Find the top rated mountain biking trails in Bay City, whether you're looking for an easy short mountain biking trail or a long mountain biking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a mountain biking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
My wife and I just biked the trail for the 4th time in the last several years. We live 30 minutes east of Millington. The variety of plant and animal life keep us coming back.
On Saturday, May 24th, I was cycling 50 miles on the trail between Elwell and Stanton. I was on an out-and-back trip. On the trip back I saw a golden-tawny animal sitting on the trail. I stopped riding quite a distance away from it, maybe 400-500 feet away. The cougar was sitting on the trail and then leaped into the woods and away from me. I knew it was a cougar when I saw its long tail and sleek movement back into the woods. My gut said to turn around. I was far enough away on my bike to turn around and book it out of there. My goal was to get a 1 1/2 miles away and closer to Edmore where I could have help if needed. So, I decided to go around the area it was located. I took a paved road to a dirt road to loop around the woods it was in. I ended up back on the trail and had a longer ride than expected but was safe. The cougar was seen between Deja and Cedar Lake Road. Through research I've found there have been cougar sightings in Montcalm County over the years. I've reported this to the DNR and emailed the Freinds of the Heartland Trail. Overall, great ride and I was safe. The trail is fairly bumpy and root filled between Elwell and Vestaburg. Smoother sailing between Edmore and Stanton. Loved the tree canopy as it was very low and beautiful in some parts. Also, seeing the landscape change from a flatter Central Michigan to the beautiful rolling hills of Western Michigan was stunning. Road crossings became sandier as there is more sand in West Michigan. I would say this compares to the rural nature of the White Pine Trail that runs between Big Rapids and Cadillac. Road crossings between Elwell and Stanton were a breeze, quite calm, and peaceful. Now for some signage on cougars would that keep riders, walkers, and runners, safer and more aware. Just be aware, be prepared, and have protection such as bear spray, pepper spray, noise makers, etc.
A nice trail that's a little bit hilly.
A bit of both urban and nature on this one, with urban winning out but I would recommend if you're in the area.
Pavement is rough and there's nothing to see maybe either walk this one or skip it entirely.
This trail is a very enjoyable experience despite being rather short.
Pavement is mostly smooth except by the sports fields, plant root break the surface so badly I got launched into the air an inch or two.
Definitely worth a trip.
A nice trail whose view is unfortunately dominated by I-75 and power lines.
A very nice trail that's nice and open all through with a good round trip.
Nothing really to see here except a few schools and some woods.
Nice round trip though.
Kinda unimpressive and some very rough pavement.
With nothing to see and noise from a constant, I just wouldn't bother.
While my daughter was riding her horse across a bridge on 3/21/25 (from Millington to otter lake) the horse's leg went thru one of the boards on the bridge. It appeared that the boards had recently been replaced as there were pieces of cut boards in the creek bed below. Just wanted to let someone know before someone else falls thru and they or their horse gets injured. I'm sorry I don't know which bridge specifically, but like I said it was located between Millington and otter lake. Wasn't sure how else to contact anyone to report it (feel free to delete after whomever needa to know is told)
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