sections but it connects all the way to the Mackinac Bridge.

The next section can be ridden for a wide variety of distances. This trail is primarily a hiking trail but is a favorite of local mountain bikers. Mostly this is a beginner/intermediate trail and has sections that are tougher than others, but most mountain bikers will find the wooded, hilly terrain exciting and challenging, yet friendly.

This trail is mostly singletrack. However, there are short sections of two-track. To ensure you stay on the trail, make sure to always look for the blue rectangles painted on the trees. Be especially watchful when on two-track as there is sometimes an unexpected turn off the two-track back onto the singletrack. Turns are indicated by two blue rectangles, one on top of another. The top rectangle is placed to one side or the other, indicating the direction the trail turns.

This trail is best ridden as an out-and-back or you can find road sections to make your way back. This can be ridden for many miles from Thumb Lake Road and Slashing Road north all the way to Krause Road. Turn around and descend from Krause Road for what seems like miles. It is a fun reward for climbing to Krause, an area we call "the Towers." It is a high elevation area where many radio and TV broadcasting towers are located. This has varied terrain with many sections that are beginner-friendly with short challenging sections. This is a great trail in the middle of some beautiful woods that is highly recommended for all levels of mountain bikers.