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Comlara Park Mountain Bike Trail
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
4 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 7/11/07 by sam_stuckel |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 12 miles | Global Rank: #931 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 19 | Wishlist: 8 |
| Avg. Speed: 9.43 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 10min |
Directions:
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Description: These trails are a fun place to ride close to Bloomington-Normal. The network consists of a wide doubletrack backbone maintained by the McLean County Parks and a number of singletrack loops that shoot off of the county trail. Some people like to make a loop, riding the county trails out and the singletrack back or vice-versa. I sometimes ride out & back both on the singletrack. The singletrack is for the most part pretty flat but tight & twisty. The two new sections north of the dam add a little elevation, particularly the newest (and as of 10/25/03 unfinished) section northeast of the dam. Highlights of the park include a series of ravines in Section 5; a number of logpiles in sections 6, 4, 3, "Bovine Run", and the new-new trail; a fast downhill/slow climb (depending on which way you go) on the new-new trail, and a floating bridge on the county trail. Comlara Off-Road Biking Association (CORBA) builds and maintains the trails; see our website (linked on this page) for more information about the club, more detailed descriptions of each section, and a few pictures of us building and riding the trails.
added on October 25, 2003 by guest
Description: These trails are a fun place to ride close to Bloomington-Normal. The network consists of a wide doubletrack backbone maintained by the McLean County Parks and a number of singletrack loops that shoot off of the county trail. Some people like to make a loop, riding the county trails out and the singletrack back or vice-versa. I sometimes ride out & back both on the singletrack. The singletrack is for the most part pretty flat but tight & twisty. The two new sections north of the dam add a little elevation, particularly the newest (and as of 10/25/03 unfinished) section northeast of the dam. Highlights of the park include a series of ravines in Section 5; a number of logpiles in sections 6, 4, 3, "Bovine Run", and the new-new trail; a fast downhill/slow climb (depending on which way you go) on the new-new trail, and a floating bridge on the county trail. Comlara Off-Road Biking Association (CORBA) builds and maintains the trails; see our website (linked on this page) for more information about the club, more detailed descriptions of each section, and a few pictures of us building and riding the trails.
added on October 25, 2003 by guest 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by epic.biker on September 13, 2011
Wider trails make this great for beginners. I've taken my wife here to get here introduced to mountain biking. It also has a large selection or raised planks and bridges, but offers the choice to go around them for the less experienced riders.
reviewed by Abel on August 21, 2009
I love this place and became a member of CORBA because of it. I ride it quite frequently even though I live about 40 miles away. Great single track with areas of double track in it. Very well maintained and constantly being improved with obstacles like wooden bridges and log "hills". Check out comlaramtb.com for trail conditions or to learn more about the trail. Camping is great and cheap at the campground on the north side of the lake and each side of the lake's spillway offers some decent downhill single track. This is a great trail for anyone that is not a seasoned pro with spots for timid beginners as well. Hikers, equestrians and cross-country skiers welcome and friendly here.
reviewed by Jeff_Nelson on October 11, 2007
I live in Lincoln -- no man's land for bike trails -- so every ride represents a drive. I'll think twice about going back to Comlara. Why? Everything seems to represent a "taste" rather than a "full experience." The legs are just too darned short. I am a senior (ahem, 65) rider and rode sections 2,3,4,5 and 6 in just over an hour with only a few portions described as memorable. The most technical was No. 6 and the trickiest part there was an 18-foot 2x6 nailed to a log. (Give me the log instead.) The log piles were permanently strapped together, so there's consistency, no rattles and no surprises. I did like the smattering of very tight sections. That said, there's a lot of plusses for the trail. The trail is excellently maintained; this is a hard-working club. It's very safe: No low limbs to duck; no broken limbs to spear you and wide areas have been cleared around the log piles and the rail. Even the bridges at the bottom of a ravine are wide and sturdy. All of which makes this a great course for the novice rider. And here's a real plus: Maps are available in a mail box at the trail head and the trails are well marked. While I checked my map a few times to orient myself and see where I wanted to go next, I never felt lost.
Similar Trail: I can hit a more challenging trail closer to home at Lake Springfield, where the primary feature is exposed roots on sharp climbs, with freestyle log piles a couple tough climbs and a handful of jumps. (From Ill. 4, go east on Woodside Road, take the first road south where it will dead-end at the trailhead.) Any of the vast network of Peoria area is worth the drive from anywhere in the Midwest. Park your toyhauler and get ready for a minimum two weeks of riding without experiencing the same trail twice. Or the network of trails at the east end of Kickapoo State Park near Danville has a wide variety of trail experiences. For my money, Jim Edgar/Panther Creek/Site M northewest of Springfield is a waste -- all double track, long and boring.
reviewed by Adam_Anitum on August 29, 2005
Good singletrack not to technical, moves very well, one downhill run close to the dam not to bad you can really pick up some good speed through there. really good trail for anyone who lives close. the guys at colmara mtb club do some great trail work check out there website for trail maps, pics, and other cool stuff www.comlaramtb.com ATJ
Similar Trail: Dirksen Park in Pekin Farmdale just east of Peoria
Additional Illinois Mountain Bike Info
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