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Fountainhead Regional Park Mountain Bike Trail
Fairfax, Virginia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
66 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 9/16/11 by jfishon |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 5 miles | Global Rank: #28 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 258 | Wishlist: 121 |
| Avg. Speed: 5.66 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 13min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +775/-781 ft |
Directions:
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Description: "This mountain bike trail is strictly for mountain bikes. It is 100% single track. The difficultly and distance varies on which route within the park you decide to ride. Basically the trail is composed of 2 loops and an out and back. There are also hiking
added in 2003 by guest
Description: "This mountain bike trail is strictly for mountain bikes. It is 100% single track. The difficultly and distance varies on which route within the park you decide to ride. Basically the trail is composed of 2 loops and an out and back. There are also hiking
added in 2003 by guest 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Lake Accotink Network in Springfield
Carvin's Cove Trail system in Roanoke
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by ride14fun on January 3, 2012
Not worth the drive. CLEARLY not a black diamond trail. Too much of the same thing over and over. Guys you need to rate this as easy. If you think this is hard try Governer Dicks trail 15 or Porcupine trail Moab. PLEASE change this rating to EASY and not worth the drive.
Similar Trail: like ray's town lake trails
reviewed by jfigel76 on October 25, 2011
I love this park. It has everything, good scenery, roots, downhills, uphills, techs, advanced sections, distance, solitude (on off days), directional, mountain bikers only, no hikers or horses, great trail maintenance. About a 9 mile loop, takes about an hour to do, but you can truncate. Only bad part for me is traffic in NOVA. No entrance fees. Area closed when wet or snowy, read entrance sign.
reviewed by GoGetter21 on September 18, 2011
Best trail in the DC area! well labeled and a great mix of downhill, climbs and technical.
reviewed by rutleyj on September 18, 2011
it is a lung burner in parts but has some great man made obstacles that are fun and challenging. a little bit for everyone. this is my regular trail.
reviewed by Jkizz on July 7, 2011
I ended up doing 7 miles my first run, then doubled back to check out the obstacle course. There are some hills and downhill sections that will surprise you. There is also a constructed technical air bridge section that will have you riding 5ft in the air on planks! Loved it. I gave it 4 stars because it lacks a signature long downhill run. It is moderately difficult with only one short "Extremely Difficult" section (or so the sign said)... it was really just a steep fast hill"
Similar Trail: Rosaryville but less flowy.
reviewed by trnsprt on June 27, 2011
Yeah, there isn't much to add. If you are a VA rider you are used to the conditions. More up and down rolling x-cntry than riding out in the hills to the west but you deal with the terrain you are dealt and I think the trail design squeezes the best out of the area. It's a challenge for sure. The folks that design and keep up the trail do a wonderful job. It's a great time for flatter land riding.
Similar Trail: Lodi Farm
reviewed by ArcWest on June 25, 2011
Okay, here's the real deal. This is not a tough circuit (if you think this place is gnar gnar, you're probably low on the skills and stamina). The hill climbs are short and so are the downhill sections. That said, it's still the best in the area with sections of s-track, rooty works, whoops, and enough mileage to make it worth the drive. 4 stars for NoVA, 3 otherwise.
reviewed by Trailburger on June 6, 2011
Killer course, but loved it!. I am somewhat of a novice rider and took on the trail not knowing clearly what I was getting into. It has lots of roots, rocks, and turns, which tossed me off my bike. Hills were tough as well. But in the end, it was freaking awesome...and I now plan to race it in August.
