Southern Michigan’s best mountain bike camping is in the state recreation areas between Jackson, Ann Arbor and Brighton: the DTE Energy Foundation Trail in Waterloo, the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney, and the trail systems at Island Lake and Brighton, with Fort Custer farther west near Battle Creek. Most have a state campground in the same park. The Oaks Campground in Munith adds a different option: about 120 acres of its own trails you can ride from your campsite, a short drive from Waterloo and Pinckney.
Below is a comparison of the main trail systems, where to camp at each, how far they are from The Oaks, and a few things to know before you load the bikes.
Southern Michigan mountain bike trails and where to camp
Drive times are from The Oaks Campground and rounded.
| Trail system | The riding | Camping in the park | From The Oaks |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Foundation Trail, Waterloo Recreation Area (north of Chelsea) | 22 miles of purpose-built singletrack in four loops: Green Lake 5.2 mi, Big Kame 4.8 mi, Winn 8 mi, Sugar 4 mi | Waterloo’s Portage Lake (136 sites) and Sugarloaf Lake (164 sites) modern campgrounds; Green Lake rustic (25 sites) | About 15 miles, roughly 35 minutes |
| Potawatomi Trail, Pinckney Recreation Area | A 17-mile loop, part of more than 40 miles of multi-use trail shared with hikers; all trails start at Silver Lake Beach | Bruin Lake modern (161 sites), Crooked Lake rustic (25), Blind Lake hike-in sites (10) | About 23 miles, roughly 55 minutes |
| Island Lake Recreation Area (Brighton) | Blue Trail 9.1 mi, Yellow Trail 5.6 mi, and the Purple Trail (“The Badlands”) 3.2 mi, popular for fat-tire biking | No standard campground: two paddle-in canoe sites, rustic bunkhouse cabins and group sites | About 52 miles, roughly 70 minutes |
| Brighton Recreation Area (Howell) | A 35-mile trail system shared by riders, hikers and horses; trails at the Appleton Lake and Murray Lake campgrounds are open to bikes | Bishop Lake modern (144 sites), Appleton Lake rustic (25), Murray Lake rustic (25, weekends Memorial Day to Labor Day) | About 33 miles, roughly 65 minutes |
| Fort Custer Recreation Area (between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo) | More than 40 miles of trails on a 3,033-acre park | Fort Custer modern campground (219 electric sites) | About 64 miles, roughly 85 minutes |
| The Oaks Campground (Munith) | About 120 acres of shared trails: wide forest and grassland loops plus narrower singletrack | RV sites with 50-amp electric on short-term sites (30 amp on seasonal sites) and water, and tent sites | Ride from your site |
A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to Michigan state parks and recreation areas. Check each park’s page on the DNR website for current trail conditions and closures before you drive over.
Riding the DTE and Potawatomi trails
These two are the reason so many riders from Detroit, Ann Arbor and Jackson spend their weekends around Waterloo and Pinckney.
The DTE Energy Foundation Trail is a flow-style trail built by the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association with the DNR. The Green Lake Loop is the gentlest place to start, and the Sugar Loop is the most demanding. Bikes switch direction by day: clockwise on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and counter-clockwise on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with hikers and runners going the opposite way. The trail closes in wet or freeze-thaw conditions, and closures are posted on the trail’s Facebook page.
The Potawatomi Trail is the long-standing classic, a 17-mile loop through Pinckney’s hills and lakes. It’s shared with hikers, and the Blind Lake hike-in sites partway around make it possible to turn the loop into an overnight trip.
Riding from your campsite at The Oaks
The trails at The Oaks are mostly forest, with stretches of grassland, laid out in several loops. The main loops are wide and rolling because golf carts use them too, which makes them good for kids and casual riders. For more of a challenge, our team suggests taking “a road less traveled”: narrower trails the carts don’t use. Deep in the woods are the old mud pits from the 1990s, when the campground allowed ATVs and motorcycles. It takes some knowledge of the forest trails to find them, and today they’re for exploring on a mountain bike or e-bike.
- Shared trails: you’ll meet walkers, dogs (which can be off leash on the back trails), golf carts and the occasional horse. Ride at a speed that lets you slow down for them.
- E-bikes: adults only, pedal-assist models only. That’s the rule at all three GatherGrounds parks.
- Kids: kids and bikes need to be back at the campsite by dusk.
- Bring your own bike. The Oaks doesn’t rent bikes.
- Wildlife: one loop runs toward the wetlands bordering Haehnle Sanctuary, where sandhill cranes are common, and deer are everywhere in the woods.
For the full trail rundown, see trails at The Oaks.
State park campground or a private base?
Both work, and they suit different trips.
A state park campground is best for riders who want to roll from the tent to the trailhead. Waterloo, Pinckney, Brighton and Fort Custer all put campsites inside the same park as the trails, often for less per night. State parks are funded and priced differently, through camping fees, the Recreation Passport and public investment, and they offer well-kept trails, lakes and beaches at a fair price. Rustic sites like Green Lake, Crooked Lake and Appleton Lake are quiet and simple.
The Oaks is best for families and mixed groups. If one person wants a morning on the DTE trail and the rest of the group wants a beach, The Oaks has a sand beach with the Aquaglide floating water park, a free Kangaroo Jumper, a stocked fishing lake, a camp store and weekend events, plus its own trails for the kids’ rides. Sites are big, with water and electric (50 amp on short-term sites; no full hookups).
Many of our guests do both: they camp at The Oaks and drive to Waterloo or Pinckney for a big ride.
A mountain bike weekend from The Oaks
- Friday evening: set up, then take an easy spin on the campground loops while the deer come out.
- Saturday morning: drive about 35 minutes to the DTE trail and ride the loops that suit your group. Check the trail’s direction for the day before you go.
- Saturday afternoon: beach and Aquaglide for the family, or a nap in the shade on one of our wooded sites.
- Sunday: explore the singletrack and the old mud-pit area at The Oaks before checkout.
The Oaks is open May 1 to October 20. October is quiet, cool and full of fall color, and some of the best riding of the year. More about the park is on The Oaks Campground page. Rates vary by date and site; see The Oaks rates page to book your site.
Questions
Where is the best mountain biking in southern Michigan?
The DTE Energy Foundation Trail in Waterloo and the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney are the best known. Island Lake, Brighton and Fort Custer are also popular.
Can I camp next to the DTE trail?
Waterloo Recreation Area has state campgrounds at Portage Lake, Sugarloaf Lake and Green Lake. The Oaks Campground is about 35 minutes from the trailheads.
Are there mountain bike trails at The Oaks?
Yes. About 120 acres of shared trails, from wide loops to narrow singletrack, are open to bikes. Bring your own bike.
Are e-bikes allowed on the trails at The Oaks?
Yes, for adults on pedal-assist e-bikes. Kids can’t ride e-bikes, and throttle-only models aren’t allowed.
Do I need a Recreation Passport to ride the state park trails?
A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to Michigan state parks and recreation areas, including Waterloo and Pinckney.
Where are the old mud pits at The Oaks?
Deep in the woods off the main loops, on narrower trails the golf carts don’t use. They date to the 1990s, when ATVs and motorcycles were allowed; today the area is for mountain bikes and pedal-assist e-bikes, and you have to know your way through the forest to find it.
Can I rent a bike at The Oaks?
No, bring your own. Walnut Hills rents three-wheeled bikes at its store, but The Oaks and Ridge Ranch don’t rent bikes.
