more stats
3,799 ft
Distance
24 ft
Climb
-28 ft
Descent
00:04:39
Avg time
-3 ft
Altitude change
919 ft
Altitude min
943 ft
Altitude max
939 ft
Altitude start
935 ft
Altitude end
-0.1%
Grade
-5.1%
Grade max
5%
Grade min
1,024 ft
Distance climb
1,220 ft
Distance down
1,555 ft
Distance flat
00:04:39
Avg time

Ring Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Snowshoe
    • Nordic Ski
  • Riding Area
    Michigan Tech Trails
    Houghton, Michigan
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    35 in Mountain Biking heatmap [+]
    • 5 in E-Biking
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
    • 5 in Snowshoeing
    • 20 in Nordic Skiing
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #151032 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #228170 in E-Biking
    • #82087 in Trail Running
    • #134386 in Hiking
    • #20966 in Snowshoeing
    • #7347 in Nordic Skiing
    • #34693 in Winter Fat Biking
  • State Ranking
    #1,367 in Mountain Biking · Michigan [+]
    • #1,162 in E-Biking
    • #911 in Trail Running
    • #2,000 in Hiking
    • #973 in Snowshoeing
    • #302 in Nordic Skiing
    • #440 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Trail Type
    Mixed
  • Snow Grooming
    Classic
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Both Directions for E-Biking
    • Both Directions for Snowshoeing
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Lighting
    No
  • Land Owner
    Michigan Technological University, City of Houghton

Ring Loop is a wide, flat loop that connects all the other Tolkien Trails together. It has several short, 5 foot wide arched bridges, and a short ground level boardwalk, a meadow crossing, and lots of lowland forest.

Disclaimer

Classic skiing only. No skating. Hiking is not permitted on this trail during ski season. Walking on a groomed trail without skis or snowshoes damages the snow surface and creates hazards for other users

Tags
BoardwalkBridgesMeadow

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 2 rides
  • 6 miles avg distance
All
  • 23 rides
  • Last: Oct 28, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Ring Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 24, 2026 @ 4:05pm (America/Detroit)
Sep 24, 2026
cleared one downed tree and cut back some old deadfall
Jun 2, 2026 @ 11:42am (America/Detroit)
Jun 2, 2026
 Eroding Bridge
May 28, 2026 @ 1:53pm (America/Detroit)
May 28, 2026
Hidden hole in the path over a creek crossing
Jul 13, 2023 @ 7:20am
Jul 13, 2023
Jul 13, 2023 @ 7:19am
Jul 13, 2023
more »
Status:
on Sep 24, 2026
Variable
Avg: 3.86 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (236)
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      Directions to ring-loop trailhead (47.103190, -88.555760)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      1 more »
      report
      mtb
      29 |
      Jun 2, 2026 @ 8:43am
      Jun 2, 2026

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Ring Loop yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      6
      Michigan Tech Trails - Easy Loop
      5 miles • 162 ft • 17 •
      This easy loop is a great place to start riding singletrack. The corridor is 8 feet wide, so there's...
      3.7 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 67%
      3 ★ 33%
      2 ★
      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Michigan Tech Trails

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Ring Loop located?
      Ring Loop is located in Michigan Tech Trails, Houghton, Michigan, United States. It is part of the Michigan Tech Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 47.10319, -88.55576.
      ▼ How hard is Ring Loop?
      Ring Loop is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 0.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Ring Loop?
      Ring Loop has 24 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 28 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 919 ft to 943 ft.
      ▼ Is Ring Loop a point to point trail?
      Ring Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is mixed.
      ▼ How long is Ring Loop?
      Ring Loop is 3,799 ft long. The trail type is mixed.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Ring Loop?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Ring Loop. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ How do I access Ring Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Ring Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Ring Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 5 minutes to ride Ring Loop. The trail is 3,799 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Ring Loop?
      Ring Loop is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 208 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 236 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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