South Vandenboom Recreation Area, a recreation area in Marquette Township, Michigan, spans 361 acres of diverse forested terrain and riverine landscapes shaped by the Carp River. This area is integrated into the larger Noquemanon Trail Network, providing an extensive system of paths. The varied topography, including features like Morgan Falls and scenic overlooks, supports several sports like hiking, mountain biking, jogging, touring cycling, and more.
The South Vandenboom Recreation Area offers numerous…
61
Routes
4.7
(11)
Average rating
856
People visited

5.54km
01:38
150m
140m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

14.4km
03:54
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
39
hikers
3.92km
01:03
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
hikers
6.79km
02:01
210m
210m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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84
riders
18.6km
01:45
340m
340m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(1)
42
riders
18.7km
01:41
390m
390m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(1)
82
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

31
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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5.0
(1)
57
riders
21.8km
01:19
150m
150m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

23
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
16.3km
00:58
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
51.7km
03:15
420m
420m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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31
riders
36.9km
02:02
160m
160m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

22
riders
16.7km
00:48
100m
100m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
31
riders
33.8km
02:03
140m
140m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

15
riders
25.8km
01:15
150m
150m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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11
runners
16.0km
01:40
110m
110m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
4.10km
00:25
20m
20m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
13.3km
01:33
150m
150m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
12.5km
01:20
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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South Vandenboom Recreation Area offers a range of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, jogging, touring cycling, and road cycling. The area is part of the Noquemanon Trail Network, providing extensive paths for various skill levels. Over 3,000 visitors have rated routes in the area an average of 4.91 out of 5 stars.
Popular hiking routes in South Vandenboom Recreation Area include the Morgan Falls loop, which is approximately 7.3 miles (11.7 km) long and features a 20-foot waterfall. The Blue Heron Trail loop also offers scenic forested surroundings. More detailed options are available in the Hiking in South Vandenboom Recreation Area guide.
South Vandenboom Recreation Area is a prominent destination for mountain biking, featuring over 45 miles (72 km) of single-track trails. Options range from beginner-friendly trails like the Grom Loop to more technical descents such as the Doctors Trail. The nearby Vandenboom Pump Track is available for skill practice. Further information is in the MTB Trails in South Vandenboom Recreation Area guide.
The recreation area provides trails suitable for all skill levels, including easy walks and family-friendly options. The Noquemanon Trail Network offers accessible paths for various users. Specific routes can be found in the Easy hikes in South Vandenboom Recreation Area and Family-friendly hikes in South Vandenboom Recreation Area guides.
A prominent natural highlight is Morgan Falls, a 20-foot waterfall accessible via a moderate loop trail. Scenic views are available from locations such as the Pioneer Overlook and the Mount Marquette Overlook, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding area, Lake Superior, and Hogback Mountain.
Yes, the South Vandenboom Recreation Area, as part of the Noquemanon Trail Network, supports jogging and trail running. The network's multi-use trails provide varied terrain for runners. Detailed routes are available in the Running Trails in South Vandenboom Recreation Area guide.
The broader Noquemanon Trail Network, which includes South Vandenboom Recreation Area, offers multi-use trails suitable for touring cyclists. Portions of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, a 48-mile (77 km) year-round trail, accommodate general cycling. Guides for Cycling in South Vandenboom Recreation Area and Road Cycling Routes in South Vandenboom Recreation Area are available.
South Vandenboom Recreation Area spans 361 acres (146 hectares) of diverse forested terrain and riverine landscapes. It is integrated into the larger Noquemanon Trail Network, which provides an extensive system of paths.
South Vandenboom Recreation Area is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 3,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Routes in the area have an average rating of 4.91 out of 5 stars, based on 75 ratings.
The South Vandenboom Recreation Area is managed by Marquette Township in conjunction with the Noquemanon Trail Network. Official information is available on the Marquette Township website, www.marquettetownship.org, and the Noquemanon Trail Network website, noquetrails.org. For general inquiries, Marquette Township can be contacted at (906) 228-6220.
Yes, the area offers traffic-free cycling options, particularly on multi-use trails within the Noquemanon Trail Network. These routes provide a safe environment for cyclists. Specific traffic-free options are detailed in the Traffic-free bike rides in South Vandenboom Recreation Area guide.