* Review edited 6/6/2011
reviewed by Mac10Matt on May 8, 2011
Fun trail. I was really impressed by this trail that was not too far from DC. It is well marked, well maintained, and lots of fun. I wouldn't call it an advanced trail, but there are plenty of climbs for a good workout. I highly recommend it. Pure MTB trail, too, which was nice.
reviewed by JeffHoward on May 1, 2011
Highlights: Well Marked, All for MTB, Nearby Lake, Good Blend of Technical Areas & Speedy Areas. This place sort of has its own mystique amongst the other options in the area. It’s positioned around a lake that offers a nice setting to take a breather, drink some fluids and have a cliff bar. There are two primary loops; the first offers the best aspects of the trail, while including the second loop makes for an all around hardy workout. A crew has gone in and added a section of raised wooden decks to ride on (not sure of the right term) in addition there is a large section that has banked curves, and humps. At the juncture of the two loops is a MTB playground area with a set of serpentine logs, and seesaws. Most of the trail contains roots, and some loose rocks, but all in all you can peg the trail as dirt packed single track. The hill climbs are tough and there is one downhill section that I’ve never tried b/c frankly for me its assured destruction. Over an hour and twenty minutes my heart rate monitor indicated I burned 1,650 calories, more than I’ve ever burned on other trails.
reviewed by jtorlando25 on April 24, 2011
I was deterred from the trail for a whole year by people telling me how difficult it is. I finally grew the cahones and tackled it and it was a blast. The climbs aren't too ridiculous and the downhills are more fun than any other trail in the NoVA area. It's a little bumpy on a hard tail. It reminded me a lot of the Fredericksburg Quarry and Lodi Farm trails. The Shock-a-billy hill is totally ridiculous.
Similar Trail: Lodi Farm, Fredericksburg Quarry
reviewed by kleinman on April 19, 2011
Nice 10 miles of loops. There is quite a bit of erosion on some of the loops, with several of the hills seeming to double as stream beds when it rains, but the fixes being done show great promise. The new section at about mile 6-7 was a pleasant change of pace. I found riding a 43-18 gear ratio on a 29er was too much for a couple of the climbs (Cardiac and one other).
reviewed by sprkplg73 on March 31, 2011
This trail offers enough burn on the lungs and legs.. plenty of delicious switchbacks and dips.
reviewed by dubinjs on February 20, 2011
This trail is by far one of the best in the DC metropolitan area. A super fun, technical and arobic challenge for anyone who rides it. There are a couple of differant loops which contain trails that mostly cater to the experienced rider. Nice bike only single track with challenging climbs like "Lung Buster" and lots of great DH sections. Tons of rocks and log obstacles and a new skills coarse in the making to open within the next week or so thanks to M.O.R.E. The trails are being renovated and are a must if your in the area and want a challenging ride.
Similar Trail: Patapsco (Avalon), Gambrills, Frederick Water Shed
reviewed by saminguz on December 9, 2010
Have only riden this trail once on the recommendation of friends. Wow, it was awesome and i will definitely be going back. A mix of up and down hills, roots and rocks, the circuit is around 10 miles long now and takes around 1 hour 20 minutes if you don't stop to play along the way. Certainly not for beginers intermediates should find it a suitable challenge and build confidence for more!
Similar Trail: Wakefield Park
reviewed by Susanita on November 29, 2010
Many of the trail reviews were written years ago. I get the impression that the trails have deteriorated a bit. Lots of erosion ... probably due to poor trail design a long time ago. But there are some good sections ... just lots of sections where the trail has fallen off or downhill sections that have eroded from rain runoff.
Similar Trail: Maybe the older section of Patapsco.
reviewed by MakarskiJA on November 17, 2010
Rode this trail with one of my college friends and my dad. This trail has some strenuous uphill sections but with gratifying downhills. Some downhills were incredibly fast with some unpredictable sudden turns. There were a fair amount of obstacles on the trails that were usually optional. There was one bumpy section that was relatively flat/downhill that you could get lots of jumps in. I definitely look forward to making my way back to ride it again.
reviewed by nehmia on October 11, 2010
Rode this for the first time today, was great... there was NO ONE out! Same as all the reviews below, tons of roots, up hills and down hills. All around great trail. I have a 29er and my buddy a FS 26 and I think I may have had the edge as far as equipment (he is more experienced though). I took the right path towards the Rock Garden drop for my first time... wild ride, I literally had my ass on the back tire just so I wouldn't buck off. I made it, and I'm new to this... so I guess it isn't as bad as it looks. Just go for it, keep straight and true, and hold on. Took a lot of breaks because I'm out of shape, so the ride was way longer than it should be, but nice. http://runkeeper.com/user/nehmia/activity/18179545;jsessionid=B9CD3A06DB48E98FB56E30871805C18B
* Review edited 10/11/2010
Similar Trail: One with a ton of roots?
