NMMBA: Arcadia Dunes

[Steve_Balogh]

Having so much fun riding this great trail last year, I'm going to visit it again next week, but when I was there
before they were having vehicle break-in problems. (there were signs posted before, so I will look for them?)
Does anyone know if this is still an issue ? Should I park down the road someplace instead of the trailhead ?

Please advise.

I did not park at the main MTB trailhead, but across the street at the other trailhead, Lake-Michigan side. Way more people there when I was there. I believe there's three trailheads there.

[Bento]

Small data point: I was there riding two weekends ago. No issues at the St. Pierre parking lot. I had "first tracks" & after 2 loops, there were 5 cars in the lot. I went out for a road ride and returned in the afternoon, still five cars. Gotta believe over Labor Day weekend it will be busier. I suppose you could park at the MDOT Roadside Park to the south. Lots of traffic there, which can be good and bad. I slept there the prior night as I could not find a campsite or cheap room.

By the way, the trail was pleasure to ride. Thanks to those that worked/work on it. The fatbike was a welcome companion with the sandier portions. It had rained the prior day and the trail saw a fair bit of water flow.

[Bigtymer]

Having so much fun riding this great trail last year, I'm going to visit it again next week, but when I was there
before they were having vehicle break-in problems. (there were signs posted before, so I will look for them?)
Does anyone know if this is still an issue ? Should I park down the road someplace instead of the trailhead ?

Please advise.

I think the only thing you should have to worry about is not to leave anything valuable, visible for a thief to see. My car was broken into two years ago on labor day weekend because the thief saw my girlfriend's purse and broke in. So just leave your valuables in your pack or in the trunk of the car, and you should be fine:)

[SANTA_CRUZ]

Yeah, after I saw the notices and piles of broken door glass on the ground, I gathered up and packed all my valueables and
wrote a little note to the potential theives informing them of this and not to bother with mine. My vehicle was fine when I returned.

It might not even be an issue now, but I think I will park down or across the street from the same trailhead just to be safe. I'll be there
during the day on Monday or Tuesday, so there probably won't be so many other cars. Thanks for the info !

[Glacial Hills]

Mercifully, no break ins this summer at Arcadia Dunes. The Benzie County Sheriff's Office indicated to us last fall that they had arrested a suspect but were not sure if that person was responsible for all the thefts.

Also, we have completed (with the help of some great volunteers) a reroute around what we call the Meadow. The Meadow had become cupped and very sandy - the reroute stays in the forest and has some excellent elevation change to it. It should be more sustainable and more enjoyable to ride.

I did note the comments above about some sand on the trail, which we have seen as well. We will be undertaking a thorough trail spruce up next spring to address those spots - we have some cupping, etc. Of course some of it comes from having very light soils in some areas.

Brad Gerlach
GTRLC Stewardship staff

[lunge bob sweatpants]

Mercifully, no break ins this summer at Arcadia Dunes. The Benzie County Sheriff's Office indicated to us last fall that they had arrested a suspect but were not sure if that person was responsible for all the thefts.

Also, we have completed (with the help of some great volunteers) a reroute around what we call the Meadow. The Meadow had become cupped and very sandy - the reroute stays in the forest and has some excellent elevation change to it. It should be more sustainable and more enjoyable to ride.

Hope they got the guy.

Thanks you for your efforts here. When I rode the trail in August, the Meadow (if I am talking about the same part of the trail) was very very sandy and rutted in places. I'm anxious to ride the reroute.

[Glacial Hills]

Mercifully, no break ins this summer at Arcadia Dunes. The Benzie County Sheriff's Office indicated to us last fall that they had arrested a suspect but were not sure if that person was responsible for all the thefts.

Also, we have completed (with the help of some great volunteers) a reroute around what we call the Meadow. The Meadow had become cupped and very sandy - the reroute stays in the forest and has some excellent elevation change to it. It should be more sustainable and more enjoyable to ride.

Hope they got the guy.

Thanks you for your efforts here. When I rode the trail in August, the Meadow (if I am talking about the same part of the trail) was very very sandy and rutted in places. I'm anxious to ride the reroute.

Yep, that would be the Meadow - feedback on the reroute has been very good.

[volklgirl]

Thanks for the reroute, guys! (That said though.......)

I rode counterclockwise last weekend and found that the Meadow reroute lacks the Arcadia mystique that makes you WANT to climb knowing that there's an amazing rollercoaster of fun awaiting you at the top. Going this direction, the reroute just climbs and climbs and climbs and climbs with no reward in sight. While it's got great tread and is better than the Meadow, I found it disappointing and grueling and ended up suffering through the remainder (and funnest part) of the trail. I was so tired, in fact, that I rode off the log bridge for the first time in a couple of years.

I guess I'll try the trail going clockwise next time to see if I like it any better that way.

[Glacial Hills]

Thanks for the reroute, guys! (That said though.......)

I rode counterclockwise last weekend and found that the Meadow reroute lacks the Arcadia mystique that makes you WANT to climb knowing that there's an amazing rollercoaster of fun awaiting you at the top. Going this direction, the reroute just climbs and climbs and climbs and climbs with no reward in sight. While it's got great tread and is better than the Meadow, I found it disappointing and grueling and ended up suffering through the remainder (and funnest part) of the trail. I was so tired, in fact, that I rode off the log bridge for the first time in a couple of years.

I guess I'll try the trail going clockwise next time to see if I like it any better that way.

Thanks for the feedback - I can see counterclockwise would be more climbing. Sorry you are disappointed.

Brad

[volklgirl]

Hey, no prob at all. It just gives me an excuse to finally try the "correct" direction!

[JF]

Anyone know if Arcadia is safe to ride during hunting season this weekend?

[AllMountin']

Anyone know if Arcadia is safe to ride during hunting season this weekend?

Info on hunting can be found here: http://www.gtrlc.org/preserves/hunting-rules/

It appears that hunting is permitted at Arcadia, and extra doe permits were issued this year to control the population. Apparently, the deer are eating too much of the desirable vegetation. From that link:

Unless otherwise noted below (Preserve Specific ?Permitted Seasons?), rules regulating hunting on Conservancy Preserves open to hunting are the same as those set forth by the MDNR.

Trails are NOT closed during hunting seasons.

Due to the meandering design of the trails on the Preserves please familiarize yourself with the location of all trails and other structures before proceeding with hunting.

[Glacial Hills]

any info on trail conditions? will be on vacation very close to this trail this week.

Might see a little sand unless we get some rain. We trimmed it back hard last month so shrubs, etc. should not be a problem although there will be some ferns in a few spots.

[Glacial Hills]

Planning on heading up for a day of riding in a couple weeks as long as weather looks good. Will be my first time riding here, how is it during bow season? I read not recommended during gun season. Also, any problems with break in's recently. Thanks in advance.

There are a few bow hunters there but no instances of conflicts. No break-ins this year - Sheriff Department is pretty sure they caught the culprits last year.

Brad

[lunge bob sweatpants]

This is a late report for last week (limited internet service on vacation). There was a large chainsaw worthy tree down between trail map marker 1 and trail map marker 5 (not mile markers).

I love this trail.