FAT BIKE TRAILS
Leelanau County has miles of beautifully groomed trails to ride all winter. All the trails that are open to fat bikes are multi use trails, as such you may see skiers or snowshoers enjoying the same trails that you are riding. Please be respectful of slower trail users as you pass, try to avoid the ski tracks, and please do not ride if you are leaving a rut in the trail.
New to fat biking? Never fear, Leelanau County has some great trails to learn on. We recommend 45 North Winery's Vineyard Trail ~1.5 mile loop as an ideal place to learn (with a really nice big fireplace inside for a post ride warm up). Fat bikes can be rented from Suttons Bay Bikes or The Cyclery in Glen Arbor.
TRAILS
- Leelanau State Park's winter sports trail. Newly built trail, open from Dec 1st to April 1st. Fat bikes allowed. Two loops make up around 7 miles of groomed trail. - Seasonal trail that is re-permitted every year. Due to high water levels please do not park at the main hiking trailhead, instead please park at the Purkiss Rd trailhead.
- Leelanau TART Trail is an old rail bed that has been transformed into a paved trail running from Suttons Bay down to Traverse City. 17 miles of relatively flat groomed trails. Please consider purchasing a Grooming Badge if you use the trail to help support the fabulous work of the grooming volunteers.
- Leelanau Parallel Trail is made up of singletrack that weaves alongside the Leelanau TART Trail for the first three miles from Suttons Bay south.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail is a stunningly beautiful multi purpose trail winding through the Sleeping Dunes National Lake Shore. The trail is groomed from Glen Arbor to Empire for ~7.5 miles of groomed trail and from Glen Arbor to Port Oneida for an additional 3 miles. The Empire to Glen Arbor section is quite hilly.
- 45 North Vineyard and Winery's Recreation Trail is located between Lake Leelanau and Suttons Bay. The trails can be broken into multiple loops starting with a a nice flat(ish) 1.3 mile trail around the vineyard and adding a climb to a spectacular view of Leelanau County with an exciting descent, totaling ~3.5 miles.
Follow us on Facebook for trail and grooming reports
If you'd like more information regarding a trail please contact the respective land manager (follow the trail name link for the respective website).
If you'd like more information regarding a trail please contact the respective land manager (follow the trail name link for the respective website).