reviewed by drexlerkm on September 17, 2010
Anti-flowy. I don't know what half the people on here are smoking. If you don't want to ride fast, go here. Sure, it's technical, and the climbs are steep, but there's very little "singletrack" to be found here. In some places the trail is 12 feet wide because people are trying to find lines over some ridiculous roots. Set in a beautiful area, but just not my cup of tea. Every minute of my ride was spent thinking about where I'll be in 4 weeks: Fruita/Moab. In this region though, I'd rather go to Lorton or Rosaryville.
Similar Trail: New England root infested garbage
reviewed by cyclops on September 9, 2010
Excellent ride. Great flow and well maintained. Punishing climbs are rewarded with nice downhills. Newly built pump track at the end is outstanding
Similar Trail: Patapsco Avalon
reviewed by BU10May on August 21, 2010
Great singletrack that can be very technical with all of the roots. It is a good mix of technical sections separated by flowing singletrack. The climbs present a nice challenge that lead into very nice downhill sections. This trail is a must for DC/N. Virginia riders!
Similar Trail: Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake, PA
reviewed by RappAttack on August 11, 2010
amazing trail, bit it in the first hundred feet the first time out. great for working on fitness and tech skills try shock-o-billy hill at the end. not as bad as it looks but still gives you the feeling of accomplishment when you go down it, western VA here i come
Similar Trail: kinda nw to this game but so far nothin like it
reviewed by igve2shtz on May 9, 2010
Just rode this today, and this was my first technical trail. It was a blast. Elevation changes, rocks, drops, switchbacks, this had it all. It is now about 8 miles long (bike computer said 7.76), single loop with a few bypasses built in. Eat your Wheaties. I had no clue what to expect and almost ate it in the first 100 feet. I went too hard in the beginning, and wound up tiring out midway through. Lots of roots. I did it in about 1:15, not counting the few stops I took for pictures. Go to the website for a trail map: http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/fountainhead/?pg=mountain_biking.html
reviewed by fsfsunshine on October 28, 2009
Great Trail- crazy downhill part- i ate it hard! it is a fun trail with good mixups-
reviewed by daveism on August 28, 2009
sucks, like everything in Northern VA
* Review edited 8/28/2009
Similar Trail: none
reviewed by drexlerkm on August 27, 2009
Was in good condition on Aug 25. First time there, and had a blast. Nice drive in (once off the highway), gigantic parking lot, and had well marked trails. Like everyone else has said: very technical, unforgiving loops. Those hills will whip you into shape; keep your momentum or you'll pay by huffing it. Looking forward to the ongoing work being done. I'm strongly considering donating a couple weekends or two to trail build.
Similar Trail: Accotink
reviewed by Paragon1 on August 5, 2009
Just rode the whole route yesterday, im trying to get the GPS data loaded onto the site as soon as i figure out my 705 (any pointers?) Anyway, great trail, but you wont be on the big crank gear at all... lots of ups with a few flowing downhils on the back end of the trail... Lots of roots though, kinda takes away from it in my opinion. The climbs are going to give you a workout, if you get out of sequence on the way into one you are going to pay for it by walking. They are steep enough to make starting back in the saddle extremely difficult if not impossible. The drops in the end are a bit intimidating at first. If you go right you will come around the bend into a 45+ degree drop down a rock chute, if you go left its a bit faster, not *quite* as hard, but will make you pay if you hesitate or let the back wheel pop off the bumps and buck you off.... just keep your weight back. The more you ride this trail the better, an excellent technical challenge.
