Review Date
December 29, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: grant4406@yahoo.com ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I rode this trail for the first time this morning. This Trail is right off south college in Auburn, Across from the little texas volunteer fire department. This is wear the actual trail head is. It ends at the ranger station in the Tuskeege National forest so you can start at either end but I recommend starting on the South College end. This is a fun challenging trial. However it is not very well kept up. I had to get off of my bike 3 times because of huge trees down across the trail, and there are a few sandy sections(but to me that just makes it more interesting). I have read a lot of people complaining about roots but really it is not that bad I mean come on guys we are mountain bikers riding though the woods what to you expect if you want smooth stick to the road. It is rooty, but it is no worse than any other trail that I have ridden. It has got a few bridges that jump out at you from no where( and they can be a little slick after a rain or heavy dew. It also has some big jumps right at the beginning(if you start on south college that are a lot of fun but look like they could use some work. Over all I really enjoyed the trail and when you get to the end of it you can cross of HWY 80 and keep riding on the Pleasant Hill trail if you are trying to get some distance.

Recommended Route:
It is just an out and back but I recommend going all the way to the end of Pleasant Hill too which makes for one long out and back that is close to 20 miles and is about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour trip

Other recommended trails in the same area:
check out flat rock in columbus

Review Date
December 10, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: 646-ATL ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I haven't ridden here since I graduated from Auburn ('04,) but I cut my trail riding teeth in this forest and the only complaints I ever had were the slick bridges after a good rain or even early in the morning after a good dew. A few sand spots don't seem worth complaining about and I never remember roots being bad enough to warrant talking about them. Sometimes the thick layer of pine straw could cause a little wheel spin on some of the uphills, but overall its an easy ride and when you consider round-trip could offer approx 16 miles its a jewel for the area.

Recommended Route:
any part of the trail itself or you can always ride the dirt roads for some easy cruising

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Chewacla is more convenient, but offers many more roots (esp on the hills; lots of bike carrying)and nothing very interesting

Review Date
September 9, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Mercury+Fly ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I agree this is a fun trail, but it could be a lot better. When I rode it, there was a lot of overgrown vegetation, especially in the first couple of miles. The roots made for some fun drops and steps depending on which way you were going, but watch out for fallen trees when you're coming back and don't see them until you're in the air and landing right before them. At the Bartram trail sign at the east end of the trail if you go out the other side of the parking lot there is a series of several gap jumps that are fairly big. Doesn't look like that trail connects to anything at the bottom though.

Recommended Route:
Paper at the ranger station says the trail to the west of the ranger station is hiking only. I went 4 miles out and 4 miles back on the half of the trail going east from the ranger station.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Swayback bridge trail

Review Date
March 25, 2007

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: bikenblaze ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I'm not quite sure why everyone is complaining about "lots of sand and roots" because it's not that bad at all. A very easy trail which consists of mostly wide open paths covered by pine straw and occasional roots. Hardly any rocks. When you go down the dirt road to switch over to the next part of the trail, don't forget to sneak off to the side and ride on the ramp course. This is fairly easy for any one who is mildly athletic and can ride a bike. The sand only shows up in maybe two parts, just slow down and coast through and you'll be fine. Especially take caution on the sandy part before the bridge because if you do happen to lose control, you'll actually fall down a drop instead of bailing out into some pine straw. The only true "techincal" parts are two series of downhill root ledges caused by erosion-- no big deal. If you live in Auburn or Montgomery, check it out.

Recommended Route:
You can only go one way. You start on Bartram for maybe a quarter of a mile then switch over to some other trail.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Chewacla is the nearest but I've heard it isn't great. Try swayback bridge trail in Wetumpka, al

Review Date
June 20, 2004

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: AUJWE ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I want to clarify some things about where this trail is since it is not in, or near, Loachapoka, AL, like the MTBReview staff seems to think. Heading north on I-85 from Montgomery get off on the Wire Road Exit, exit 42, and head East(Right). For begineers the best thing to do is go to the ranger station and look at the map to familarize yourself with the trail. Go over the bridge and take your second left, by the big Tuskegee N.F. sign. There's the ranger station, usually closed, and a good map outside. As of 6/04, part of the Bartram Trail is closed to bikes and ATVs but is still open to hiking. The sign says because of the preservation/conservation of natural resources. WTF? I guess bikes are hard on the land and them cutting timber in the forest isn't. Anyway, he section closed should be noted on the map at the station. The entire trail, including the closed part, is 8.6 miles one way. I would also suggest, like someone else did, that you exercise extreme caution during deer season. People are allowed to hunt in there pretty much anywhere they want and are likely to shoot at anything. Especially a biker that has "ruined" their hunt. THe rules say that they aren't allowed to hunt within a certain distance of the trail but nobody is enforcing that. Trust me. Plus it really doesn't matter how far away they are from the trail when they have a gun. Good luck and have fun on the roots.