Michigan has plenty of bike trails for cyclists of all kinds. The only thing better than a good trail is one that’s easily accessible from a campsite. Through a lot of trial and error over the years, I’ve found five campgrounds with especially easy trail access. At each one, you can get camp set up and be on your bike within minutes.
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping – Mackinaw City
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is right across U.S. 23 from the North Central State Trail. The 75-mile trail follows a former rail corridor and has a flat, crushed-limestone surface. From the campground, it’s easy to ride south about 16 miles to Cheboygan or ride a few miles into Mackinaw City. From Mackinaw City, riders can also connect with trails heading west toward the Petoskey area. Despite being in a touristy area, I’ve rarely encountered much bike traffic here. The campground’s Lake Huron setting also offers spectacular views of the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits. As a bonus, Mill Creek has the best campground store I’ve ever seen. If you forgot anything, chances are good they’ll have it. They also sell fresh doughnuts and cinnamon rolls in the morning and pizza all day.
Trailway Campground – Montague
Trailway Campground has direct access to the Hart-Montague Trail and the connecting White Lake Pathway. The paved trails make for easy, casual riding. Tree cover provides plenty of shade along the trail during the heat of summer. It’s a small campground, but there’s plenty nearby besides the trail. Right next door is a piece of genuine Americana: the World’s Largest Weathervane. A grocery store and ice cream shop are also within walking distance. You give up some of the secluded camping experience here, but the convenience makes up for it.
Algonac State Park – Marine City
Algonac State Park is a good option for cyclists who are also maritime enthusiasts. The park sits along the St. Clair River, and the 54-mile Bridge to Bay Trail runs through it. The route includes a mix of separated trails, paved road shoulders and on-street bike lanes. I’ve generally found Michigan’s state park facilities reliable, and Algonac is no exception. My favorite feature here, other than the bike trail, is ship watching. Huge freighters regularly pass the park along the St. Clair River. On busy days, I’ve seen freighters passing the park throughout the day.
Van Buren State Park – South Haven
Van Buren State Park has direct access to a network of trails. A paved spur runs about four miles from the park into South Haven. The spur also connects with Van Buren Trail State Park, which continues south toward Hartford. Much of the 12-mile section south of 16th Avenue is an unimproved gravel surface, with stretches of grass, sand and rough ballast. I rarely encounter other riders on that section. Riders can also connect into South Haven with the Kal-Haven Trail, though reaching it from the park requires additional riding. The trail has a limestone-and-slag surface. The surface is better suited to wider tires than a typical road bike. The trail runs 33.5 miles east from South Haven toward Kalamazoo. Trail access aside, the park’s Lake Michigan beach is a great place to catch a sunset.
Magnus Park – Petoskey
Magnus Park sits directly along the Little Traverse Wheelway, with some campsites only a short distance from the trail. The 26-mile route follows Little Traverse Bay between Harbor Springs and Charlevoix, offering plenty of water views along the way. A roughly 1.25-mile section between Magnus Park and East Park has been closed because of erosion. Check the current trail status before setting out, particularly if you plan to ride south toward Charlevoix. Magnus has simple campground facilities, but the big selling point is its location on Little Traverse Bay. The rocky beach is a good place to search for Petoskey stones, and many of the campsites have water views.