BEWARE THE SARLAC PITS! Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration.
PROS - corridor is wide, trails are well marked. T Th Sa rides following the blue markers in a clockwise loop, and the other 4 days rides the orange markers in the opposite direction. Nothing super technical, no big climbs or significant downhills. Easily ridable with no suspension as the whole thing is pretty smooth if you're used to anything technical (almost felt overkill with just front suspension).
CONS - If you're looking for flow, or anything technical, this is NOT the trail for you. Relatively flat. Also, as mentioned in other reviews; SAND! I get it, we're in western Michigan, land of beautiful dunes. But riding 2.2" pretty standard width tires, I lost track of how many times I got bogged down in the sand - to the point where it might even be a challenge to a true beginner. Sand always seemed to be strategically placed as a speed check - either at the bottom of a hill or at the beginning of a climb, which means they're happening at opposite spots when going the opposite direction - yes I rode consecutive days to see if one direction was better than the other. I think I would lean orange over blue (although the blue popped off the trail markers better than the rust orange). There's a few spots where there are some berms built up, but you don't have enough speed to really put them to use (and then it ends in sand, so...yeah).
OVERALL - Better than nothing, maybe the sand won't bother you if you're riding a fat tire. No flow and no features means it's not what I was looking for. But if you're looking for a relatively flat pedal through the woods, and don't mind or can manage sand pretty well, then this might be for you.
A good place to bring someone mountain biking for the first time. The trails were well maintained, but a moderate amount of sand, but didn't ruin my ride overall. A small amount of roots, but is still certainly a technically easy trail. Overall still fun if you're in the area, and a great place for beginners.
This is a garbage trail system, this trail system is literally built around a landfill. There is deep sand and bumpy roots everywhere. There are no hills or features and there were pedestrians on the "mountain bikes only" trail. If you have the option go to upper macatawa, go there, it is way better. I don't understand how this trail system is rated 133 and upper macatawa is rated 150. Upper macatawa actually has hills, berms and small jumps. If you want to be unhappy, go to riley trails.
Great trail for beginners.
I bring my kids here to learn the basics of MTB'ing.
It's short enough to bike 2 laps. It's also open to walking/hiking, so watch out for them. And it dog friendly.
Great trail for beginners. Nothing technical. Some tight turns between trees, a few down hills with sand at the bottom, mostly flowing with a few little steep uphills. More experienced bikers can always go really fast to increase the thrill. I did it with my Specialized stump jumper HT and then rode multiple times with my fatty. I really enjoyed it more on the fatty due to the sandy spots. This was a lot of fun!
This is a good trail for beginners, but it does contain some features that can make it somewhat difficult. There are a lot of exposed roots in the first half mile of the trail. The rest of the trail has patches of sand here and there. There are two small climbs in sand that may require dismounting if you lose traction or get bogged down. There are also a few spots that go down hill into loose sand. Those can be tricky to maneuver for beginners.
Overall, the trail is great if you just want to get some trail miles in and enjoy the outdoors. It's within riding distance of the northern side of Holland, and there are access points on all the roads skirting the park. The trail also tends to dry out quickly because of the sand so it's usually rideable within a day of any rain. The best time to ride this trail is early summer when the sand hasn't been loosened up by riders.
Rode this with a group ranging from my 12-year old, who is a beginner, to my brother-in-law, who is an expert and rode the trail with his one-year-old in tow in a singlewide Burley. It was a very fun ride. Some little drops and quick short climbs, lots of beautiful stretches through pine woods, good overall flow. The one thing that was a little tough for our beginner rider was the sand. There were quite a few lengthy sandy stretches, and he frequently got bogged down there. Location right in Holland is great.
Not a lot of elevation, but great track, and a perfect trail for a quick work out on the lunch break. My new go to trail when I don't have a whole afternoon to ride, but have to pedal.
Nice trail. Nothing technical here, except for a couple of climbs might be difficult. (steep) Mostly flat terrain though. A bit sandy in a couple of places. Trail is fairly wide and easy to follow. Beautiful woods trail, great if your in the mood for a more relaxing ride.
A very nice beginner trail. I rode Riley with my wide on fat bikes. She is a beginner, and there was only one small section that she did feel comfortable riding.
Disregard the numbering system since the MTB trail does not use them. You also start by the mountain bike sign, and not at marker 1. The markers for the MTB course are marked with a picture of a bike, but without numbers. You will see maps where the MTB trail and hiking trails cross.
