Pontiac to Highland connection

[mtborange]

Is there a trail or series of trails that can be used to connect Pontiac Lake to Highland Rec? Or is it possible to follow the power line?

[plaindave]

On the south side of the campground road you can follow the horse trail which leads to a tunnel under teggerdine road that puts you on the powerline. There is a horse trail there that will take you to Pontiac lake rd.

Head south on Pontiac lake to Hitchcock rd, right on Hitchcock to Porter, left on Porter to Grass lake rd. right on grass lake to Hill rd. left on hill road and follow it south across M59. Head west on 59 a few hundred yards to ford rd. follow that down and stay on ford rd till it becomes temple lake rd. that takes you to duck lake rd. head north on duck lake to Livingston. Rd and you are at the trailhead.

Other than a bit on M59 and duck lake it's all gravel/dirt back roads and not that far of a ride. 6 miles is what I think it is.

And you get to bandit ride a section of trail that is kind of fun.

Not that anyone has ever ridden that on a mountain bike.

[Critter7r]

is it popssible to just ride the power lines to Meijer, then exit the west side of Meijer and ride to Hill? I know there are usually ORV trails that follow the powerlines around here.

[plaindave]

Not really. There are several swampy sections that you couldn't ride through and there is a company that does composting along the lines also. You couldn't ride through the smell.

[mtborange]

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a go.

[iamkickstand]

is it popssible to just ride the power lines to Meijer, then exit the west side of Meijer and ride to Hill? I know there are usually ORV trails that follow the powerlines around here.

there are no legal ORV trails that follow the powerlines. There may be trails that people illegally ride off road vehicles on, or possibly trails used by the powerline company to maintain their equipment.

[chris f.]

Let us know how it goes. I might give that a try as well. I'm always looking for different places to ride. A buddy and I went about 100 yards down the trail yesterday just to check it out. We accessed it from Teggerdine Rd. though. On the way out we did go through the tunnel just so we could say we'd been there. Then walked up the embankment to Teggerdine, then home.

[RobW]

The powerlines are rideable, sorta. I've done it. Watch out for bees and stray dogs. You also get to bomb down Alpine's hill...

[Critter7r]

is it popssible to just ride the power lines to Meijer, then exit the west side of Meijer and ride to Hill? I know there are usually ORV trails that follow the powerlines around here.

there are no legal ORV trails that follow the powerlines. There may be trails that people illegally ride off road vehicles on, or possibly trails used by the powerline company to maintain their equipment.

Right, I meant that there are trails along the powerlines, and they appear to be used by ORVs. Whether those are illegal riders just passing through or powerline company employees in 4wd trucks and/or on 4-wheelers accessing towers, I don't know.

[RobW]

That corridor is an unimproved access to the powerlines. Some stretches are used to pasture livestock, and some of it gets too swampy to ride, hike-a-bike territory. Most of it is rideable, but none if it is better than a slog. We rode from PLRA to Highland, jumped out at Beaumont and hit ILRA that day, and on the return leg we took the dirt roads rather than ride that power line again. I reccomend that. It would be a great little connector with some improvement.

[iamkickstand]

is it popssible to just ride the power lines to Meijer, then exit the west side of Meijer and ride to Hill? I know there are usually ORV trails that follow the powerlines around here.

there are no legal ORV trails that follow the powerlines. There may be trails that people illegally ride off road vehicles on, or possibly trails used by the powerline company to maintain their equipment.

Right, I meant that there are trails along the powerlines, and they appear to be used by ORVs. Whether those are illegal riders just passing through or powerline company employees in 4wd trucks and/or on 4-wheelers accessing towers, I don't know.

As an ORV user and a user of the ORV Trails and routes I just wanted to make sure the wrong impression wasn't given.

[RobW]

Riding that powerline is poaching, no matter what you use.

[Critter7r]

Actually, I think it's just trespassing. Unless you're killing a deer while you're there.

[RobW]

Actually, I think it's just trespassing...

Uhh, okay?

[chris f.]

Rode the power line from Teggerdine to Pontiac Lk. yesterday.

We started at Indian Springs and rode south to Milford. Here's our route... http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/0027/362e/4e0e/8557/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120519-1642.kml

The power line trail wasn't too bad. Muddy in a few sections but nothing you couldn't ride through. We had to cross the Huron river but it was only half-a-foot deep so again, we just rode through it. Lots of horse crap. The power lines south of Pontiac Lk. looked unridable though.