New bike trails to be dedicated June 11 in Topinabee

The new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee includes the first professionally-designed and built trails in Cheboygan County.
The new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee includes the first professionally-designed and built trails in Cheboygan County.

TOPINABEE — The Little Traverse Conservancy invites the public to attend the dedication of the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee at 4 p.m. on June 11.

The trails opened for public use on April 26. The trails are the first professionally-designed and built trails in Cheboygan County.

“This project has been an exceptionally fast and high-quality experience thanks to the motivation and support of the Melvin family and 128 local donors who made it all happen,” said Kieran Fleming, the conservancy’s executive director, in a press release.

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More: New bike trails now open near Topinabee

The trailhead at the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee.
The trailhead at the new Melvin Family Hiking and Biking Trails in Topinabee.

The conservancy first announced plans for the preserve and trails in January 2023. The trail development and preservation of the 150-acre parcel with scenic views of both Mullett and Burt lakes was made possible thanks to Mark Melvin. Melvin’s daughter, Kathleen, had recently introduced him to mountain biking and he was specifically looking for land to protect where biking trails could be created.

The property is now home to more than eight miles of trails that were designed and constructed by Rock Solid Contracting, LLC. The trails include opportunities for all skill levels with unique trail features such as gravity trails, sidewinder segments, skills features, rollers, berms and more. Separate hiking trails follow old logging roads and also provide emergency vehicle access.

The new trails are located at 3151 Bennett Road in Topinabee.

For more information or for maps of the new trails, visit landtrust.org.

— Contact Jillian Fellows at [email protected].  

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Bike trail dedication set for June 11 in Topinabee