There were a couple confusing areas with the worst being just before marker 12. There is a slit in the trail with no sign. I made a guess and was correct since we saw a sign at 12.
Overall this is a great beginner trail with only a few climbs. Lots of sand so it should drain well. Lots of tree roots near the beginning of the course. I would recommend this trail for anyone wanting an easy ride in a beautiful setting.
Trail begins all the way to the left parking off of Riley rd. Not over the bridge- that's the end or the start of the short track. Long trail Runs clockwise and is very well marked. It takes us about 30-40 minutes to ride the full track. Including the part beyond the gravel road. There are only a few hills I can't climb (yet) . Some tight moves through trees and a few very smooth flow areas through pine forest. Overall a great cardio ride without any dangerous areas. Watch out for riders going the wrong way or hikers and dogs.
I've hiked these trails more than I've biked them. But they work for mtb bikes, and if you like very non-technical routes it's worth a go. There are some small hills and ruts and some curves, but they definitely weren't built for heavy-duty biking.
Very well marked and beautiful trail through woods with many pines. It was a little wet but not bad at all considering the rain we had. Great trail for everyone. We did encounter several people hiking who do not leash their dogs which isn't such a good idea.
The only I gave 3 stars is because I prefer for mtb only trails: I encountered a few hikers on the bike trail because it's a "multi-purpose" trail.
With that being said, it was still a fun and smooth trail that allowed for a great workout circuit. Like others stated, hardly any elevation change and no technical sections. Rode the course twice and my muscles were howling!
To first time riders at Riley Trails, it's a network of XCS trails and can be a bit confusing if you don't stay on course. The MTB "loop-esque" trail starts left of the trailhead by the bridge. If you cross the bridge at the beginning you're going the wrong way.
I would not call this a Mountain bike trail, it is great for people who are just starting to ride. This trail with the weather in Holland would be an amazing fat bike trail during the cold winter months and even during the summer because of how sandy the trail can be in some spots. The trail can be very busy with walkers and runners.
BEWARE THE SARLAC PITS! Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration.
PROS - corridor is wide, trails are well marked. T Th Sa rides following the blue markers in a clockwise loop, and the other 4 days rides the orange markers in the opposite direction. Nothing super technical, no big climbs or significant downhills. Easily ridable with no suspension as the whole thing is pretty smooth if you're used to anything technical (almost felt overkill with just front suspension).
CONS - If you're looking for flow, or anything technical, this is NOT the trail for you. Relatively flat. Also, as mentioned in other reviews; SAND! I get it, we're in western Michigan, land of beautiful dunes. But riding 2.2" pretty standard width tires, I lost track of how many times I got bogged down in the sand - to the point where it might even be a challenge to a true beginner. Sand always seemed to be strategically placed as a speed check - either at the bottom of a hill or at the beginning of a climb, which means they're happening at opposite spots when going the opposite direction - yes I rode consecutive days to see if one direction was better than the other. I think I would lean orange over blue (although the blue popped off the trail markers better than the rust orange). There's a few spots where there are some berms built up, but you don't have enough speed to really put them to use (and then it ends in sand, so...yeah).
OVERALL - Better than nothing, maybe the sand won't bother you if you're riding a fat tire. No flow and no features means it's not what I was looking for. But if you're looking for a relatively flat pedal through the woods, and don't mind or can manage sand pretty well, then this might be for you.
| ThankA good place to bring someone mountain biking for the first time. The trails were well maintained, but a moderate amount of sand, but didn't ruin my ride overall. A small amount of roots, but is still certainly a technically easy trail. Overall still fun if you're in the area, and a great place for beginners.
| ThankThis is a garbage trail system, this trail system is literally built around a landfill. There is deep sand and bumpy roots everywhere. There are no hills or features and there were pedestrians on the "mountain bikes only" trail. If you have the option go to upper macatawa, go there, it is way better. I don't understand how this trail system is rated 133 and upper macatawa is rated 150. Upper macatawa actually has hills, berms and small jumps. If you want to be unhappy, go to riley trails.
| ThankGreat trail for beginners.
| ThankI bring my kids here to learn the basics of MTB'ing.
It's short enough to bike 2 laps. It's also open to walking/hiking, so watch out for them. And it dog friendly.
