Review Date
October 31, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Wildmanatheart35 ,  Downhiller

Summary:
I have been in SA for 2 months and have rode thes trails about 6 times. First and foremost they are well maintained on the lower loop(Which is 17.5 miles according to my computer) in the lower part you have to watch out for the cattle, the sheep will quickly get out of your way there are some very good downhill sections here, I even left the locals on the pipeline decent,and the evil worm. It was alot of fun and if your are serious about mountain biking you have to ride this trail, it has almost everything you could want in a trail. the owners and the locals who keep up these trails have done one Hell Of A Job on them. The upper in which i rode on a day when i rode them both. Is as it was put to me very gritty and rock trail favorite parts are in the middle to the end, the first 5 miles are hell on earth for riders and bikes alike. But it was 10.5 miles long

Recommended Route:
Ride all of the lower loop it is most of the time very flowing and fast

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Tapatio springs

Review Date
May 28, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: FireantDelux ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The trail system is actually around 25 miles. The Upper loop is 9 miles and the Lower loop is 15. There is an area called "No Sweat" but I am not familiar with it.

Enter through the main gate on Flat Rock Creek Road. Close gate - they have cattle. proceed up to next gate but do not enter with vehicle.
Park across the road from gate. Enter through gate by foot. There is a shed with releases on an envelope - envelope for $6 ride fee.

You can either take your bike through this gate or go up the road for about a block and enter. Through the gate is the Lower Loop and Rigi Loop (did not ride this one). You can go up the road a bit for the Upper Loop. (did not ride)

If you ride the Lower Loop you will pass through a goat feeding area and begin a modest ascent to the north. The singe track is very tight. There is a lot of limestone. The climbs are challenging - unless you are an accomplished and highly conditioned MB'er you'll do your share of pushing.

Technical areas represent about 10% of the trail - but it seems like more. The climbs are very tough, especially on hot days (the day I rode the temp was 94)

If you do not go to the red house you'll be forced to commit the map to memory. Better to trace the map off the topo on their website.

Take note of the bail outs - there is little shade and the 15 miles is all of it!

Pluses:

vast...vast...vast...you can ride for days and not see another rider

beautiful scenery

some fun downhills

a great workout

trails are marked well

Minuses:

only about 10% of the trail has any shade

Can be murderously hot in spring and summer

the turns are speckled with loose limestone - make sure your back brakes
are tuned-up before you ride as descents are surpisingly steep


TAKE WATER and a camera!!!

Good luck
fireant

Recommended Route:
Only rode Lower route (15 miles)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
none

Review Date
March 5, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: jpharvey ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I was visiting San Antonio for the week and the guys at Performance Bikes recommended this ride. I had ridden Govt Canyon the day before which was very rocky and hard to keep a decent cadence. I found Flat Rock Ranch to be a much more enjoyable ride and well worth the additional drive time. I'll definitely be bcak soon.

Note: I'd give this trail a 5 if there was less cow pies and it was closer to the city, both of which are manageable and hardly a reason not to enjoy this gem of a trail.

Recommended Route:
I rode the upper loop, and despite the reviews, the climbs are not that severe.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Government Canyon, OP Schnaebel Park

Review Date
June 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: boisebomber ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
uppper pasture 9 miles. there is an opporutnty to shorten it substantially by turnin at 'ladies course' turn off after 'park hill'.

tuff, long climbs. switchbacks, drops, long run outs. technical. great ride. fun and challenging. intermedaite to advanced.

I haven't ridden lower pasture which is 15 miles(according to the owner) .

$6.00 to ride. $4.00 more to camp. nice campground along flat rock creeek , which runs cool and clear.

great trail system, well maintained, well signed.
certainly one of the best trails in texas.

Review Date
February 27, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: HaroStuart ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
very grueling 15 miles. Shady areas every 1.5 miles or so. Best downhills i've ridden in Texas so far. Very challenging climbs and some challenging steps-both up and down. Start early, it gets warm very quickly!

Recommended Route:
The "red" route or advanced route (whatever it's called) fifteen miles with an average speed of 7.5 mph.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
O.P. Schnabel Park in San Antonio (Bandera Road two miles inside loop 1604)