Trail is
Avg Rating:    |
45 trail reviews |
Difficulty:  - Intermediate |
|
| Length: 8 miles | Global Rank: #3697 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 185 | Wishlist: 48 |
| 4 trail check-ins |
Climb // Descend +900 // -1,100 feet |
| Average Speed: 9.3 mph | Average Time: 1hr 16min |
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Description
Owls Roost has the best combination of technicality and brisk singletrack in Greensboro. The trail starts at the Bur-Mill Park parking lot. The first 1.5 miles is fast and smooth downhill until the trail comes to a T with a wide dirt trail. Take a right and follow the trail to the sign that points "Owls Roost" on the left. (If you go straight past the sign, you can add a bonus lap by riding past the fishpond and back into the woods for a good climb followed by more fast singletrack.) There are quite a few rooty uphills on this trail and some strategically placed logs that make Owls Roost moderately technical. But the speed of the trail makes for a great ride. About halfway through the trail there is a ten-foot gully. The drop down looks a bit rooty and dangerous, but don't fret, potential energy is on your side. You'll really have to crank it through the down and especially on the up to ride through the root at the top. Believe me, it's no fun going down the gully backwards!) The rest of the ride will take you by the edge of Lake Brandt and into pine tree filled woods. The trail ends at the greenway that connects Country Park on the left with Owls Roost Road to the right.
sbruner305 on October 13, 2012
Dark Mountain Trail (40%)
Overmountain Victory Trail (Kerr Scott Reservoir) (33%)
Country Park (33%)
Angler's Ridge (27%)
To view directions to Owls Roost (Bur-Mil Park) mountain bike trail, please login. If you don't have an account, sign up for a free account - it only takes a minute.
Description
Owls Roost has the best combination of technicality and brisk singletrack in Greensboro. The trail starts at the Bur-Mill Park parking lot. The first 1.5 miles is fast and smooth downhill until the trail comes to a T with a wide dirt trail. Take a right and follow the trail to the sign that points "Owls Roost" on the left. (If you go straight past the sign, you can add a bonus lap by riding past the fishpond and back into the woods for a good climb followed by more fast singletrack.) There are quite a few rooty uphills on this trail and some strategically placed logs that make Owls Roost moderately technical. But the speed of the trail makes for a great ride. About halfway through the trail there is a ten-foot gully. The drop down looks a bit rooty and dangerous, but don't fret, potential energy is on your side. You'll really have to crank it through the down and especially on the up to ride through the root at the top. Believe me, it's no fun going down the gully backwards!) The rest of the ride will take you by the edge of Lake Brandt and into pine tree filled woods. The trail ends at the greenway that connects Country Park on the left with Owls Roost Road to the right.
added by mudhunny 
on December 31, 2002
on December 31, 2002Trail Reviews [Add a review]
sbruner305 on October 13, 2012
0 out of 0 readers found this useful
Review: They should rename this place OWLS ROOTS because it is full of them un believable amount of roots. Also very heavily used trail and since its out and back you better keep your head up or you'll get run over by some of the speed demons on the trail. Great views of the lake though I will be back but not one of my favorites.
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Review: Rode trail in January to testout new mtn bike. Full suspension came in handy with all the roots but overall a great trail to ride. Good combination of uphills and descents.
Review: I'm new to mountain biking and have ridden this trail several times. I think it's a great trail for advanced beginner to intermediate riders. There are some challenges, but it seems to be less difficult than other intermediate rides. Climbs aren't too long and some good fast sections. Take my teenage boys here often. They love it.
* Review edited 7/6/2012
* Review edited 7/6/2012
Review: A lot of roots make this trail a little more difficult than it would be. Not to much climbing but with all the roots you can struggle to keep momentum in some sections. This is all broken up though by some nice fast flowy sections. A nice down and back that may grow on me the more times I ride it.
Similar Trail: Wild Turkey, Reedy Fork
Similar Trail: Wild Turkey, Reedy Fork
Review: Nice balance of flow and technical stuff with a few good elevation changes going both ways. Almost a PNW-like woods atmosphere right now. Lake provides some nice scenery when you have time to look up. MTB-only.
Similar Trail: Wild Turkey, Country Park
Similar Trail: Wild Turkey, Country Park
Review: Fun ride lots of roots. Needs more technical options on the trail.
