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Lake Hope State Park Mountain Bike Trail
Athens, Ohio
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
9 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 2/6/12 by oneeyeredeye |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 23 miles | Global Rank: #53 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 25 | Wishlist: 21 |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,079/-1,669 ft (based on partial GPS data) |
Directions:
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Description: Quite possibly the best singletrack in OH. Well maintained trails and very flowy. Low on the technical side, but the flow and speed you can carry, coupled with the relative distance of the loops (25 miles or so of pure singletrack) make it darn near impossible to beat in OH. Have fun!
Description: Quite possibly the best singletrack in OH. Well maintained trails and very flowy. Low on the technical side, but the flow and speed you can carry, coupled with the relative distance of the loops (25 miles or so of pure singletrack) make it darn near impossible to beat in OH. Have fun!
added on July 12, 2007 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:City Trails - Wetlands Trails in Marietta
City Trails - Marietta Hs in Marietta
City Trails - North Hills Trail in Marietta
Strouds Run State Park in Athens
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by oneeyeredeye on October 6, 2011
great singletrack ride. probably the best in ohio. nice climbs and great downhills. trails are easy to remember for how many miles there are. there is water at the cemetary above wildcat trail.
reviewed by T.McGee on October 1, 2011
For the most part these trails are pretty well maintained. Nice single track with smooth rolling hills. We try to come here at least once a year. It is a good challenge for beginners and a fast flowing ride those who are more experienced.
reviewed by malva on September 19, 2011
I would reccomend parking at the Grousepoint on which you access Wildcat trails which is a fun downhill course after while you will reacha n intersection where there are signs and you can take Bobcat which is more technical since its a narrower trail with the cliff to your left side with some rocks ups/down. Later on taking Copperhead would be a great options which is a fun ups and downs. This trails are well marked and have maps in several points. On another ocassion I tried a short ride parking next to the Dam and did Sidewinder which haves steeps ups and downs but trail maintainance is not that great. Tried to take Little sandy trail to the left (after doing Sidewinder) but found that its almost overtaken by vegetation...so had to turn back in order to avoid getting lost. Did not love Sidewinder much, but had a blast doind Wildcat, Bobcat, Copperhead! Excellent trails but expect some climbing ahead!
reviewed by mtn417 on March 17, 2011
All the trails are fun! I agree with other reviews. I'd add that the Lakeside Trail is pretty fun IMHO, despite having more roots. Many places to park, grills, swimming(awesome mid-summer post ride)
Similar Trail: Strouds in Athens, Mountwood, WV
reviewed by bikenut1 on October 21, 2010
the best single track in ohio without a doubt!!! long hills to climb but not steep kinda gradule.the downhills are just awesome.the little sandy trail is not really used anymore. mostly by hikers.just great flowing trails and fast gotta love that! live in dayton area well worth the 2 1/2 hr. drive
reviewed by getsomemorrison on September 19, 2010
This is some of the fastest flowing single track that I have ever ridden, you can really crank out the mileage here. After riding here a few times I recommend parking at grouse point it gives you the option of doing multiple loops. and in the summer time you can jump in the lake and cool off after riding. Oh yea also Ive never seen a park that has better signage unlike some other places ive been, its really easy to figure out where you are and where you need to go
* Review edited 9/19/2010
Similar Trail: Mountwood Park
reviewed by Trail_Jogger on January 21, 2010
I love this park for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of the early coal mining and iron furnace nearby. The woods are beautiful and I have ridden these trails several times. Park in the formal parking lot just north of the dam on the western end of the lake. The trailhead to Little Sandy (4.5 miles) is across the road. That winding trail will take you to the top of the hill where you will then have the choice of taking the Copperhead (7.2 mile) trail that hugs the road or dive down the hillside on the Wildcat (3.5 miles) and Bobcat (2.0 miles) trails that are my favorite. At the end of these two routes you can then take the Gorge Trail down to the Lake Hope iron furnace and ride back on the road (preferred) or follow the north shore of the lake back to the parking lot. The north shore is riddled with pine tree roots that make riding there difficult. It would be a beautiful hike, but riding is difficult. This is easily one of my favorite trails in Ohio and I would ride it every day if I lived closer. Once you've ridden the trail and taken a look at the iron furnace on the eastern end of the lake you must also see the Moonville Tunnel. It's a short (~2 mile) ride or drive south and is worth riding through if you want to explore an old coal mining railroad tunnel that you can ride through. You can park on the side of the road within view of the tunnel and ride from your car, through the tunnel, and then another short distance beyond until you come to where the bridge is out. Take your camera on this trail, especially if you visit the furnace and tunnel. The park trails are strenuous but the tunnel trail is great for kids. * Review edited 1/21/2010
* Review edited 10/29/2011
reviewed by Outdoornut on December 4, 2009
Were over there for the third time this year in early November and the trails were awesome due to some great late lasting warm weather and very little rain for a few months.
reviewed by Outdoornut on February 9, 2008
Have to agree with tumbleweed14, this is some of the fastest, smoothest singletrack I've ridden. My son and I dearly loved it there. We're used to the slow, extremely technical stuff in the mountains of WV so it's great to spend a day a Lake Hope to make you appreciate awesome singletrack at its finest.
* Review edited 2/9/2008
Similar Trail: Every trail in the Park.