* Review edited 8/5/2009
reviewed by 1longtime on March 15, 2009
A fantastic ride, climbs and downhills that are made for bikers. Multiple forks that either lengthen or shorten the trip home, and taking the long route is always worth it. At each fork, the right turn will shorten the ride and the left turn will lengthen it. Depending on the route you choose, the trail can actually be around 13 miles, an all-day ride. Moderately technical, lots of challenging but plausible climbs, with one or two well marked dangerous descents.
Similar Trail: Otter Creek Park near Louisville, KY (closed for budget reasons, but sneak in anyway)
reviewed by adamth on November 26, 2008
This trail is much more technical (and fun) than say the Quantico trails. The roots make it difficult (especially when covered in leafs and not visible) but not unbearable. The amount of narrow single track and elev changes keeps it very interesting. I plan to ride this trail many more times but perhaps wait until the spring and leafs clear so I can see where the obstacles are.
* Review edited 11/26/2008
reviewed by zyoung on November 23, 2008
This is a great singletrack. The routes can be quick or technical, depending on the loops you choose. Tons of roots, leaves and erosion to keep you honest. Some of the climbs are brutal simply because they have no lead in to speak of, just grinding from a dead stop. This course will blow out the lungs and test the legs. Most loops are moderate to advanced riding, with a few expert segments thrown about.
Similar Trail: brush MT
reviewed by Kissofaugustan on October 20, 2008
Its an awesome singletrack. It has some great uphill challenges, a few sweet smooth runs, some nice swooping sections, a few fun places for on the trail jumps, a cool little 3 piece technical spot with a see-saw, and one super awesome downhill. There are a ton of roots...pretty much everywhere. I've ridden it twice now (every section) and i love it.
reviewed by laurak on October 4, 2008
Very fun! Lots of roots, like Cedarville, but with more elevation change for short but steep hills. A few fun extras, like the seesaw. But trail markings rather confusing--I was there the day before a race, so it might be better usually. Not as hard as southern NH.
Similar Trail: Rosaryville ,Cedarville, and St Mary's River--all a little easier but a good amount of miles and all with their own challenges. Sweet rides.
reviewed by skibum on September 26, 2008
This trail is surprisingly tough. The roots are incessant an can, literally, becoma a pain in the rear. 29ers seem very popular here for good reason. The roots can really be a problem when they're wet, which is any morning when there's dew on them. There is some great, flowy singletrack interspersed with the troublesome roots, along with some tough drops into, and climbs out of the various drainages. If you want to challenge your self in ways that are both fun and character building, this is a good place for it. The great thing about this area is that it's just for bikes, so you needn't worry about hikers. Also, all the loops are designated as one way, so you don't have to worry about coming around a blind corner into an oncoming biker. The loops are stacked, so you have multiple options to bail out early.
* Review edited 9/26/2008
reviewed by EJensen on June 16, 2008
I live within a 20 minute drive of this trail, so it is my go-to trail. I've ridden it dozens of times, but I'm still not bored with it. I'm certainly not hitting 100% on the climbs, and I have yet to make it through a full loop without a single dab. As noted elsewhere, this is a rooty, rocky trail. There are no more than two or three sections where you can get up any speed over any distance (not counting the steep downhills here). For the vast majority of the ride, you are either pumping hard or on the brakes. This leads to the only knock I've heard about this trail that I can agree with: there's not much of a flow. Virtually no bermed turns that invite you to carry speed through, and no rollers. It's more like an eight-mile-long skills clinic. With that said, there are an awful lot of people in this area like me that come back to this trail over and over. If you want to ride a trail with flow in this area, I would suggest Rosaryville in Maryland. In addition to the regular singletrack trail features, there are two teeters and two skinnies, all of which are optional. Fountainhead, Rosaryville, and a whole lot of other trails in this area are maintained by MORE (www.more-mtb.org). You can get more information on these and other trails on that site.* Review edited 6/16/2008
* Review edited 6/16/2008
reviewed by gravatte on May 30, 2008
You must be on your game to ride this trail. I have riden it almost weekly for a few years. Many options for riding however, mostly up and down hill with very little cruising. A super workout. About 1hr 5 min non-stop riding a a good pace.
