Your Guide to Biking Trails in The Brighton Howell Area

September 23, 2024

Advanced mountain bikers, cycling enthusiasts, beginners, and downhill biking thrill-seekers will find their perfect trail in the scenic landscape of the Brighton Howell Area – and in every season! The area is home to 123 miles of trails perfect for bikers of all skill levels. Check out this guide to biking trails in the Brighton Howell Area for your next getaway on two wheels.

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Brighton Recreation Area

📍: Brighton

Brighton Recreation Area has three mountain biking trails for riders of all skill levels. Its combination of irregular, high hills and beautiful lakes makes journeys through its oak forests, swamps, and open spaces a blast. The Torn Shirt Trail is an advanced, 6-mile single-track, one-way trail that climbs over 1,100 feet and has some rough terrain. For a more leisurely ride, check out the 3.4-mile-long Murray Lake Trail, which is suitable for almost all levels and gives pictorial views of its namesake lake.

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Kensington Metropark

📍: Milford

Nestled within Kensington Metropark’s forested, rolling terrain, biking enthusiasts will a scenic bike trail that they will want to come back to. Take the paved 8.5-mile loop that traverses the picturesque landscapes around the lake’s sparkling waters on the Kent Lake Loop. Make a day of this bike ride by packing a picnic and enjoying it at one of the two beaches or scenic areas throughout the park.

Area Trails

Island Lake Recreation Area

📍: Brighton

A favorite destination among bikers, Island Lake Recreation Area offers multiple mountain bike trails. The Island Lake-East/Yellow Loop is a scenic 5.4-mile ride that begins with a gentle slope near the Huron River and winds into a lush, forested landscape. For a longer journey, take the Blue Trail and see views of waterside wildlife as you ride along lakes and rivers. For the ultimate fat tire biking trail, bundle up and hit the Badlands Purple Trail that weaves through an old gravel mining area.

However, if you prefer super simple terrain, try the 4.5-mile, one-way Paved Bicycle Trail. It can be extended east to connect with the Huron Valley Trail or Kensington Metropark.

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Pinckney Recreation Area

📍: Pinckney

The Pickney Recreation Area is home to an extensive, 40+ mile trail system, such as the 5.1-mile Crooked Lake Trail. Its longest, the 17.3-mile Potawatomi Trail passes marshes and wetlands, and features an excellent blend of quick, flowing terrain, technical climbs, and descents. The Pinckney-Silver Lake Trail is a 2-mile loop along a diverse backdrop of ponds and lakes, with a few scattered hills that offer challenges. Explore a 360° view of the trails and a map!

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Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park

📍: Pinckney

One of Michigan’s five “linear” state parks, the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park, is a 32-mile, non-motorized, multi-use trail. It goes through several cities, spanning counties, and will take you through woodlands, wetlands, lakes, small country towns, and quaint family farms. There are 8 miles of paved asphalt trail, followed by an unpaved equestrian path, with the remaining 12 miles covered by finely screened and compacted limestone. It’s a unique experience – look at this map for more details!

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With so many amazing trails, it’s worth the trip to find your favorite trail in the Brighton Howell Area. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all our offerings!

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