Review: Lotttttts of roots but fun the faster u go the less bumpy good work out rode both directions almost 9 miles that way
Similar Trail: hobby park but a touch easier
Similar Trail: hobby park but a touch easier
Review: I have ridden this one a couple times but only to the fire road. to get off of it. I am not impressed with it. It is tough, rooty, and does not flow at all like Wild Turkey.
the trail does run alongside the lake and it does provide for some pretty views. I will stick to Wild Turkey and Big Loop at Burr-Mill. I might try it one last time opposite of how I has started it the past two times. Just to see.
Review: I'm not trying to say everyone else is wrong, but for me there was nothing exciting about this trail. not enough elevation change, too much straight, no technicality, just a boring design. I rode it a few times before I made my decision.
Similar Trail: your backyard
Similar Trail: your backyard
Review: AKA Owl's Root. This one was tough on me as a beginner but now we combine it with Wild Turkey to make a great combo ride. Very fast and challenging. Depends on your speed.
* Review edited 1/16/2011
* Review edited 1/16/2011
Review: A bit rooty in one direction (away from Bur-Mill park), but very fun and fast.
Review: I spent a weekend in Greebsboro on October. We rode several of the great trails in the area. Owl's Roost is the most technical. It's long and windy, great climbs, and a guaranteed great workout for anyone that rides it.
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek
Similar Trail: Blankets Creek
Review: I rode this trail recently, only my second off-road trail on my new Trek MTB, and in my first week in years back in the sattle. It was a fun ride, traffic goes both ways which could be a bad thing but still a nice little trail. There are only a couple downhill steeps but that also means very few uphill climbs, good beginner trail.
Review: I rode this trail today and loved it. Im relatively a new rider and the sign says it is for advanced riders but it wasnt too hard for me. A very fast and fun trail! I will defiantely ride this trail again.
Review: This trail is a fun ride. It borders Lake Brandt nearly the whole duration of the trail, which is very nice, and it has several good climbs, is very rooty, and has lots of log pyramids and technical challenge. Not quite as fun as Hobby, but certainly easier on the lungs!
Similar Trail: Hobby Park
Similar Trail: Hobby Park
Review: this trail is awesome if you ride it you will see a lot of wild life there are also plenty of technical challenges along the trail i will defiantly ride it again
Similar Trail: tsali
Similar Trail: tsali
Review: This is, in my opinion, one of the best trails in the triad area. Fast. Flowing. Technical. It might not be the most technical track around, but some parts might be intimidating to beginners, including the 25 foot gully near the middle. Fortunately for beginners though, there are usually a way around the log crossings and pyramids that dot the trail. The whoop-de-doos, short climbs, quick descents, and well kept trail make it a blast to ride. It's close proximity to other trails also means you could spend hours on your bike without ever having to leave the area or even revisit the same scenery. Simply a blast to ride!
Similar Trail: Country Park, Wild Turkey
Similar Trail: Country Park, Wild Turkey
Review: Definitely the best trail in Greensboro, and one of my faves in the Piedmont (though I'm also nostalgic since it's close to the house I grew up in and I've been riding it for about a decade now). Good flow for the most part, with some technical challenges (log piles, etc.) thrown in as well. All this trail needs is a few (legal) northshore styly features!
Similar Trail: Hobby Park is another good trail in the Triad.
Similar Trail: Hobby Park is another good trail in the Triad.
Review: This is the most enjoyable trail I've ridden in Greensboro so far. You can ride it pretty fast and its a decent length. It begins and ends on the same greenway so you can either ride out and back on the trail or take the greenway back if you don't have enough time/energy to ride the full length twice.
I've been riding for a little over a month and didn't find the trail too difficult. The only climbs I ran into trouble on were the ones I didn't see coming because I wasn't paying attention. As long as you keep your momentum up there really isn't a whole lot to hung up on. Also, most of the obstacles have alternate routes around them if you don't feel like testing your skills.
Similar Trail: Country Park (more up and down); Northeast Park (less technical)
Similar Trail: Country Park (more up and down); Northeast Park (less technical)
Review: This trail has a very nice flow to it and can carry a lot of speed whic I like. As for climbing there is really nothing that I would call a climb since I am used to climbing at least a 1000 feet in 3 to 4 miles. But with the lay of the land I feel that the guys in Greensboro have built a nice trail. A lot of the log crossings need to be rebuilt when there a chance to do so. I enjoyed the trail and plan on riding it again soon.
