Highland Recreation Area (Teeple Lake):
Michigan
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Description:
Highland State Recreation Area offers facilities for horseback riding, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Anglers can enjoy catching bluegill, pike, bass and crappie, and swimmers will enjoy the beach at Teeple Lake. The 546-acre Haven Hill Natural Area features lush forest, Michigan wildflowers and a variety of bird species, all of which can be seen from the park's nature trails.

In terms of mountain biking, this is the trail everyone wants kept secret. There are 16.2 total available miles of winding, climbing, narrow singletrack built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. Ride the A (3.8 miles) & B loop for 9.7 miles as the basic continuous trail, or add on the C loop (2.7 miles, offshoot of B loop) and / or D loop (3.8 miles, offshoot of A loop) for a total of 16.2 miles. Unlike Poto or Pontiac Lake, you rarely get cooking on this trail. Your time is spent navigating rocks and roots on this narrow singletrack lovers heaven. Plenty of off-camber trail to keep you on your toes, too. Beginners should ride this trail with other experienced riders, it is a challenging ride. The basic A/B loop define the character of this trail, while C loop adds more rock passages. D loop is the most technical with lots of tight, off camber up and down turns, advanced riders only should attempt this loop. If you plan on riding all loops allow at least 2+ hours.

These trails are maintained in part by volunteers of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA).
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Parking & Trail Access:
How to get there from Detroit: M59 west 10 miles beyond where you turn north for Pontiac Lake. Turn left at Duck Lake Road and travel 1 mile to dirt road (Livingston Road). Turn right and head west until you see the parking area to the right. Trailhead is well marked across the road.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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dangerous for beginners
By Shannon in February, 2007
"My husband and I didn't realize these trails were for advanced mountain bikers. More often than not, the turns sharp and steep and we had to wiggle our handlebars between trees. The path was VERY narrow. By the the grace of God, we made it back to the parking lot, but each with bumps, bruises, and blood. We were NOT prepared for this course at all. Since riding this path, which we nicknamed the bike path to hell, we stick to FLAT surfaces."
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Highland Recreation Area (15 miles west of Pontiac on M-59) to Highland Recreation Area
Counties: Oakland
Trail Length: 16.2 miles
Trail Category: Greenway/Non-RT
Trail Surfaces: Dirt
Trail Activities: Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6032406

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Guidebook: Learn more about other Midwestern rail-trails in RTC's Midwestern Guidebook.
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