Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails

The trails were uneven and frequently perilous. Safety was often an afterthought because they were frequently user-made.
“When I first started riding here, the user group that was present was extremely ad hoc. In terms of planning, there actually wasn’t much guidance, according to Hopp. “Those older routes basically went straight up one hill and down the other side, and you kind of white-knuckled it the entire way, praying that you’d survive. They posed a threat. Many persons suffered injuries. And fighting against erosion was ongoing.

The First Stage of the Reconfiguration Of The Mountain Biking Paths At Stony Creek Metro Park Is Almost Finished

Hopp, 54, is more than a simple mountain cyclist. In addition, he serves as one of Stony Creek’s top administrators and the Metroparks’ interim eastern district superintendent. He is assisting in overseeing a $425,000 thorough overhaul of Stony Creek’s well-liked hiking and bike routes. The first new trails, that are in the works for more than four years, are almost finished and should be finished by the end of the year. Late winter or early spring of 2021 will see the construction of more new trails. The new trails will make an effort to achieve five main objectives: enhance trail sustainability and safety; broaden the current system; include accessibility; enhance signage, and lessen user conflict. The decision to upgrade the trails was made following surveys and public hearings for stakeholders in the trails, including mountain biker and trail runner groups and shops, the surrounding communities, and other people with interest in the Shelden Trails area of the park, which is located in the park’s southwest section in Oakland Township. The decision to upgrade the trails was preceded by suggestions in the Huron-Clinton Metroparks master plan, which was produced in 2016. The network of mountain bike trails at Stony Creek is the greatest of any such network in the

Metroparks

Many of Stony Creek’s paths have been around for 75 years, and more have been added over time as a park- and user-created trails. It has been challenging to maintain some of the trails, particularly those that were built by users, because of erosion brought on by both use and water. Designing new routes that travel perpendicular to water runoff and removing ones that move parallel to runoff will be a part of the new strategy. In the end, the existing and new pathways will endure over time with little upkeep. There will be several brand-new trails. Others will use already-existing trails to preserve the same kind of rider experience but with a more resilient trail network. Trails will be redesigned to avoid having fall lines that could be eroded by water. And a straightforward choice about where to locate a route in regard to a tree can both help preserve the trail and safeguard the tree’s health. According to Hopp, if a path is placed on the incorrect side of a tree, it will gradually wear through the tree’s root structure and produce erosion issues, tree damage, and decreased rideability. The length of time the trail can be open without causing any harm is greatly improved by these kinds of easy improvements. Safety concerns are caused by erosion. You must set up trails in a specific manner. There is nothing that climbs and descends hills in a straight line. Trail construction is no longer thought of in an outdated manner. Now we’re looking at routes that can support themselves for many years and give all of our users a safer experience when biking, walking, or jogging.

The majority of the more well-known trails will survive. However, they might be reorganized. Nearly six new miles of singletrack, largely novice trails, will be added as part of the renovation, bringing the total length of the singletrack system to about 11.5 miles. Five loops will be created out of the existing trails to enhance rider flow and enhance communication between each loop system. The trails that will be finished by the end of 2020 are Loops A and B, both of which are virtually totally brand-new singletrack. Both are reachable from the West Branch parking lot, which is located in the southwest corner of the park, behind the golf course. The 1.92-mile Loop A is intended to draw new riders, typically those under the age of 16, might have started riding after hearing about it from a friend or family member. The loop aims to boost confidence and fundamental abilities. The routes on the trails are made to accommodate hand cycles, increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities. The League of Michigan Bicyclists provided a grant, and Eastwood Beach now has hand cycles for hire. For more experienced riders, the loop can be utilized as a warm-up before venturing out to more difficult routes. The loop is reachable from many lots and continues to be near the West Branch parking area. For those trails, the Metroparks are holding a name competition.