Similar Trail: Angler's Ridge in Danville VA
Similar Trail: Angler's Ridge in Danville VA
Review: I absolutely love this trail. Although I have yet to ride every piece of the trail, I've done the 5-6 mile ride which takes about an hour. It has it's fun downhills, and some decent climbs with roots that can get pretty sketchy. It is much better then Country Park, which is right next door. The logovers add to the thrill, there aren't very many at the beginning of the trail, it's mostly uphill and downhill with some narrow spots and bridges, as well as some whoopdedoos, up the hill and back down, which add for some fun up and down speed, then you hit the 30 foot gravity cavity which is always fun, you can do it over and over again, or you can take the bypass just before it if you aren't ready for it. After that the hills become more scarce, and it's weaving in and out of the trees with log overs every 1000 or so feet. Overall it's a very fun trail to ride. Just watch out when you pull in and drive by the golf course, or you'll get hit by a golf ball, that actually happened to me today. hah.
* Review edited 5/1/2008
Similar Trail: Country Park
* Review edited 5/1/2008
Similar Trail: Country Park
Review: Very pleasant, generally fast and smooth with a few challenging tech sections. Not much climbing or descending, so not much of an aerobic test. The designers showed some imagination in laying this out, and I wonder if the trail could be networked outward to take advantage of a lot of additional acreage. For me, a visitor from VT, this was a great early season ride to sharpen the tech skills.
Review: A great local trail that's right down the greenway from my crib. Well designed with lots of features to play around with although it lacks freeride type features at this time. A nice whoopteedo, a couple well draining smoothed out, flowy downhills (or uphills), tree pyramids (Is that the only technical trail feature the Fat Tire Society can come up with??)
Overall, a nice afterwork workout. I wouldn't recommend it as a destination ride since Salem Lake and Dark Mountain are fairly close and offer much more in terms of trail variety and technical features.
Incidently, there's a secret trail spot in between Lake Brant Apartments and the Guilford Green Subdivision that has a couple of jumps and a nice teeter if you're looking for something different. If you follow the trail that starts with the steep steps off the side of the greenway you'll come across this section. Its a nice little diversion to Owl's Roost from the Battleground Park parking lot.
Similar Trail: Northeast Park, Wild Turkey Trail (new), Country Day Park
Similar Trail: Northeast Park, Wild Turkey Trail (new), Country Day Park
Review: This trail is proably the best in Greensboro, i havent rode all the other so i cant say for sure, its a fun ride, has a few log pyramids but nothing to technical. you can often see deer and other animals along the ride. not as technical as i would like but the trail all in all is in good shape and has a few pretty fun sections
the review below mine sums it up perfect, and i too would be willing to help build some more technical sections ie: log bridges, teeter-totter, some trials riding, etc..
* Review edited 1/14/2008
Similar Trail: New light trails in raleigh
* Review edited 1/14/2008
Similar Trail: New light trails in raleigh
Review: This one just barely punched through into the category 4 rating, for me. It is much fun and allows you to carry speed in technical sections. There is some variety of terrain and scenery.(the pine forest section is a quiet, favorite part of the trails for me) Another feature worth mentioning is the rolling stepped uphill part where you can treat some of the climb almost like a pump track. (if you are up on the pedals and carrying speed) I hesitate to even mention the "big gully" because I was so disappointed with it. That would be a good spot for building an exit option that had a decent lip on it, and putting in a few tasteful but man made stunts/obstacles, just to offer something to those who like that sort of thing. (yes, I am willing to contribute design and labor if the subject is ever discussed) I ride a 6" full suspension/29er rigid/and a fully rigid bianchi trail bike with moustache bars, and have enjoyed this trail with all of them. It is well built, wears well, and definitely encourages that swooshy flowing type of riding that we all love. By the way, I think this trail would be great for a beginner, and would grow with a new rider as he/she developed.
* Review edited 1/13/2008
Similar Trail: It is maybe a bit like Salem lake, but with much less climbing. It also flows a bit better than Salem lake.
* Review edited 1/13/2008
Similar Trail: It is maybe a bit like Salem lake, but with much less climbing. It also flows a bit better than Salem lake.
Review: This is the areas best trail.
The key here is to ride it all, in both directions, to get the full benefit.
I also consider Big Loop & Little Loop, part of Owls Roose, since neither of these are long enough to be their own trails.
When doing Owls Roost, you can park at the bottom near the science barn and hit the trail head there. Or you can park at the top entrance to Bur-Mil at the swimming pool and bomb an excellent downhill on Big Loop to get to the Owls Roost trailhead.
After you complete Owls Roost in one direction, I recommend turning around and going back to opposite direction, but add a twist. Hit the fire roads that split off to the left. They are fun and give you some speed. The whoop=de-dos are also better and more fun in the return direction.
If you have time, throw in Little Loop which is some of the best trail pound for pound, or should I say foot for foot.
