Michigan Trail Riders Association, Inc.

09/01/2026

To all members attending the North/South trophy ride starting at Stoney Creek Trail Camp on Saturday, September 5th: The camp is located at 2326 Stoney Creek Rd, Afton, MI 49705. The GPS coordinates are North 4524.404, West 8426.249.

For those driving from Indian River (I-75), please follow these directions:
1. Proceed east on M-68 until you reach the junction with M-33.
2. Turn left (north) onto M-33.
3. Continue on M-33 North for approximately 2 miles until you see Quincy Road (you may notice a small mobile home community nearby, which serves as a helpful landmark to begin slowing down).
4. After passing Quincy Road by about 200 feet, turn right (east). DO NOT TURN ONTO QUINCY ROAD! IT WILL BE THE NEXT ROAD AFTER QUINCY.
5. Follow this road for three-quarters of a mile to arrive at the Camp.
6. Upon your arrival, please look for the arrows that will guide you through camp. Select your spot, making sure not to take the Trail bosses place near the well.

Happy Trails 🤠🐎
Jan Gould~ MTRA Secretary

07/17/2026

The early bird registration discount for the AuSable Pines Distance Ride at South Branch Trail Camp concludes on July 18th. For those considering participation in the 15 mile on Saturday or the 10 mile on Sunday, the final entry deadline is July 22nd. Please register at http://form.jotform.com/260258981644163.

Please click the link to complete this form.

07/15/2026

We are pleased to announce that registration is open for the Criss-Cross September ride. We offer three distinct options for your participation. Option #1 invites you to ride the North Spur, beginning at Stoney Creek Trail Camp on September 5th and concluding at Cadillac Trail Camp on September 15th, with a trophy to be awarded. Option #2 provides the opportunity to traverse the West to East Shore to Shore trail, arriving at Garey Lake Trail Camp on September 16th and finishing at Lake Huron on September 27th, also with a trophy presentation. For those seeking a greater challenge, Option #3 allows you to ride the entire 444 miles, encompassing the North, South, West, and East routes, and participants will be honored with a special double trophy. Kindly register at mtra.org. We would also like to address and clarify some recent rumors: this ride will NOT be canceled. Furthermore, we can confirm that Walsh Road Trail Camp is not currently occupied by a construction crew. A board member has personally visited the site and confirmed that it is mowed and prepared for campers.

View fullsize MTRA July Ride Cancelled: Due to low participation, our MTRA July 11-15 Ride has been cancelled. Our first-ever Endurance Ride is still on as scheduled! Visit the AuSable Pines Distance Ride tab for more information and to register. View fullsize Learn more about the Distance ride! 202...

07/10/2026

Good morning, everyone. I would like to discuss the topic of endurance riding. It is worth noting that our participation in the Shore to Shore trail is recognized as endurance riding, given the substantial daily mileage covered to complete the crossing. The Michigan Trail Riders Association (MTRA) has submitted a significant grant application to the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) to fund enhancements for our trail system and campgrounds. To bolster our prospects of securing this funding, it was proposed that we host an endurance ride. Consequently, we are organizing the Ausable Pines Endurance Ride, scheduled for July 25th and 26th, with arrival on July 24th. We have selected the South Branch Trail Camp due to its picturesque wooded trails along the Ausable River. Ride options include distances of 50 miles, 25 miles, 15 miles on Saturday, and 25 miles and 10 miles on Sunday. We have also secured exceptional donated prizes for participants. Personally, I intend to participate in the 10-mile ride to gain firsthand experience. Additionally, this offers the benefit of a complimentary veterinary check for my horse. Active MTRA members are eligible for a $10 discount upon registration for any ride option. All proceeds from this event will directly benefit the MTRA. For more information click on the tab on our website mtra.org "Learn more about the distance ride". To sign up click here https://form.jotform.com/260258981644163

~Jan Gould MTRA Secretary

View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Learn more about the Distance ride! 2026 April Newsletter MTRA newsletters are sent to current members only. Sign up for rides on the MTRA Store Page Thank You Cloe Capaldi for Sharing Your Wonderful Video! Membership & Rider Resources New Riders Start Here!...

07/02/2026

Good morning, everyone. Due to insufficient participation, the board of directors has made the decision to cancel our scheduled July ride from the 11th to the 15th. However, a group of us still intends to go camping at South Branch. We will be paying at the front camp's post on Saturday night, and then we will relocate to the group camp on Sunday at noon. We are able to remain in the group camp until Wednesday. Should you choose to camp with us in the group camp, we kindly request a $20 donation to assist with the group camping fee. We are planning a potluck on Sunday evening, with chili dogs as the main course. Additionally, we have some activities arranged for children, as we will have three boys joining us. (Hopefully more chilren can come) We would be delighted if you could join us! Please note that this will not be an official MTRA ride, but rather a gathering of individuals who wished to continue with their riding plans. We sincerely hope you can join us!

Sincerely,
Jan Gould
MTRA Secretary

06/11/2026

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rose Bos on June 8th, 2026. Rose was an extraordinary individual, holding the remarkable record of completing 94 Shore to Shore crossings, even well into her 80s. Many of us will fondly recall her presence on the trails. She will forever be remembered as a legend within the MTRA. A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, June 19, 2026, with visitation from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM prior to the service at Central Park Reformed Church, located at 614 Myrtle Ave. Holland, Michigan.

05/31/2026

Are you planning to participate in an MTRA ride this year? Please remember to acquire your apparel from the MTRA store. A percentage of every purchase goes to our association. We have some really cool stuff!! Check it out today!
https://mtrastore.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The Luzerne Boardwalk Workbee is next week!! Starting April 30th through May 4th! 〰️ The Luzerne Boardwalk Workbee is next week!! Starting April 30th through May 4th! 〰️ Newsletter MTRA newsletters are sent to current members only. Thank You Cloe Capaldi for Sharing Your Wonderful Video! The...

05/20/2026

We are pleased to share the details regarding our second event in July. This presents a wonderful opportunity if you have ever considered participating in endurance riding. Please note that all proceeds from this event will be dedicated to MTRA. Our wonderful volunteers have been working very hard to put this event together. We also have some great prizes!

05/20/2026

Come join us in July for a whole lot of fun!!

04/23/2026

Good afternoon, members. We are currently in the preliminary stages of planning our ride calendar for the year 2027. We would greatly appreciate your valuable input regarding the types of activities you would be interested in experiencing during our rides. Our aim is to foster increased member attendance, and we are actively seeking innovative ideas to achieve this.