Similar Trail: Shaffer Park in Maryland
reviewed by Blue_Streak on May 21, 2008
This is one of the better trails in northern VA and has some pretty tough uphills and will give you a good workout. Has alot of roots, which stop you from picking up alot of speed . Still a good trail.
* Review edited 8/2/2010
reviewed by cbhale on May 4, 2008
Got out to Fountainhead today for a ride I had been meaning to take for a while. What a treat. There were a few tiny mud spots, but otherwise everything is in tiptop condition. Fountainhead is definitely tough on the lungs and I found the climbs tough not because of the grade or length, but because the roots can mean your front tire can do some sliding around. My buddy and I chose to trace the outside loop, but since the trail is a series of linked loops, at any point you can stop following trail arrows and loop around on one of the bypass sections. All in all a wonderful afternoon of riding. I will definitely be coming back from some more spills.
reviewed by Shmoo on April 5, 2008
Just did my first ride there today. Did about 7 miles. I've only been to Wakefield and Colts Neck, and this is by far the hardest on the lungs. As someone before posted, there are hidden roots. And the exposed roots can be tricky on the front end when a bit damp. As a beginner it really hiked up my steep learning curve. The fast downhills and the one particular section with a ~45 degree downhill was a lot of fun. Don't be hesitant, and don't let your front tire go off the trail, or you'll lose it. 2 guys went down while we were riding today, so be safe out there!
Similar Trail: not sure...like I said, the two trails I've been on don't really compare to this one.
reviewed by jbronko1 on March 2, 2008
NOT A REVIEW - VISITING THE AREA AND SEEKING A RIDE PARTNER ON EARLY MORNING OF 3/8. ANYONE INTERESTED? PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE ON SINGLETRACKS.
reviewed by PistolPete33 on February 15, 2008
This is a great trail for just about anyone. One of my first real rides was here on an old K2 hardtail with no off-pavement experience and while it was hard, and a bit dangerous, it was a ton of fun. Not recommended for beginners but a great challenging intermediate ride in a perfect location. Fountainhead is also extremely variable, you can take multiple well marked paths and loops and thus stretch together the ride you're looking for.
Similar Trail: Wakefield
reviewed by remylacha on November 25, 2007
Just got back from 3rd Fountainhead ride in 4 days -- it doesn't get old. The roots make it a challenge, especially for those riding hardtails. And the carpet of leaves on the ground hiding the roots right now just make it all the dicier! In terms of comparison to Schaeffer as one poster asked, the length and diversity of terrain are somewhat comparable -- but the climbs and drops are MUCH steeper and it is much more exhausting in the end. If you haven't ridden it before (or if leaves are covering everything so you can't see roots . . .), you may walk at least a hill or 2 even if you can generally handle technical terrain just because the lines aren't always obvious around roots. Definitely the best trail in this area -- not the fastest, and not necessarily as many logs, etc. as some others, but the best challenge by far. By the way, the summary says 5 miles -- that's old. With the addition they did on the back a few summers ago and the fact that the old "optional dead-end loop" is now part of the regular course, the full route is about 8 miles unless you take some available marked "bypasses" (short-cuts).
* Review edited 11/25/2007
reviewed by TS on November 18, 2007
Technical challenging. Physically demanding. Beautiful scenery. Great fun. In my opinion, the best ride in Northern VA.
reviewed by KMT on September 20, 2007
I have not had an opportunity to ride this trail. Technically & Physically, how does it compare to the Schaffer Farms trail in MD?
reviewed by ptjunky on September 9, 2007
Rode the trail today and it is in great shape. As mentioned by previous reviews, there is alot of roots. The hills can be challenging if you do not look ahead and pick a good line. The scenery is great. It makes you want to take the big loop and keep on riding. I will be going back.