Great trail for an everyday ride or skill building. Wide trails make for enjoyable rides during the hot summer months.
| ThankGreat trail for beginners. Nothing technical. Some tight turns between trees, a few down hills with sand at the bottom, mostly flowing with a few little steep uphills. More experienced bikers can always go really fast to increase the thrill. I did it with my Specialized stump jumper HT and then rode multiple times with my fatty. I really enjoyed it more on the fatty due to the sandy spots. This was a lot of fun!
| ThankNice beginner trail through the woods. Very well marked, nothing challenging, fun fast ride.
| ThankThis is a good trail for beginners, but it does contain some features that can make it somewhat difficult. There are a lot of exposed roots in the first half mile of the trail. The rest of the trail has patches of sand here and there. There are two small climbs in sand that may require dismounting if you lose traction or get bogged down. There are also a few spots that go down hill into loose sand. Those can be tricky to maneuver for beginners.
Overall, the trail is great if you just want to get some trail miles in and enjoy the outdoors. It's within riding distance of the northern side of Holland, and there are access points on all the roads skirting the park. The trail also tends to dry out quickly because of the sand so it's usually rideable within a day of any rain. The best time to ride this trail is early summer when the sand hasn't been loosened up by riders.
| ThankRode this with a group ranging from my 12-year old, who is a beginner, to my brother-in-law, who is an expert and rode the trail with his one-year-old in tow in a singlewide Burley. It was a very fun ride. Some little drops and quick short climbs, lots of beautiful stretches through pine woods, good overall flow. The one thing that was a little tough for our beginner rider was the sand. There were quite a few lengthy sandy stretches, and he frequently got bogged down there. Location right in Holland is great.
| ThankNot a lot of elevation, but great track, and a perfect trail for a quick work out on the lunch break. My new go to trail when I don't have a whole afternoon to ride, but have to pedal.
| Thankit's a fun beginner trail. not to hard at all. good place to bring someone their first time and get used to mountain biking.
| ThankNice trail. Nothing technical here, except for a couple of climbs might be difficult. (steep) Mostly flat terrain though. A bit sandy in a couple of places. Trail is fairly wide and easy to follow. Beautiful woods trail, great if your in the mood for a more relaxing ride.
| ThankA very nice beginner trail. I rode Riley with my wide on fat bikes. She is a beginner, and there was only one small section that she did feel comfortable riding.
Disregard the numbering system since the MTB trail does not use them. You also start by the mountain bike sign, and not at marker 1. The markers for the MTB course are marked with a picture of a bike, but without numbers. You will see maps where the MTB trail and hiking trails cross.
There were a couple confusing areas with the worst being just before marker 12. There is a slit in the trail with no sign. I made a guess and was correct since we saw a sign at 12.
Overall this is a great beginner trail with only a few climbs. Lots of sand so it should drain well. Lots of tree roots near the beginning of the course. I would recommend this trail for anyone wanting an easy ride in a beautiful setting.
| ThankTrail begins all the way to the left parking off of Riley rd. Not over the bridge- that's the end or the start of the short track. Long trail Runs clockwise and is very well marked. It takes us about 30-40 minutes to ride the full track. Including the part beyond the gravel road. There are only a few hills I can't climb (yet) . Some tight moves through trees and a few very smooth flow areas through pine forest. Overall a great cardio ride without any dangerous areas. Watch out for riders going the wrong way or hikers and dogs.
| ThankI've hiked these trails more than I've biked them. But they work for mtb bikes, and if you like very non-technical routes it's worth a go. There are some small hills and ruts and some curves, but they definitely weren't built for heavy-duty biking.
| ThankVery well marked and beautiful trail through woods with many pines. It was a little wet but not bad at all considering the rain we had. Great trail for everyone. We did encounter several people hiking who do not leash their dogs which isn't such a good idea.
| ThankThe only I gave 3 stars is because I prefer for mtb only trails: I encountered a few hikers on the bike trail because it's a "multi-purpose" trail.
With that being said, it was still a fun and smooth trail that allowed for a great workout circuit. Like others stated, hardly any elevation change and no technical sections. Rode the course twice and my muscles were howling!
To first time riders at Riley Trails, it's a network of XCS trails and can be a bit confusing if you don't stay on course. The MTB "loop-esque" trail starts left of the trailhead by the bridge. If you cross the bridge at the beginning you're going the wrong way.
| ThankI would not call this a Mountain bike trail, it is great for people who are just starting to ride. This trail with the weather in Holland would be an amazing fat bike trail during the cold winter months and even during the summer because of how sandy the trail can be in some spots. The trail can be very busy with walkers and runners.
| ThankFun! Sandy on West side of trails.
| ThankA nice fun easy trail system that is nice for beginners. Even though there is not a lot of elevation gain, you can ride fast and still have fun!
| Thank