The City of Traverse City released a request for bids for the Hickory Hills mountain bike trail project that has been in discussion for years. The request is organized as "Hickory Hills Mountain Bike Trail Design and Build" and includes important details about the Scope of Work, the trail conditions, and the goal of the trail's long-term impact.
The trail is expected to be 6.3 miles and meet the needs of a wide range of abilities, including beginner, intermediate, and expert mountain bikers. Importantly, the mountain bike component must align with the existing trails already firmly established at Hickory Hills, where hiking, trail running, and disc golf are fixtures.
It also includes descriptors of the completed trail, using the term "flow style", and the soil conditions. As you'd expect in Northern Michigan, Hickory Hills is dominated by sand, which drains well but binds poorly.
Importantly, the build includes something many mountain bike enthusiasts have been hoping to see since discussions on Hickory's trails began in earnest five years ago: a timeline. The proposal should include a plan that will ensure work will be completed by October 2027.
You can view the
full document here.
Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association has been involved in trail planning and general discussions at Hickory Hills, but trail design and maintenance will be primarily handled by the landowner, the City of Traverse City. We believe investment in this trail will provide a convenient, challenging, and accessible trail for in-town riding that will ultimate strengthen the community's mountain biking culture.