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Flat, wooded beginner singletrack with some 4 foot wide arched bridges, 8 foot wide corridor.


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Map Key

4.5

Miles

7.2

KM

0%

Singletrack

976' 298 m

High

919' 280 m

Low

202' 61 m

Up

203' 62 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

4%

Max Grade (2°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

This easy loop is a great place to start riding singletrack. The corridor is 8 feet wide, so there's little chance of hitting trees. The bridges are 4 feet wide and relatively low, and there is very little elevation change. There are some 16 inch wide boardwalks that are at ground level to provide practice riding narrow objects. All through a wetland forest crossing numerous small streams on arched bridges and traversing small meadows.

Description

This loop is easy beginner singletrack with 8 foot wide corridors, flat terrain, scenic 4 foot wide arched bridges, and several 17 inch wide ground level boardwalks over muddy sections - so low you can't fall off!

Starting at the main Tech trailhead, you ride from the 3D trail map through the red pines, cross Pilgrim Road, and enter the Tolkien Trails. Riding counter-clockwise following the easy green arrows, you pass the Tolkien Trail parking lot, around Troll Loop (where most of the ground level board walks are) back to the central Ring Loop (one ring to bind them all) back out Ent Loop, back to Ring, out Gnome Loop, then Elf, then Hobbit (past the paint ball area) then back on Ring and Tecumseh to the main trailhead.

About 4 miles total, the whole thing is like petals on a flower with Ring at the center. With so many small loops, you can bail out quickly at any of the Ring Loop intersections and if you want to head back early.

Contacts

Shared By:

jeff parker

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 3 votes

#2877

Overall
  4.0 from 3 votes
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Recommended Route Rankings

#52

in Michigan

#2,877

Overall
3 Views Last Month
2,421 Since Aug 21, 2013
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Photos

Super narrow skinny with planked turns on Dragon Loop.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI
Arched bridge on Ring Loop at Michigan Tech's Tolkien Trails.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI
An arched bridge shared by Dragon and Troll Loops over the headwaters of Deadman's Creek at Michigan Tech Trails.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI
Curved boardwalk on Ring Loop at Tech's Tolkien Trails.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI
Series of ground level boardwalks and turns on Troll Loop at Michigan Tech's Tolkien Trails.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI
Traversing a small meadow on Elf Loop at Michigan Tech's Tolkien Trails.
Aug 21, 2013 near Houghton, MI

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Check-Ins

May 21, 2023
Brandon Bal
Jul 16, 2017
Tyler Dennis
4.5mi
Aug 6, 2016
Kirsten White
I love to ride these trails when introducing new people to trail biking. Also, a nice mellow after work ride.
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