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Canal Loop Mountain Bike Trail
Grand Rivers, Kentucky
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
9 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 12/3/11 by RoadWarrior |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 12 miles | Global Rank: #443 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 32 | Wishlist: 16 |
| Avg. Speed: 3.81 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 54min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,469/-3,626 ft |
Directions:
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Description: This is a great trail for beginners and advanced riders. The trail is a loop. If ridden counter clockwise the first 6 miles is on the lake Barkley side and it is fast singletrack with a couple of climbs that will get your heartrate up. The second half of the trail which is about 5.5 miles is more demanding and has a few more climbs and downhills. This side of the trail is the Kentucky lake side. Toward the end of the loop on the Kentucky lake side the North/South trail comes in. You must stay left at this point. If you go right the trail extends 30 miles to the Golden Pond visitor center. This is a good trail also but if you do not know the way it is easy to loose the trail in a few spots where the trail is connected by gravel roads or fields. The guys at Wood-N-Wave bike shop can help with these directions and they usually have trail maps there as well. I highly recommend this trail. Food for thought: a good time for the 12 miles is under an hour and a great time is under 50 minutes.
added on January 25, 2004 by guest
Description: This is a great trail for beginners and advanced riders. The trail is a loop. If ridden counter clockwise the first 6 miles is on the lake Barkley side and it is fast singletrack with a couple of climbs that will get your heartrate up. The second half of the trail which is about 5.5 miles is more demanding and has a few more climbs and downhills. This side of the trail is the Kentucky lake side. Toward the end of the loop on the Kentucky lake side the North/South trail comes in. You must stay left at this point. If you go right the trail extends 30 miles to the Golden Pond visitor center. This is a good trail also but if you do not know the way it is easy to loose the trail in a few spots where the trail is connected by gravel roads or fields. The guys at Wood-N-Wave bike shop can help with these directions and they usually have trail maps there as well. I highly recommend this trail. Food for thought: a good time for the 12 miles is under an hour and a great time is under 50 minutes.
added on January 25, 2004 by guest 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by RoadWarrior on December 3, 2011
Great loop. The east side is easy rolling, with moderate grades. The west side is a little rougher with steeper grades, and a few optional fun lines. Overall a great XC type trail, with shorter loop options for newer riders.
reviewed by teej on September 26, 2010
It's a great trail. I haven't ridden it in more than a year (I'm a new dad), but usually try to get back down that way once a year just to ride the loop. Counter clockwise is the best route. If you like mountain biking at all, you'll love this trail. Ride it.
reviewed by mtnspectre on June 3, 2009
Wheeeeeeee! I started from the camp site and enjoyed 6 miles of great singletrack. Then the hills started. Nothing to hard at all but fun. Several obstacles along the way on the entire ride. If you aren't up for the challenge there is always a way around it. I'm giving it an intermediate rating only because of the obstacles and fun downhills. Actually a beginner can ride this trail easily.
reviewed by casucs on December 15, 2008
My wife & I rode Canal Loop in early Oct. and we really loved it! It does have a bit of everything.At the time, W. KY was still cleaning up the mess from Ike. I must commend Steve and his gang from Wood & Wave. they did a terrific job of getting Canal rideable. I hope they were able to do the same later for North-South. We did that one 2 days later and it was a total disaster! Deadfall strewn all over, you could ride for 20- 30 yds. on avg. before you had to stop! We did our part and cleared out some debris, didn't wanna be ungrateful tourists. Anyway, I urge any of you who are considering this area to not miss Canal Loop. Bring a camera!
Similar Trail: North-South (once it's cleared)
reviewed by smitten on August 3, 2008
Real fun trail to ride. Fast, curvy singletrack the first 6miles clockwise, then some small climbs and fast downhills for the last 6mi. Well maintained with some jumps and obstacles thrown in as well.
reviewed by tumbleweed14 on January 27, 2008
A great trail! Counterclockwise: First 5 or 6 miles are rolling and fairly quick. A great warm up for the last 6 or so which throw a few climbs in. What goes up must come down, and when you do there are some sections with jumps and obstacle routes. Not real dense though, only a few spots where you have a choice. A few great sections and a whole lot of pretty flowy singletrack. Some great views in the winter, but no idea how thick the foliage is in the other seasons. Go ride this park. I look forward to the other sections of trail. Watch out for hikers and runners.
reviewed by Sweetlife on September 30, 2007
I`ve been riding this trail for over a decade now, and I still love it! If you have ridden this trail in the past be sure to come back and check it out now. A few sweet jumps and other tomfoolery have been added in the last couple of years. My personal preference is to ride it counterclockwise (this way you can take advantage of the jumps that have been added).
reviewed by bontragerbennie on February 11, 2006
I rode the trail hundreds of times when I lived in the area. It was always a great time and never really got old. It is a good mix of curving, rolling singletrack with enough good climbs to separate the men from the boys but with very little dangerous or very technical sections. I've ridden many trails in KY and TN and this is without a doubt my favorite.
reviewed by yancey on July 15, 2005
Canal loop is a favorite of everyone I have taken there. It might take the new beginner twice as long as a "good" time but the look on there faces is worth your patience. we tipically ride it a fewtimes and it never gets old.
Similar Trail: north-south trail
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