Similar Trail: Quantico Trails
reviewed by dropkiks on September 4, 2007
I consider myself a very good rider, but this trail opened a can on me. Over the handlebars 30 yards into this one. Gotta be fit also, VERY steep ups and downs.
reviewed by BaggyPants on August 30, 2007
This trail ate me for lunch. I was not ready for the steep climbs, but will be next time I ride it. I'm a beginner and this trail is not for the faint of heart. I liked it and will ride this again until I defeat the steep climbs. It has great views and has plenty of other riders on the trail.
reviewed by douglas.a.gray@cox.net on August 14, 2007
Just finished this trail, and I am completely worn out. Alot of thought put into this course. Some of the hills I found to be completely unclimbable not just because of this grade, but the loose sand as well. Scenery was nice, but I was concentrating on not planting my front wheel on the many roots and rocks. I'll definitely go back.
reviewed by vincejesaitis on July 29, 2007
rode this trail today for the first time in about a year -- it is a bear! it is seriously the most physically challenging ride i have ever done (never been out west though), but if you get tired at wakefield or sheridan farms, better get in some endurance work before you head to fh all singletrack, a lot of roots, a lot of climbs, and a lot of fun. the track has roots and rocks all over which keep you from getting in a real rhythm on the climbs, but hey, that's what mtbing is about, right?
Similar Trail: nada
reviewed by senator on May 29, 2007
This trail, while beautiful and worth every amount of energy spent riding it, is physically exhausting if you are not ready for it. I speak from experience! I have been riding Wakefield every day for the past 2 months, and thought I'd give Fountainhead a try with my friends. I thought I was ready. However, the trail owned me. There are several large hills at the beginning from which I was never able to fully recover. The downhill was no help, because they are all filled with a few technical challenges. While I complain about my own level of fitness, this trail is still worth it. It is beautiful, scenic and dare I say: epic. I will be returning this weekend. And this time, I won't have a full stomach of greasy foods not more than 10 hours old sitting in my stomach. I think that, more than anything, accounted for my utter failure on this ride. Oh, how I can't wait to try again. I will post an update when I tame this trail. In the meantime, it is worth checking out. Just be prepared for some grueling hills and fun (but oh, so short) descents.
Similar Trail: Wakefield
reviewed by Tadd03 on April 12, 2007
An excellent ride for beginners through experienced riders. It has good technical portions along with some nasty uphill and fun (if brief) downhill portions. Getting there is easy and navigating the trail a breeze. Definitely recommend.
Similar Trail: Wakefield
reviewed by yellowXtrek on December 21, 2006
This is a really cool trail. It has some decent climbs and is a blast to ride. There are some technical sections that will keep you on your toes. I would highly reccomend checking it out.
reviewed by Rodrigo on August 19, 2006
Excellent place. Some technical challenges. It was my first time here and I would definetly come back. Directions getting there are accurate and parking was a breeze.
reviewed by MCHolstrail on August 3, 2006
I like this trail. It is awesome. Bring plenty of water and definitely have a multi-tool and patch repair kit just in case (You wouldn't want to walk that baby back from the furthest point). The trail is fairly technical and offers a good mix of terrain. Ride the log rail by the creekbed, gangsta.
reviewed by Lawmaster87 on July 31, 2006
Great trail for beginners and more seasoned riders. Nice mix of ups and downs. Trail flows well, with a nice a few technical rock and log sections. Fountainhead is a must ride if you are in the area. Just don't lock your front rim brake and fly over the bars into the trees while entering a switch-back. The first trail that my riding buddy "Roots" flipped over the bars. The list of trails where this has happened is growing quickly. Great trail though.
* Review edited 9/20/2007
reviewed by zenmaster1273 on April 20, 2006
This trail is a good challenge for intermediate riders. It's a good all around trail. It has a lot of rolling hills to keep you working hard and the descents are short enough to not give you much recovery time if you don't stop for a rest. There is some fairly technical stuff for intermediates as well. Lots of roots to raddle you when going downhill so your bike will definately need maintenance after riding here. The actual length of the trail is actually about 8 miles if you do the complete loop without taking short cuts. There is some great views of the Occoquan River, some good fishing, archery zones and dedicated hiking/HBR trails. The MTBR trail is for MTBR only, no dogs allowed either, so the only disruption you have for your ride is either other MTBR's and the scenery.