* Review edited 12/28/2007
Similar Trail: Over Victorymountain Trail - Wilkesboro
* Review edited 12/28/2007
Similar Trail: Over Victorymountain Trail - Wilkesboro
Review: The more I ride this trail the more I love it. Hands down its my favorite trail in the Greensboro area
* Review edited 9/16/2007
Similar Trail: Fisher Farm Park
* Review edited 9/16/2007
Similar Trail: Fisher Farm Park
Review: For a detailed map of this trail a downloadable PDF is available at the following:
http://www.greensborovelo.com/mt/
Click on the link for Bur Mill. Enjoy!
Review: This first section is 1.2 miles and is actually called "Big Loop". It's not a loop
though. It's a rolling fast section that takes you down to the lake greenway.
It's fast but watch out for hikers. Turn right on the greenway and go about
1/4 mile (past the small pier on left) and then turn left onto the Owl's Roost
trail head. This is 5 miles of sweet single track. It's a little rooty in sections but, has some fast rolling sections, tight turns, a few moderate climbs and several log pile ride overs. Has great views of the lake! The trail ends back on the greenway. Turn right go approx. 1/2 mile back across Owl's Roost Rd and
turn left onto "Little Loop"trail. This is 1 mile of steady up and down singletrack. It's a great add on. You'll come back out of on the greenway, turn left proceed 1/2 mile back to "Big Loop" and finish off your ride for about
9.3 miles total.
Review: This is my home trail and by far my favorite. Love the whoop-de-doos and the big gully. Wouldn't recommend for a beginner but it is certaily doo-able if u've got the guts tomake this ure first ride. This trail is fun from both directions, u can hit a loop of fire-roads that give u major speed and make a loop back to the trail so u can ride it over and over. Highly reccomend this trail for anyone who loves mtb-in i ride a hardtail and dont mind the constant roots, i constanty seem to be standing up though so if u have any back problems i would skip this trail. GREAT TRAIL overall!
Similar Trail: None in the immediate g-boro area.
Similar Trail: None in the immediate g-boro area.
Review: I loved riding Owls Roost and can't wait to do it again. Sorry I missed some turns that would have steered me toward more singletrack(only complaint-no signs)but the track that follows the banks of the lake is just a awesome, clean, challenging track that has lots of roots, log jumps, gullies, and it is just a thrill to ride. Wish I lived closer. I had a hell of a time out there and can't wait to go back.
Similar Trail: Beaver Dam in Raleigh(falls lake)
Similar Trail: Beaver Dam in Raleigh(falls lake)
Review: Really enjoyed this trail. Not much climbing, good technical mix, fun fast sections and lots of roots. A bit hard to follow the first time, but a breeze the second go round. Skipped the gulley on first lap, mistakenly took it on the next - glad I did. FUN!!!
Similar Trail: Rennaissance Park, Governor's Creek.
Similar Trail: Rennaissance Park, Governor's Creek.
Review: Pros: Trail is twisty with some tech parts, there are some fast "swoop" sections, some fun log jam obstacles, best part is the big Gully dropin(see photo on site) - you can drop in and catch air out the other side, you can opt to loop back around and do it as many times as you want(similar to Gravity Cavity @ Poplar Tent), some nice views out on Lake Brandt, we met some of the locals out there and chatted for a bit-really nice folks they were hospitable, helpful with directions, and local MTB happenings.
OK, The Cons- ROOTS! I left my nutz somewhere out there on the trail! Constantly getting pummeled is not my thing. The trail markings and maps don't sync well. Trail markings/blazes are few and far between, trail seems to hold water in spots(it's mostly on the banks of the lake), directions and the map are not a slam-dunk as we had to SWAG our way a few times (not only riding the trails but driving to the trailhead was a challenge), the trail is not a true loop as touted- it's a loop and an out and back. There are a couplespots where the trail dumps you off wondering where you're supposed to go next.
It doesn't appear that there has been maintenance on the trail lately, but there is a race scheduled out there soon so maybe that will improve the situation.
The vERdICt: If you will be in the Greensboro area or are going to be passing through - then check this trail out because it is fun and the locals are friendly. We drove almost three hours round-trip(based on reviews seen on various sites and the "Best Urban Trail Rating" this trail was recently given). Don't make a special trip if you are more than 45-60min drive away.
After seeing this trail rated in the top ten in the country(c'mon get real!), I have to do something to true up the rating, that's my reason for the 1. I'd actually say this trail should be about a 5 overall.