Families are encouraged to go, enjoy the weather, and even have a barbecue at a picnic table, according to Hopp. “Family members who could be trail novices can then take that A loop. As a parent, you are aware that your child is on a safe loop that has been specifically created for their ability level. If they stay on that loop, we may expect to see Junior pass us once again every 10-15 minutes or so or stop for a meal. Mountain bikers with experience will have a new track to enjoy and explore. Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails Additionally, there will be an influx of new people who may have never traveled on a single route that wound its way through the forests. It will be exciting,” Hopp continued. The B Loop will be adjacent to and to the south of the A Loop, and it will be reachable via the F Parking Lot at West Branch. Its length is 1.74 miles, it connects to A Loop in two places, it requires a step-up in skill, and it has man-made obstacles, including boardwalks, rocky trails, and tiny wood bridges that must be over. The B Loop will also connect to Loops C, D, and E, which are more difficult routes that are located deeper and farther southwest in the park. Hopp expressed optimism that Loop B will open shortly, along with Loop A and connectivity to The Stony Creek Ravine Nature Park in Oakland Township, which will open by the end of the year. The existing single track will be reconfigured in Loop C, while Loops D and E will expand the system’s western end’s looping options. In 2021, those loops ought to be finished. For those loops, funding has not yet been approved, but Hopp is hopeful that it will be shortly. The lengths of Loop C, Loop D, and Loop E will each be 2.41 miles long. Initially, it was anticipated that most of the loop systems would be finished by the end of 2019. Unbeknownst to the Metroparks, there aren’t many trail-building businesses in the US, and most of them are already completely booked for the trail-building season in the fall of 2019. Due to the lack of a contractor, plans had to be delayed for the Metroparks. The project is being managed by FlowTrack Mountain Bike Trails LLC, a Marquette, Michigan-based company.

We didn’t grasp this industry’s capacity limitations, according to Hopp. “Flow Track is one of the not many businesses performing this kind of work in the Midwest, if not the entire United States. At the time, we were unaware of that. Our objectives were a bit overly rosy.
One of the project’s first concerns was that it would eliminate 1.3 miles of advanced singletrack and close 1.67 miles of “bandit trails” built by visitors, which would prevent more experienced and daring riders from honing their abilities and enjoying their more expensive, thousands-dollar bikes. Hopp claimed that because of the new routes that have been developed with the assistance of neighborhood mountain bike organizations like CARAMBA, he is not concerned about the disappearance of those older trails (Clinton River Area Mountain Bike Association). Many of the well-known trails will continue to exist, although with some significant modifications.

Hopp stated, “I know the user groups who are out there are enthusiastic about what’s going on. There is a lot of talk on Facebook sites, and the work that is being done out here is the topic of discussion in every chat room. Nobody has voiced a complaint to me about the disappearance of a historic trail that might have existed nearby. I believe that the building crew is aware of the intended outcome and the kind of riding that has been practiced here, and they are working diligently to create something similar while adhering to our established safety standards. Better and enhanced signage will be addressed as one persistent complaint. Riders are less likely to get lost with the loop systems, but the new way signs will also point them in the direction of connection routes and give them confidence that they won’t get lost. It will be much simpler to follow the trail system by setting out these loops and deleting the old bandit routes—the old social trails that have grown over the years. A significant part of this is the waypoint signs. And we’re aiming to ensure that if you’re on the A loop, you’ll always be aware of it and that there isn’t a bandit trail on that path that could lead you astray. Our intention is that you will always be aware that you are on the same loop after all of those have been removed, and the new signage that will be installed confirms that you are still on the proper loop. There will also be signage for connection trails.

Hopp, the manager of Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails and a lifelong rider, says he is quite enthusiastic about the redesign of the mountain bike trail network.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’ve probably talked about it enough for anyone who has heard me get sick of hearing about it,” Hopp remarked with a smile. “I’m incredibly pleased that this is happening. The parks have had this as a long-term objective. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, my buddies and I began riding here. I’ve sort of followed the development over time. And I doubt that anyone could have imagined at the time that we would ever be creating a trial network on the scale that we have now. This goes above and beyond what we thought was feasible.

