Review Date
December 5, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: dhouston ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Nice, scenic track. Often competing with equestrian folks. Not to technical or aerobic with exception of middle stretch that is very taxing. Otherwise very moderate uphills, some fun downhills and great views along the way.

Recommended Route:
Counter-clockwise

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Foresthill Divide, Stagecoach (Clementine Loop)

Review Date
November 28, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: mjcort27 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
It a good beginner/int trail with good steep climbs, fast descents, little technical( specially when wet), and some rolling single and doubletracks. We rode this trail last Saturday Nov 26, 2005 ans was glad to have a very excellent workout. Its a 9- mile loop which is shared by equestrians, runners, hikers, and us. Two days prior to our ride it had rained in the area so the trail was wet. Still it presented a fun ride for beginner to intermediate bikers.
However watch for horse poop all over... at times when your so fast and the trail is wet, man the horse poop will be on your face! Its hard to avoid.

Recommended Route:
We did it counter-clockwise.From the trail head it will go parallel to Highway 49 then immediate left on a fireroad uphill,then downhill turn right at the sign. There were a few critical turns but most of them are marked if not just follow the knobby tire marks. At the Knickerbocker creek a steep climb is ahead with some large gaps from erosion, it was very slippery when we got there almost unrideable. A lot of sharp rocks on some downhill my rear tire busted from one of them... after a tube change I was good to go until I got home and noticed that my 3 month old panaracer fire XC pro rear tire was sliced about an inch like razor blade.Luck me after that no more incidents because I have no more tubes left.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
lake clemintine loop, Foresthill, Salmon Falls, Sly Park loop, Latrobe trail loop

Review Date
June 12, 2005

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Walshman ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I had heard of Olmstead as a good beginner's trail so I decided to check it out with a friend Sunday 6/12/05. The trail is a multi-use (horses, bikes and runners) 9 mile loop in the town of Cool, next to Auburn, CA. Did the trail counter-clock wise - not much technical stuff, a big climb in the back of the trail (either way clockwise or counter). Some nice fireroad and scenery. Definitley a beginner's trail, takes about half an hour is you know the route I guess. You have to be careful about horses and horse poop. We announced ourselves to the horse riders but the horses STILL got spooked and we got yelled at. Instead of getting mad, we apologized - this is courtesy, ALWAYS respect other people on the trail - don't hurt the image of mountain biking...

Recommended Route:
Counter-clockwise is probably the best, a climb in the back of trail about 3 miles in, watch out for the decent into Knickerbocker Creek and the horse poop everywhere.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Salmon Falls Trail - At Salmon Falls Bridge, 10 miles south of Cool on Salmon Falls Road. (Intermediate, 20 mile ride)

Review Date
October 23, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Review Date
December 22, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Please Select