Similar Trail: +Itusi Trail - Lake Norman (Troutman, NC) +Catawba(W. Charlotte; closed til 3/2006 for whitewater park constrction, except for races) +Poplar Tent (Concord, NC) +Francis Beatty (SE. Charlotte, NC) +Fisher Farm (Davidson, NC) + North Mecklenburg Park
Similar Trail: +Itusi Trail - Lake Norman (Troutman, NC) +Catawba(W. Charlotte; closed til 3/2006 for whitewater park constrction, except for races) +Poplar Tent (Concord, NC) +Francis Beatty (SE. Charlotte, NC) +Fisher Farm (Davidson, NC) + North Mecklenburg Park
Review: Overall a great trail. Some technical sections along with some fast singletrack. A few quick downhill sections make this trail a lot of fun to ride. Very well maintained.
Similar Trail: Country Park
Similar Trail: Country Park
Review: Very fun trail. Some rooty technical sections and log crossings combine with some speedy singletrack and short downhill/uphill sections to make for a challenging but viable trail. The gully is a quick rush of speed that seems to have lost its bite, but still s***s you in for a few rollercoaster rides.
Review: I've been riding this trail for seven years and still enjoy it every time. Be aggresive and the trail will come to you. The infamous gully is pretty washed out now. It used to have two or three feet of vert on the exit side, but now your grandma could manual it.
And don't move the logs off the trail, you wussies! If you want smooth and fast, stay on the greenway.
Review: This trail is really sweet with alternate loops to switch it up. The logs are great to polish up on your technicals and add an extra challenge. Its a fairly tough trail but thats what makes it good. Wimps and cry babies need not apply.
Review: I have been riding for a while and i'm only 12 so I don't know what the complaining about all the logs in the trail is because I go right over them. There is a huge gully that everyone stops at to do over and over again. The trail offers excitment for newbies but speed for the pros.
Similar Trail: Tsali without the logs salem lake
Similar Trail: Tsali without the logs salem lake
Review: the trail is not 8 miles, it's 5.2 miles... this is a really awesome trail. the most fun i've ridden yet. it flows really nice, and there's a good combo of climbing and dowhill. the gully isn't that bad. just dont' puss out and try to ease down it. you need all the speed you can get so that you can make it up the other side, so go balls to the wall and just do it. you'll be glad you did.
Review: Very fun trail when is partialy dry-what the hell is this about people going out there and putting shit on the trial
Similar Trail: Tsali,Country Park
Similar Trail: Tsali,Country Park
Review: Nice trail. If you're riding well, best place in Greensboro to get your smooth flow on. Riding poorly, you might get banged around on this trail. Avoid when wet unless you want to get your slop on. For a full afternoon ride, take a left on the greenway at the end of the trail, follow it through the apt. complex, cross the street and follow the sidewalk around to more singletrack in County Park.
Similar Trail: Salem Lake
Similar Trail: Salem Lake
Review: I've been riding Owl's Roost since 1992. Without question, this trail is the best around. What I love is that you must be committed to riding when you get on Owl's Roost, the lenth of the ride requires that you prepare your bike and gear for a long haul. I've watched this trail evolve from a virgin single track / speedy fire-trail loop to the relatively well traveled ride that it is today. Still, there is NO other ride in around that emerses you in the trail like Owl's roost.
Similar Trail: South Mills Tour
Similar Trail: South Mills Tour
Review: I used to live in Greensboro, and this is the best trail in the city (though not the best in the triad area, that distinction belongs to Salem Lake. BTW, whining about a trail being too technical due to logs that FELL THERE during storms and had log bridges built over them to make them more ridable is a little bit pansy, if you ask me. Don't let me catch you moving logs off any trail I ride, learn some skills or take up rollerblading.
Similar Trail: Salem Lake, Hobby Park
Similar Trail: Salem Lake, Hobby Park
Review: Since when did people start putting crap on the trail to make it more technical? This trail used to be awesome because of its speed mixed with moderate technicallity. People are adding log piles to the trail that make it impossible to ride in certain parts. If you ask me I think someone should go to the trail and throw all the logs off the trail.
Similar Trail: Tsali (minus the log piles), Bald Eagle Trail
Similar Trail: Tsali (minus the log piles), Bald Eagle Trail
Review: This trail is by far my favorite trail to ride in the Greensboro area. The trail is not too technical but still contains challenging elements for even the advanced rider.
Similar Trail: Tsali, Country park
Similar Trail: Tsali, Country park
Recommendations
Wild Turkey (100%)Dark Mountain Trail (40%)
Overmountain Victory Trail (Kerr Scott Reservoir) (33%)
Country Park (33%)
Angler's Ridge (27%)
Tags
crowded fast goodflow nc triadNorth Carolina Outdoor Lists
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