Work to create a 0.8 mile-long mountain bike trail at Braman Hill will begin this week after Leelanau Township approved at its Sept. 9 regular meeting a contract with YouthWork Industries for $7,486.25.
During the township’s 2025-2026 budget process earlier this year, the board allocated $10,000 for a bike trail, the first of its kind, at Braman Hill. The project itself is part of the township’s five-year parks and recreation plan.
In order to complete the project, which will require both volunteers and paid work, Leelanau Township’s parks and recreation member Tom Mayhew said they chose to contract with the nonprofit YouthWork Industries, a program that teaches green collar skills to youth. Youthwork itself is a program of Child & Family Services of NW Michigan, and has done a considerable amount of work in Leelanau County for the National Park Service and the Leelanau Conservancy. Within Leelanau Township, participants in the program have done trail work at Kehl Lake that includes a long stretch of board walk. For the Braman Hill bike trail, youth in the program will begin the rough trail work, and volunteers will be needed to complete the rest of the job.
“The trail actually starts at the top of Braman Hill, and then traverses back and forth across the wooded portion of Braman Hill through the woods… It will have a few features that might be classified as A, B, and C — beginner, intermediate, and more advanced. But it will be mostly for beginners,” Mayhew said. “Those of us who are starting to work on it and are actually putting in some time are very excited… We’re still looking for volunteers to work on the trail and maintain the trail. I’m hoping to reach out to high school kids in Northport specifically to volunteer.”
Chad Jordan with Bike Leelanau, a chapter of Northern Michigan Mountain Biking Association, collaborated with parks and recreation members on much of the trail planning. With the help of potential community volunteers, which would include a trail crew from Bike Leelanau, as well as local students, the demographic that showed initial interest via surveys in a trail, Mayhew said they’re aiming to complete the project over the next few months before the snow arrives.
Those interested in volunteering on the trail are welcomed to contact the parks and recreation board via the Leelanau Township’s website https://leelanautownshipmi.gov.
