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Erwin Park Mountain Bike Trail
Mckinney, Texas
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:    |
6 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 1/6/11 by cdog44 |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 8 miles | Global Rank: #1743 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 69 | Wishlist: 18 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.4 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 15min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +616/-641 ft |
Directions
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Description: Erwin Park has an official trail head starting point. However, the trails make 2 loops from this point and didn't, in my opinion, come together too well. So, I recommend a different route. You can do the route either way depending on whether you want to do the easier sections first or do the harder sections first. The beginning of the harder section is actually a good warm up so I recommend the harder section first. If you do it this way, you will be riding in a clockwise direction. From the parking lot, ride directly into the trees that are immediately adjacent to the parking lot. It won't take you long to find the trails. Turn right and you're good to go. This early section has the best section of woop-dee-doos as it meanders through dense hardwoods along a creek bottom. Once the trail finishes meandering through the trees, it enters a big field. This provides an opportunity to turn on the after burners and really get the heart pumping. The trail makes its way to the park boundaries and runs along a fence for a short distance before heading back into the trees. Then the tight single track starts up again. There is one more section of field and one more section of riding in the trees before finishing the first loop and reaching the main trail head. This first section has some very tight and fairly technical sections that require careful negotiation or you will end up hitting a tree or having a stump or root send you for a spill. The main trail head is at one end of the parking lot so you can end the ride here. Or, you can merge left onto the easier loop for a few more miles of fun. This section of the trail is not nearly as technical or tight or twisty as the first section. There is also a bigger percentage of the trail in fields. So, this provides a good opportunity to really get some speed up and catch some air on several small jumps. Toward the end of this section, you enter the overflow parking lot which is just a big, grassy field. Shortly thereafter, you cross the road you drove in on. Follow the road to the parking lot and you have completed one giant loop of around 8 miles.
added on September 27, 2004 by guest
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Description: Erwin Park has an official trail head starting point. However, the trails make 2 loops from this point and didn't, in my opinion, come together too well. So, I recommend a different route. You can do the route either way depending on whether you want to do the easier sections first or do the harder sections first. The beginning of the harder section is actually a good warm up so I recommend the harder section first. If you do it this way, you will be riding in a clockwise direction. From the parking lot, ride directly into the trees that are immediately adjacent to the parking lot. It won't take you long to find the trails. Turn right and you're good to go. This early section has the best section of woop-dee-doos as it meanders through dense hardwoods along a creek bottom. Once the trail finishes meandering through the trees, it enters a big field. This provides an opportunity to turn on the after burners and really get the heart pumping. The trail makes its way to the park boundaries and runs along a fence for a short distance before heading back into the trees. Then the tight single track starts up again. There is one more section of field and one more section of riding in the trees before finishing the first loop and reaching the main trail head. This first section has some very tight and fairly technical sections that require careful negotiation or you will end up hitting a tree or having a stump or root send you for a spill. The main trail head is at one end of the parking lot so you can end the ride here. Or, you can merge left onto the easier loop for a few more miles of fun. This section of the trail is not nearly as technical or tight or twisty as the first section. There is also a bigger percentage of the trail in fields. So, this provides a good opportunity to really get some speed up and catch some air on several small jumps. Toward the end of this section, you enter the overflow parking lot which is just a big, grassy field. Shortly thereafter, you cross the road you drove in on. Follow the road to the parking lot and you have completed one giant loop of around 8 miles.
added on September 27, 2004 by guest 
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by cdog44 on January 6, 2011
This trail is pretty good for begginers, but yet at the same tame, it still provides enough of a challenge that intermediate riders can still get a good workout with the various "forks in the road". these forks allow begginers to go one way, or more advanced riders to go another, more technical route. There are areas, most notably in the places, where the track is fairly deep. This provides the challenge of having to keep the wheel straight to avoid from hitting the sides and slowing your momentum. There are various man-made areas that provide extra challenge, the most exciting one is a new installment: a sweet 45 degree banking turn! it is really fun to ride on, but make sure you take the angle just right (I'm speaking from experience!). There are very fun downhills that allow you to get some air on the endo of them. Something that adds an added challenge to thetrack are the numerous routes at this place. This place is the perfect fit for begginers and experts alike!
Similar Trail: Don't really go to too many other tracks, Erwin park is really good!
reviewed by mtb_rider_guy on January 3, 2011
Nice trail with a lot of variety and seems to be well maintained... kudos to the DORBA folks for keeping this up and giving the lowlanders a good place to ride. I would say this is a good trail for novice riders but it also offers some fun 'alternate paths' and challenges for intermediate riders. If you keep your speed up you can get a decent work out and have a good time. It was pretty damp both times I was there which can lead to pretty slick trails with all the wet leaves and roots. I like the fairly tight trees and the occasional man-made obstacle. Not really any long or tough climbs to speak of though. I’d recommend two loops for a better workout. I did one loop one direction then reversed direction for the second loop. I’m not certain if there is a “preferred” direction for this trail but it was not crowded at all and no one mentioned anything about it. I'll definitely go back if I'm ever in the area again.
Similar Trail: Unsure of other trails in the area. Check out the DORBA web site.
reviewed by hydegroove13 on August 29, 2010
pretty decent trail. Lots of twists and turns. Not many climbs. Wooded and also field areas. Hikers are pretty insistent about biking in the correct direction. Bring water---it gets hot in the fields. Also watch out for a hail storm of grasshoppers--haha
reviewed by Konijntje on July 24, 2007
"Erwin Park is a city of McKinney public park. The trail is just around 8.1 miles. The trail is a mix of tight and twisty in the woods to some fast open field sections. There is plenty of climbing to get you heart rate up. Since you're going up, there are some fast and fun downhills as well. There are some technical sections and most of the technical sections have alternate (easy) routes around them. The trail does have some dips. The last section of trail is called the expert section. There is an alternater route to your left crossing a bridge (left - easy; right - hard). This is the only alternate route with a bridge. " - From the DORBA Home Page www.dorba.org
reviewed by ckrd23315 on December 19, 2006
This trail has a lot of variety. There are long straight sections on prairie land and zig-zag rooty technical sections in the woods along the creek. It's run ride with many different skill requirements.
Similar Trail: Memorial Park in Houston
reviewed by jon_t on June 17, 2006
this is a great trail to ride with the tight turns, good jumps and downhills as well. it has it all that most would enjoy. a must ride
Similar Trail: rowlett creek preserve
