Exciting news for trail lovers! This summer, Camp Arcadia is building a brand-new mountain biking trail right on our property, offering guests easy access to biking adventures. Specially designed with beginners in mind, the 1.5 to 2-mile loop will provide the perfect opportunity for riders of all skill levels to try out this thrilling sport. While our traditional weekly trips to the Arcadia Dunes Trailhead will remain on the schedule, this on-site addition will make it easier than ever for guests to jump on a bike and explore the beautiful Camp woods.
Executive Director and mountain biking enthusiast Chip May is designing the trail in consultation with Steve Lagerquist, Trail Manager at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Lagerquist designed the biking trails at the Arcadia Dunes Trailhead off St. Pierre Road, which were partially built by volunteers from Camp Arcadia. We are now putting his expert insights to work as we create our own trail in the Camp woods.
The loop will begin just beyond the ballfield, weaving its way around the Barn and the Capture the Flag area. Because the property is relatively flat, the layout takes advantage of existing slopes, incorporating twists and turns to add some fun challenges. It will offer guests a new way to explore both the pine and hardwood forests, opening up seldom-visited areas of our property.
To help bring this project to life, our Family Week teen guests are dedicating time every Thursday to the construction of this trail. Each week, Assistant Program Director Nathan Halstead leads the high schoolers into the woods for this service project. Armed with shovels, landscaping rakes, and clearing tools, the crew is hard at work carving out the brand-new path.
Nathan keeps the group motivated by blasting music while they work. In just 30 minutes of focused effort, the teens are able to clear about 100 meters of trail per session.
“This is a wonderful way for the teens to give back to Camp, which has given them so much,” says Nathan. “Each week, I see the pride they take in helping create something new for future campers to enjoy.”
With a goal to complete the trail by next season, the volunteers are working on the project one section at a time and following a bench cut design to ensure proper water drainage. While the morning youth program has provided incredible momentum, more volunteers will be needed to build the entire trail. If you are interested in volunteering with this project, contact Chip May at chip@camp-arcadia.com.
Driven by the growing popularity of Camp’s mountain biking program, this new trail project aims to give guests an easier, more accessible way to experience the sport. Chip explains, “I love introducing mountain biking to our guests, but our Monday trips are frequently at capacity. Having our own on-site trail will give so many more kids, teens, and adults the opportunity to try it out and experience areas of the Camp woods that most have never seen.”
We look forward to opening this new trail for the 2027 season, providing the Camp Arcadia community with even more accessible recreational opportunities.
2 Responses
Will Camp Arcadia have some mountain bikes available use on the trail?
Yes, mountain bikes are available to rent at the Camp office.