Accessing Mountain Biking in Marquette: The Kona Hills Connector Trail
Bike Trails in Marquette
Marquette County is home to over 75 miles of interconnected mountain bike trails, much of which lies within minutes of downtown Marquette. These systems have been developed and maintained largely through the efforts of NTN and other a local organizations whose work has transformed the area into a trail-riding mecca.
Kona Hills Campground does not currently have dedicated bike trails of its own. The campground is located southeast of the NTN South Trail system and directly across from the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. The best way to access these trails right now is via the appropriate trail heads.
However, there is an existing 1.5 mile trail between Kona Hills and the NTN that connects to Mountain Chase and goes all the way to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail via Shirely’s Loop. The “Kona Hills Connector” trail is located entirely on state of Michigan land and we are currently working on understanding access.
In the future, we plan to develop our own multi-use trails and hope to have established connections to other systems.
The Big 4 Marquette Trail Systems:
South Trails – Fast, flowy, and fun. Expect hand-built and machine-sculpted trails that wind through hardwood forests and hug rocky ridgelines. Highlights include Down Dogger, Pipe Dreams, and Bertha.
North Trails – These technical trails hug the Dead River and feature rocky outcroppings and tight, twisty singletrack. EZPZ and Blue Heron are favorites.
RAMBA Trails (Ishpeming/Negaunee) – West of Marquette, the Range Area Mountain Bike Association (RAMBA) maintains a vast network of old mining roads and wooded trails. It's raw, remote, and a perfect backcountry escape.
Iron Ore Heritage Trail - Stretching 47 miles from Republic to Chocolay Township, the Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a multi-use, non-motorized path that traces the story of Marquette County’s history from Native American people to iron mining, forestry and modern day. This route connects communities like Ishpeming, Negaunee, and Marquette, offering scenic, accessible riding for cyclists of all skill levels.
