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Wahlfield Park & Perrin Flow Trails

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.0 (63)
  1. Areas
  2. MI
  3. …Western Michigan
  4. …Grand Rapids
  5. Wahlfield Park
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“A fun trail system with a mixture of bench-cut singletrack through the woods and the Perrin Flow trails. ”

Rick Plite
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Map Key

6.7

Miles

10.7

KM

100%

Singletrack

833' 254 m

High

768' 234 m

Low

353' 108 m

Up

343' 104 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Family Friendly Playground, picnic area and restroom facilities at the main parking lot.

Open dawn to dusk. Closed when wet.

Overview

Wahlfield Park is a Kent Co Park with restrooms, open shelters, paved parking and playgrounds. There is also a short cindered hiking path. The 8.3-mile network was built over multiple summers with volunteer labor of the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance members and guests at no cost to the county. Unique to the park is that the MTB trail is directional by day of the week: Counter-clockwise (Red Arrows) on Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri and Clockwise (Yellow Arrows) on Tue, Thu, Sat.

Description

The counter-clockwise (Red Arrows) direction begins with a narrow bench cut around a knob in the park then follows the cinder hiking path to use the bridge over Mill Creek. The next couple sections include more narrow bench cut along Mill Creek and on a climb to get up to some old orchards and old farm fields. The trail follows the ridge line to the Bird Dog trail intersection. Go left for a fast short cut to the Perrin Flow trails. Stay straight for Why Knot which leads to the Wild Onion that takes you into some towering beech trees and some twisty climbs and descents.

You then are heading south along the old fence line with huge trees and tight turns. You'll see the Woodchuck trail on your right. Head out following the red arrows as you make your way west. This is fast section and leads you to a large high canopy woods. Pop out of the woods and head south west to make your way to the high banks of Mill Creek. Tight bench cut with exposure and some big trees make this one of the best sections of the park. Head back to the east through the field and you are back where you started. Ride another loop if you want or continue on your way. You are now heading down hill where you'll cross Mill Creek and keep to the right to head to the OxBow Run. Staring in the pines with a section of bench cut you loop by the creek and start the climb out. The Mattkinac bridge and the Utah 2 bridge add some variety to a beautiful steep ridge line with great views of Mill Creek.

At the top of the ridge you pop in and out of the woods as you head back into the the open again where you can circuit the Perrin Flow Trails. (1 up line and 3 downhills). The downhills lines are named after the Perrin IPA series, starting with Zero Problems a black diamond jump line. 98 Problems and Lotsa Problems are both rated blue square but also have jumps. Table tops, rollers, jumps, and berms are what these lines are all about. The Flow Trails where built by donations from the Perrin Brewing Company and the WMMBA.

The trail finishes up by returning along the bluffs of Mill Creek with some interesting bench cuts and bridge work. You'll finish with the Swimming Holes which is the biggest climb in the park. Once out of the woods you'll cross through the meadow. When the wildflowers are in bloom, it is a wonderful finish to a great ride.

Contacts

Local Club: West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance

Land Manager: Kent County Parks and Recreation

Shared By:

Rick Plite with improvements by Bill Parker
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 63 votes

#1

in Wahlfield Park

#328

Overall
  4.0 from 63 votes
5 Star
32%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
22%
2 Star
5%
1 Star
2%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Wahlfield Park

#14

in Michigan

#328

Overall
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15,467 Since Aug 1, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate
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Photos

Unique trails through cornfields at times.
Jul 7, 2016 near Comstoc…, MI
Overhead drone shot of the east end of Bartlett Ridge
Feb 4, 2023 near Comstoc…, MI
Satan's elbow on Bartlett Ridge. Maybe you wanna duck?
Aug 25, 2020 near Comstoc…, MI
Bartlett Ridge drone looking north.
Feb 4, 2023 near Comstoc…, MI
Fall of Utah, in the Yellow direction.
Aug 26, 2016 near Comstoc…, MI
Native wildflower meadow at end of Red direction.
Aug 26, 2016 near Comstoc…, MI

3 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 20 days ago
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Check-Ins

Aug 9, 2023
Ben Gosset
Aug 5, 2023
Ben Gosset
Aug 1, 2023
Andrea Wilhelm
definitely harder than I'm ready for, but fun to give it a go. Did yellow - started out easy then just ended really hard
Aug 1, 2023
Ben Gosset
Jun 15, 2023
Klein VerHill
Full loop. Yellow Direction. Fist time riding the new updates in the system 6.6mi
Aug 11, 2022
Leighton Kyle
Jul 11, 2022
Marc Nelson
Jul 7, 2022
Gabriel Lynn
The trail was cool! It's a ride uphill to the Perrin Flow jump lines but they're cool. No Problems and 98 Problems are the best lines. 6.4mi

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