Review Date
February 5, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Alex Neville ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Pretty good trail, but like previously stated, short. Very narrow single track, with lots of trees and roots to dodge. Starting to need some maintenence because of recent storms. Stays pretty dry, but give it a couple days after it rains to maintain trail integrity.

Recommended Route:
Start out at the marked trailhead, keep on the trail until you get to the top where you run into paved road in a pavillion area. Ride down the road west towards the Arkansas River. At the last pavillion, which overlooks the river turn left for a downhill portion that returns quickly to the parking lot or turn right for a steep downhill that if you follow to the right circles around the whole park with a lot of drops and steep downhills and uphills with a couple of bridges thrown in.

Review Date
August 24, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: bluebomberx ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I first started riding the ridge trail back in 2000 with the group rides from Conway Bicycle Shop. We would ride from the shop to the gravel hill that leads up to the water tank on top of the ridge. From there, the trail runs across the top of the ridge all the way to the entrance of Cadron Settlement Park. The storms during the fourth week of August have taken down a few small tree limbs and the top of a large oak tree that is crossing the tail. You will have to carry your bike around it until the tree gets removed. Along the trail are several logs spanning the singletrack. that add some challenge to the experience. Some can simply be crossed by raising the front end, and others require a good bunny hop to cross. Jump them all if you are carrying the momentum to do so! When you notice the terrain sloping downhill, you are about to take the home stretch into the park. Try not to scrub off too much speed in the turns so you can use your momentum to carry you up the next hill and the switchbacks and ultimately back to the road.

Once you make it back to the park, ride towards the other end of the lower parking lot until you see the entrance to the loop around the park. This loop begins with chip-seal gravel and turns into hardpack with some loose soil on it in spots. From the park, the trail will go through several switchbacks while climbing the hill. You will crest the hill at the parking lot for the overlook. Look towards the river and find the trail near the fence. It will be down hill. A short jaunt down the hill will yield a fork in the trail - take a right. The left is a dead end (so I'm told - explore if you wish). There are small foot bridges in three spots if I remember correctly. They leave no room for error, so pick your lines before you get to them or you will faceplant. It is essential to keep all of your speed on these sections so you can crest the next hill with ease. Most of the downhills are steep on this trail and it is really fast. When this short run is over with, you will reappear in the lower parking lot.

If you do take a spill, check yourself for sea ticks ASAP. I took two spills on the loop around the park last night and I was covered with them. Pack out what you pack in. The Cadron Settlement loop will always be there as it is a public park - the ridge depends on all of us to keep it clean to ensure future use.

Recommended Route:
If you live in Conway, it can be fun to ride to the water tower and start from there. If you arrive by car, the only place you can park is at Cadron Settlement. We usually take the ridge trail from the park end and ride to the water tower and back a couple times. Last night was the first time I took the loop around the park and I plan on riding it a couple passes too.

The trails are as difficult as you want to make them. It is a good place to build up. It's not horribly technical unless you are a novice rider. Either way, it's still a blast and the only offroad riding available to the public in Conway.

I should also talk about the references to the promiscuous activities that have been witnessed. A few months ago, the Faulkner County Sherrif's Dept has run a series of stings at the park and so far it has cleaned the place up. Doesn't mean it won't happen again, but I haven't seen any thrill-seekers other than mountain bikers since then.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Alsopp Park

Review Date
October 17, 2005

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: yosso ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Short, but sweet. The main loop has a couple of tricky switchbacks, but nothing too bad. There is an outer loop that goes around the park - it doesn't seem to be maintained as well is the inner loop, but looks to be somewhat interesting.

One tip, watch out for bare butts. (Park is a meeting place for the local non-heteros).

Recommended Route:
I start at the lower parking lot and go clockwise, but going counter-clockwise is also interesting.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
None.

Review Date
October 12, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Review Date
June 25, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

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