Trail Flow is a roundup of all the mountain bike trail related news of the week including new trail builds, advocacy, and planning. Do you have trail news? Email [email protected] for possible inclusion.
East Branch trails expand in Keane, New York
The Barkeater Trails Alliance recently celebrated the completion of phase one of the East Branch Trail system. According to the group, “the easiest trails are closest to the trailhead and offer a loop just over a mile long with mellow grades and wider tread widths. A singletrack-style trail brings trail users higher up on the property, winding through open hardwood forests and passing rocky outcrops. For walkers, this is a relatively easy and scenic hike to a worthy destination. For mountain bikers, this will serve as a climbing trail to access bike specific trails planned for later phases.” The project is a collaboration with the Town of Keene, the Keene Youth Commission, Barkeater Trails Alliance and Peduzzi Trails Contracting.
New Mt. Sabattis Mountain Bike/Shared-Use Trail system trail honor Rolling Stones
The Town of Long Lake New York opened phase two of a mountain bike and multi-use trail system, adding two kilometers of trail to an existing two kilometers. The new trails include a climbing trail from the Mt. Sabattis Recreation Area and another expert rated trail opened up too. The trails honor the Rolling Stones with names like Start it Up and Paint it Black.
Paint it Black starts as an intermediate trail but gets more technical with drops, tabletops, and jumps. The trail is a one-of-a-kind for this part of the Adirondacks, according to the Adirondack Almanack.
Trails open in Mohican-Memorial State Forest, Ohio
Eight miles of trail in the Mohican-Memorial State Forest opened up after a bit of a delay, according to the Ashland Source. The trails bring the park total to about 30 miles. The last time the park opened new trails was in 2004.
Florida trail volunteers whipping trails back into shape
Trail volunteers have begun working on Florida area trails following Hurricane Ian, clearing the way for those who are eager to get back on the dirt. Some of the parks were closed after the hurricane swept through, but advocates said they were near ready to assess damage on open spaces.
“Boyette has a workday scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8:00am,” SWAMP MTB told its membership on September 30. “Meet at the pavilion. Bring blowers, chainsaws (only if you know how to use one), and rakes.”
A representative from SWAMP said the trails would remain closed until clean up was completed. Much of the work appeared to center around clearing fallen trees and fixing trailhead amenities such as porta potties. SWAMP reportedly cleared 17 fallen trees at the Morris Bridge Biking Area and there were more still. The club reported the Starkey MTB trails being in great condition after the hurricane.
The Ocala MTB Association said the trails at Santos would reopen on September 30 but to beware of debris and blockage.
Singletrack Rotary Lake trail coming to Great Bend, Kansas
Local cyclists are working to create a roughly 2-mile trail circling Rotary Lake in Great Bend, Kansas. The trail will be designed for riders of all levels and abilities, and will also be open to hiking.
Some Sauk River trails now open for riding, others coming online very soon
According to WJON in Sartell, Minnesota, most of the new trails at Sauk River Regional Park are open, and the rest should be ready soon. The station reports city engineer April Ryan says, “The north side of the trails are done, and the south side of the trails is almost wrapped up. There is a skills development course up by the parking lot they are working on. So in the next couple of weeks they should be fully complete and ready for use.”