Similar Trail: Accotink or Potapsco
reviewed by McStrings on August 4, 2005
Fountainhead is a good workout and good practice. It's a nice spot, especially by the river. My only issue is that it feels like a playground to me. I prefer the cross-country experience to Fountainhead's Escher-like obstacle course.
Similar Trail: Patapsco State Park, MD
reviewed by HACBIKES on July 22, 2005
Fountainhead is great a must ride. I rode it on a trip that I took to visit my freinds in Fairfax when I was 13. I was on a fully rigid bike and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Their seemed to be almost no one there when we went. A favorite.
Similar Trail: White Ranch, CO
reviewed by schmuck on July 13, 2005
A sweet single track for single speed riders. There are a couple a good technical hills and one nice rocky downhill. An all around fun ride! They close when it is too slick so it keeps the trails nice and narrow.
reviewed by kltbo on December 11, 2004
This trail is fun when not wet. I rode here about a day after a rain and it was still very slick, almost too slick to be confident over rocks and roots. I advise waiting at least 48 hours before riding here after a rain, even if the sign says the trail is open.
Similar Trail: Patapsco
reviewed by pedalmasher on December 8, 2004
This is a really fun trail with some narrow singletrack, steep but short up and down hills. The soil ranges from rocky, sticky do-able climbs to fast, fun sandy downhills. There are some great views of the Occocuan Resevoir and some good fishing too! Enjoy!
Similar Trail: Rosaryville, Schaffer Farm.
reviewed by mdmtbkr on November 11, 2004
rode earlier in year, Trail seems difficult but fun. I do not frequent this place due to the technical sections and closures due to rain. I will ride again, but probably not until spring.
Similar Trail: Patapsco
reviewed by czb on October 30, 2004
This is a good all around single track trail - perfect for intermediary riders who have developed some confidence and can navigate a somewhat nasty arrangement of roots and rocks, especially in the spring and fall when wet and slippery. There is only a handful of of places where you can pick up a lot of speed, but, on balance for the intermediary rider at least, any more might be a problem. The park is designed in a series of loops, enabling a rider to go out and take on just as much or little ride as time permits. You can go out for basically a one or a two hour ride without any doubling back, so if you want to do the tracks more than once you can easily get a 3-4 hour excursion in. The trails have bikers, but never so many that it's a problem. 90 percent of the trails are one-way. It's all single track. About three quarters of the climbs present no problem. About ten percent are tought but doable. This leaves maybe 10-15 percent just a b**** to navigate, especially when wet.
Similar Trail: Gambrill in Frederck, MD
reviewed by hillsdalemc on October 15, 2004
I thought the trail was a little too rough in areas. Coming back in I actually bent my shifter because of the roots. If you like variety this place offers it, its a great ride (to me ruined by the roots and a few ridiculous climbs). There are a lot of good sections here and it is all singletrack.
reviewed by reh on August 4, 2004
This is a very well maintained trail. Short, not epic, 1 hour to rice it all. It is not too technical, the one biggest challenge: "Shock-a-billy" looks intimidating, but it completely doable. There a many hills making for a nice aerobic ride, it is bumpy, but not overly so. Some rocks, some roots. The wooded area is mature and thus, there is a minimum of low growth, making for wide, easy to follow trails. No getting smacked in the face with briars. I rode this in the "Cranky Monkey" race this year (2004), a very nicely organized event.
Similar Trail: Wakefield
reviewed by getonthetrail on December 24, 2003
Having moved from Atlanta Georgia I was looking for a trail that could come close to Yellow River in Stone Mountain Georgia. This trail is the closet yet! I've ridden several trails in the D.C. area and think this is the BEST ride in the area. I've ridden this trail four times in the last three weeks! The trail provides a technical, fun and physical ride. Once summer is back this will be a weekly ride for me!
Similar Trail: Yellow River Atlanta, GA
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