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Chestnut Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
Carroll, Ohio
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
1 trail review |
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Status: updated 2/6/12 by oneeyeredeye |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 10 miles | Global Rank: #1327 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 3 | Wishlist: 2 |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,099/-1,453 ft |
Directions
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Description: Chestnut Ridge is Columbus Metro Parks first and only mountain bike trail. The park is located on a ridge and affords views of Columbus some 17 miles to the north. The park property is in two halves - the eastern half is the pedestrian loop and is a great park for hiking and jogging. The western half is bounded by Amanda Northern Road and Mason Road and the trail occupies nearly all of the property on this side. The trail is comprised of two loops that are to be ridden clockwise. From the parking lot, the trailhead is close to Mason Road and begins as a doubletrack grass path through a field. Once through the field, the trail narrows to singletrack and ducks into the woods. In the woods you will find a junction where the Moderate or More Difficult blue diamond trail climbs through a series of short switchbacks from 909 feet up to 1,352 feet. Once at elevation you will see an evident viewing area to see Columbus before entering the woods. On top of the ridge is a rock garden to navigate through. Eventually, this blue diamond trail descends and meets up again with the Easy green diamond trail near the junction for a great ride through the woods before descending and returning to the parking lot. The green trail is 4.5 miles and the blue trail adds 3.0 miles for a total ride of 7.5 miles as of the opening day of the trail. Another 2.5 mile loop is under construction on the land north of the green loop that, when completed, will bring the trail up to 10.0 miles.
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Description: Chestnut Ridge is Columbus Metro Parks first and only mountain bike trail. The park is located on a ridge and affords views of Columbus some 17 miles to the north. The park property is in two halves - the eastern half is the pedestrian loop and is a great park for hiking and jogging. The western half is bounded by Amanda Northern Road and Mason Road and the trail occupies nearly all of the property on this side. The trail is comprised of two loops that are to be ridden clockwise. From the parking lot, the trailhead is close to Mason Road and begins as a doubletrack grass path through a field. Once through the field, the trail narrows to singletrack and ducks into the woods. In the woods you will find a junction where the Moderate or More Difficult blue diamond trail climbs through a series of short switchbacks from 909 feet up to 1,352 feet. Once at elevation you will see an evident viewing area to see Columbus before entering the woods. On top of the ridge is a rock garden to navigate through. Eventually, this blue diamond trail descends and meets up again with the Easy green diamond trail near the junction for a great ride through the woods before descending and returning to the parking lot. The green trail is 4.5 miles and the blue trail adds 3.0 miles for a total ride of 7.5 miles as of the opening day of the trail. Another 2.5 mile loop is under construction on the land north of the green loop that, when completed, will bring the trail up to 10.0 miles.
added on October 22, 2011 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Strouds Run State Park in Athens
John Bryan State Park in Yellow Springs
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by Trail_Jogger on October 22, 2011
I rode the Chestnut Ridge trail today despite the recent rainy weather because I wanted to try it out before the weather got rainier and found the trail to hold up well. When I entered the trailhead and began to ride through the field I wondered if this is all that there is. But the trail turned to singletrack pretty quickly and the uphill switchbacks began. I have to admit that, when going uphill, I pushed more than I rode although I watched stronger riders make it up. After navigating through the woods I came to the junction where riders can turn left for a more challenging and more scenic ride along the crest of the ridge and through extensive rock gardens for a full 7.5 mile ride or turn right onto the green trail for a shorter 4.5 mile trail. It is my opinion that everyone, novice and expert alike, should take the blue trail and ride the entire trail system. Aside from navigating through the rock garden, there is nothing particularly technical or dangerous on this trail. It's just more strenuous. The most dangerous challenge that I encountered was a creek crossing near the end of the green loop that everyone has to ride. The crossing begins with a particularly steep downhill followed by a short level then another quick drop then it shoots through the creek. (I'd love to see others' comments about this crossing. While slick and muddy it looked dangerous. When dry, this should be alot more fun.) Other than this crossing I encountered two narrow wooden bridges and that was all. I'm not a technical rider so that's fine with me. I enjoyed the ride through all of the woods and along the ridges and finally getting to ride a new mountain bike trail. Hikers and horse riders are not permitted on this trail. There are very few roots, quite a few rocks that can easily be ridden around, and the trail is clear of all undergrowth. Some stretches are particularly fast. Watch for riders going the wrong way, though. The trail end is the first thing that you see from the parking lot - the trailhead is not as evident...remember to ride clockwise. This trail is going to become very popular - the park rangers have been told that they may need to increase the size of their parking lot before the Spring.
Similar Trail: This trail rides like Dillon and Great Seal. It is an entirely different ride than Alum Creek.
