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Rate it:
Tags:
Level: Beginner
Length: 13 mi (20.9 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +459/ -221 ft
Total: 157 riders
Mountain Biking Vasa Trail
#6 of 322 mountain bike trails in Michigan
Directional trail, alternating each year. In 2021 the trails are running counter clockwise.
First added by searsandrewj on Jul 29, 2008. Last updated Aug 2, 2021. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: yes
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: yes
- Fat bike grooming: yes
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: yes
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Starting from US-31 Turn onto 5 mile headed southeast. At the top of 5mile take a left on hammond. Go .5 mile and take a right on Rasho. At stop sign take a left on supply. Go ~2.0 miles and on left hand side observe signs for Vasa Single Track. Pay Dues and Take your Ride!!!
System trails (2)
Featured in
The trails are very hard to follow. Not the greatest signage. We got lost a few times and had to ask a local who's there all the time where we were.
| ThankIts as fast as you want it to be. Its made to satisfy the masses. The faster you go the more this single track will shine for you. Can be used by experts at 15-18mph average. It is flat but that is the personality/beauty of this Single track. Its the ONLY marked umbered trail in the TC area. If you want better trails and routes I suggest you seek a local or Hire Mitten Outfitters guide service at MittenOutfitters.com
| ThankGreat XC trail. I'll be back.
| ThankFun fast flow, non technical, Harwood Forest
| ThankAn awesome, awesome trail for a beginner or intermediate rider. Almost no hills, if that's what you're looking for, but the technical side of it was just tough enough to be really engaging without being absolutely impossible.
| ThankThe marked single track loop is very flat and smooth. For seasoned riders it is a rather boring and uneventful trail, but for the beginner MTBer it might be more appealing. There are some additional trails at the VASA pathway that are not considered single track and are not part of the main single track loop that may offer some more excitement. But I was very disappointed in the singletrack loop.
| ThankTechnical only due to the windy, narrow trails. Not much for climbing or downhills, but still a very nice trail system.
| ThankI am unable to write a review of the trail itself. I am from out of state and there was a $9 trail fee required at the trailhead to park your car. Not a bad deal if you have 4 riders in the car, but for a single person $9 is ridiculous. It appears that the parking lot is patrolled by the MDNR and with it being associated with your car, I'm sure a ticket would be issued. $5 trail fee for in state plates. What a disappointment.
| ThankAwesome trail. Easy access. Very new to riding and this trail was really fun to ride.
| ThankClearly people are confusing the VASA Pathway trail with the VASA Singletrack trail!! Both are pretty amazing riding resources that offer a variety of terrain and require different skill levels. I wouldn't consider the 25k loop on the Pathway to be kids play though as some previous haters have suggested. They obviously didn't try "The Wall" LOL!! There are many different routes. Study the map at the trailhead. Copies are usually available in the restroom/changing area. As far as the 20k Singletrack loop(s) are concerned, awesome!! Mixed Singletrack w/ sand, roots, windy, twisty, narrow, wide, ups, downs and more! Tons of fun!! Make sure you have your Rec. pass to park at this trailhead.
| ThankUnmarked and ungroomed trail added a lot of fun to the otherwise a little bland Vasa trail. There were some more technical turns and while it said ungroomed it was in very good shape. Very little if any was overgrown - overall a fun ride!
| Thanksome fun sections but barely qualifies as a mtn bike trail in others. Some of the new single track sections seem to have been built with size small 26" bikes in mind
| ThankTopo map reflects VASA Trail. NOT VASA Singletrack. Single Track start is off of Supply road. Yes they do cross and feed into each other but the VASA single track is NOT shown on the topo
| ThankThe VASA Pathway is a trail system itself; the singletrack can be accessed from the pathway or via a separate trailhead. The pathway is a system of loops (3k, 5k, 10k, and 25k) with varying degrees of difficulty. There are hills and plenty of sand. The pathway itself is pretty open the singletrack is very tight. Concur with what another reviewer said about the DNR; they were checking tags on July 13
| ThankI looked up Vasa trails before heading up to visit family in the Traverse City area. If you are coming from US 131 take fox lake rd (which is on your left if you're coming from the south or your right if you're coming from the north). You will take a fox lake rd all the way to Supply rd; I believe you are on fox lake rd for about 5 miles. Take a left on supply road. The single track trail is marked by a small state park sign on your right hand side about 5-7 miles down the road from fox lake road. Once there, you will need a state park pass to utilize the park. DNR DOES CHECK!
The trail itself is very nicely groomed! It is just over a 12 mile loop with several different challenges all of the track. Sand, switchbacks, steep slopes to crawl down, close trees to squeeze through. It will keep you working hard through the whole trail. I only give this trail a 5 because of the intersecting fat bike trail. THE FAT BIKE RIDERS DO NOT STOP, YOU MUST YIELD TO THEM!
| ThankPretty smooth, quick and flowy. The berm cut outs really help you dig in and keep your speed going into the next corner
| ThankThis is a very well maintained trail system. The Vasa pathway is wide two track trail. Has some good climbs and Sandy spots. Great scenery and some fast downhills. There are three loops 5, 10, and 25k. There is also the Vasa single track that crosses the pathway in multiple locations. The trailhead for the single track is on supply road. The single track is fast and mostly flat but very fun to ride.
| ThankLocated on state forest land, the Vasa Pathway features a series of loops (3K, 5K, 10K, 25K) that offer users a variety of challenges from easy to difficult. Cross-country skiers, runners, hikers, mountain bikers, walkers, and naturalists enjoy the Vasa Pathway. The Vasa Pathway is maintained and groomed by TART Trails under an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Grand Traverse County. It is the home of the North American Vasa cross-country ski race, and the annual Iceman Cometh mountain bike race uses a portion of the trail.
TRAILHEAD: 4450 Bartlett Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686
DIRECTIONS: US31 to Bunker Hill Rd, RIGHT on Bartlett, LEFT into trailhead parking area. The trail is marked with wayfinding signs.
The Vasa Pathway is owned by the Michigan DNR and groomed by TART Trails through a contract with the MDNR.
Trail user donations to TART Trails help provide funding for the maintenance of the Pathway.
| ThankIts my home singletrack! It is great for beginners to intermediate. There are tricky technical sections where the width between trees is about as wide as handlebars. And there are lots of fast sections to work on speed! Great time.
| ThankWe did a small section of the trail near Traverse City. There's a great building at the trailhead with bathroom/changing facilities, and the trail is pretty well marked. So many possibilities with this trail that it's hard to review it - part of it is also on the Iceman route in November.
| Thank