Tucked in the Pines: Phase 2 Skills Park & Jump Line Now Open!
Tucked away in the serene pines of Forbush Corner Nordic Cross Country Ski Center, a newly opened recreational outlet is now ready to develop and hone the skills of mountain bikers across the region. With Phase 2 officially open, riders can experience a brand-new Skills Park Loop and Jump Line designed for all skill levels.
Forbush Corner Board of Trustees Treasurer Ann Wager shared that the newly completed skills park ties directly into the center’s existing singletrack network. It was created specifically to provide an accessible, progressive recreational outlet—offering feature options for riders looking to push their limits or simply enjoy a smooth, confidence-building roll.
What’s New in Phase 2?
Located adjacent to the pond near the Lil Coaster ski trail, Phase 2 features several exciting additions accessible via two short connectors from the main singletrack or a short pedal on the wide valley trail section:
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The Skills Park Loop: Intended to be ridden counterclockwise, this feature-rich loop is fairly long and includes a technical rock garden and several wooden features designed to elevate your bike handling abilities. Need to practice a specific move? A halfway loop-back option allows quick return access to the rock garden. Best of all, all features include ride-arounds for progressive learning.
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The Jump Line: Built for riders seeking airtime, this line features berms, drops, and two large tabletop jumps. A dedicated return path at the bottom lets you head right back to the top or link back into the Skills Park.
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Future Connections: Work is already underway on a beginner-friendly singletrack connection to make navigating the network even easier.
Building on a Strong Foundation: Phase 1 Legacy
Phase 2 builds upon the successful launch of Forbush Corner’s Phase 1 mountain bike trail. Developed in partnership with Flowtrack MTB—one of the Midwest’s premier trail builders—Phase 1 established the initial 1.8-mile singletrack loop built strictly to International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) standards.
Featuring fast rollers, flowy berms, downhill lines, and even creative art installations along the route, Phase 1 set a high benchmark for sustainable, world-class trail construction in the Gaylord-Grayling region.
These developments are part of an ambitious total campaign goal of $400,000 to fund approximately eight miles of professionally built trails designed for riders of all abilities.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the key community supporters and sponsors who made this vision possible:
Help Us Build the Future of Forbush Trails
As Forbush Corner Nordic continues applying for grants to fund future expansion phases, we invite community members and cycling enthusiasts to help bring this multi-use vision to life. Your contributions directly support sustainable, professionally built trails that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
Support the Mountain Bike Trail Fund
Donate via PayPalOr mail a check payable to: Forbush Corner Nordic
PO Box 118, Gaylord, MI 49734