Island Lake Recreation Area Overview

Motor City Mountain Biking Association

Island Lake Recreation Area

25 years ago, the MMBA began work reestablishing the overgrown and long neglected Island Lake Recreation Area trail system. Today, these trails are now one of Michigan’s most popular mountain bike trail destinations. Many a mountain biker can claim Island Lake as their first singletrack experience, and it’s a great place to share the sport with beginners.  The trail head parking lot has room for 120 cars, and while prime weekend days find it mostly full, the trails never feel that crowded. Paved bike paths connect Island Lake to the Kensington MetroPark, the Milford mountain biking trails, Proud Lake Recreation Area trails, and beyond making Island Lake the perfect launching point for all-day epic biking adventures.

From the trail head, riders can chose from two trails, each with their own character. The Blue trail, approximately 9 miles in length, is fast and flowing, with gentle climbs and descents. Beginner friendly, the flow really appears at speed and experienced riders will find Blue a great place to spin all out and work on their cardio as the miles fly by. The Yellow Trail, approximately 6 miles in length, is a more technical and hilly intermediate trail with scenic stretches along the Huron River and great vistas. The end of the Blue Trail shares a small section of two track with Yellow, and so it’s easy to link both Blue and Yellow into a 14+ mile loop.

Both trails cross park roads; please exercise caution at these crossings.

Trail Status: open

Trail Miles: 15

Entry Fees: All vehicles entering the park must have a Recreation Passport.  Passports can be purchased online or at the Michigan Secretary of State offices when renewing your license plate, or at a Self-Serve Kiosk at each park entrance. 

Trail Conditions and Discussion Forum: Link

Trail Coordinators: Mark Dombrowski

Trail Maps: island_lake_map.pdf

Local Weather: Weather Underground

Directions: I-96 at exit 151 (Kensington Rd.) head S. on Kensington Rd. 1/2 mile to Park Entrance

{google_map}State park road Brighton, MI 48116|version:new|height:400|width:400{/google_map}

 

  • Ridge Rocker

    Ridge Rocker

    This Saturday, a race event to benefit Beacons of Hope is being held on our trails at Island Lake Recreation Area. It’s a good cause – go register! http://ridgerocker.com/ (If you’re not up to the race, please consider volunteering. Course marking, road crossings, registration – think they’ll need help everywhere.  It would be great to…

  • Awareness Signs

    Awareness Signs

    One of the common refrains from our recent membership survey was the need for more chapter promotion at our trails. We agree. MCMBA board member John Cox made arrangements for the printing of a stack of these cool weatherproof signs. Look for them to start popping up at a trail near you!

  • Tires for Trails

    Tires for Trails

    One of the things that really sets our little community apart are our awesome volunteers. Whenever something needs to be done – trailwork, cooking at a race, helping with a kids ride – people like you are there pitching in to make great things happen. And it’s not just the same core people. Using our…