Metropark At Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails

Nearly an hour’s drive north of Detroit, at 26 Mile Road and Shelby in Shelby Township, is Stoney Creek Metropark, another fantastic location for hiking trails in Southeast Michigan. The best park for outdoor exercise is Stony Creek, which has around 44 miles of trails. Six different trail types are available at Stony Creek for various cardio exercises. There are paved, in-woods, Trolly, fitness, and mountain bike routes in Stoney Creek Metropark. The paved trail is ideal for rollerblading, biking, and other activities of many kinds (besides skateboarding which is prohibited by the park). The roughly 6.2 miles of the paved, lane-marked track are in direct sunlight, making it a fantastic place to grab some vitamin D and work up an appetite. Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails has five different nature trails: Reflection, Landscape, Habitat, East Lake, and Osprey if you’re searching for less exposure and little traffic. The Osprey trail offers the least exposure and is also less well-maintained, making it a peaceful place to stroll or hike for about 1.3 miles. There are three in-wood trails that are poorly maintained and covered with gravel in addition to the nature trails. They are excellent for quiet jogging, hiking, or park strolls as well. North, South, and Big Loop are the three in-woods routes, and they are each two to four miles long. Trolley paths, which are a medium ground between the two, are offered by the park if you’re seeking a path that is slightly more maintained but not entirely paved. There are three trolley routes that are one to two miles long: East, West, and Big Loop.

The Fitness Trail is, without a doubt, the most distinctive of the routes. It is around 1.8 miles long and offers runners and hikers 31 different stretching and exercise stations to complete along the way, giving your trek or jog a healthy twist. The trail ends at the park’s beach and combines paved and in-wood sections. Finally, Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails has four distinct mountain bike paths if you’re seeking to go on a difficult ride or an easy stroll through the park. The four loops are North Loop, an easier course that is about 3.2 miles long; South Loop, only 2.2 miles long and also fairly easy; Big Loop, a little longer but not as difficult at 4.3 miles, and Hard Loop, the longest and most challenging at 6.2 miles, which spans challenging terrain and hilly areas. Therefore, Stony Creek Metropark has you covered when it comes to getting your outdoor cardio, regardless of what kind of jogger, hiker, or biker you are.

Stony Creek Metro Park In Michigan’s Macomb And Oakland Counties

Stony Creek Metro Park is a 4,451-acre park with a 500-acre lake that crosses the boundaries of Macomb and Oakland Counties. With a brief detour or two on a dirt trail toward lake or a basketball court, the photographs in the photo gallery above were taken while pedaling around the lake on the neatly paved bike trail. Due to the park’s elevation (875 feet), which is relatively high above sea level, there is a spot from which one can see downtown Detroit, which is located 26 miles away.

(Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Stony Creek Metropolitan Park’s mountain riding paths)

Where in Stony Creek Metropolitan Park is the greatest mountain bike trail?

Stony Creek West Branch Loop, which has a 4.5-star rating from 597 reviews, is the finest route for mountain biking in Stony Creek Metropolitan Park, according to users of the website AllTrails.com. The elevation gain on this 7.6 km long trail is 64 m. Hiking typically takes 1 hour and 33 minutes.

Which mountain bike route in Stony Creek Metropolitan Park is the longest?

Beach Trail, Back Nine, Pines, and Bee Line Loop are Stony Creek Metropolitan Park’s longest mountain biking trails, according to AllTrails.com. The estimated length of this trail is 13.7 kilometers, and the average hiking time is 2 hours and 53 minutes.

In how many locations does Stony Creek Metropolitan Park provide mountain biking?

Nine mountain bike routes may be found at Stony Creek Metropolitan Park. The 1,982 community evaluations on AllTrails have given this mountain bike routes an average rating of 4.5 stars.

Which mountain riding track in Stony Creek Metropolitan Park gains the most elevation?

Stony Creek Metropolitan Park offers elevation gain if that’s what you’re after. With a total ascent of 163 m, West Branch Loop has the highest elevation gain among mountain riding trails. Black Nine Loop, which gains 149 m of height, is the runner-up in the park.