Review Date
June 17, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Moose512 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Spent Fathers Day weekend in Ft. Myers and took the opportunity to ride this trail. Went out very early in the morning and there was a good amount of rain the night before. The local club has done a great job creating this trail. There was no standing water after the heavy rains but the trail was extremely slippery to ride. That being said, I was riding Hutchinson Python tires that are not good mud tires but even a good mud tire would have had it's challenges. It's not a deep mud like we have here in Dade and Broward counties but a slippery, clay-like top surface. Made it difficult to maintain speed/traction but in the dry I can see that this trail would be really fast. I felt like I was riding on ice in some places.

There are no technical obstacles on the trail but it is a great lung burner and the new "Far East" section has some great drops and short burst climbs that will get anyones heartbeat going. I would recomend the local club revisit some of the hills in the new section and explore drainage options to insure everything makes it through the rainy season. Some erosion is beginning to start. Only other thing I can say is that the trail and park has a lot of wildlife and none of the previous reviews mention the wild pigs that I encountered a few times during my ride. For any MTBR that finds themself in Ft. Myers, take a break from the beach and check out this trail (when it's dry).

Other recommended trails in the same area:
None in Ft. Myers but if you make it to the East Coast of Florida..Oleta and Markham Park.

Review Date
April 23, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: wemtb ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Nice cruising trail and well mantained by the local MTB club, the Florida Mud Cutters www.mudcutters.org . They just added some new trail called the Far East and are adding even more to it. I don't know how they found this terrain but this new section has some big ups/downs similar to some stuff at Lakeland or Alafia, albeit on a smaller scale. Adds a bit of technical to an otherwise fast single track course.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
North Port - ATV's/motorcycles have been banned so hopefully the trails will come back East of Lady Slipper. Trail still good west of Lady slipper and across Price Blvd.

Review Date
December 17, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: bill rettew ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
If you like straight lines and getting the fastest way from Point A to Point B, stay away from this one. Dozens of wonderful swithchbacks with no two turns exactly the same make for an enjoyable ride.

Tons of Sable palms (the Florida State tree)cover much of the Lee County park. The wide open grassy spaces made me wonder if someone might tap me on the shoulder and ask, "Mind if we play through?"

The trail can be ridden in two loops--both with entrances on the north side of 78---one to the far west for a six mile loop and the other starting at the campground to the east for a 4.5 mile trip.

The longer loop is 75 percent open grasslands and on a cloudless summer day don't forget the sunscreen. Several nice drop-offs and climbs make the six-miler much fun.

Eighty percent of the smaller loop to the east is under cover in a thick semi-tropical rainforest-like setting. This route is flatter with some rocks and three curvy bridges.

The trail was perfectly maintained in mid-December, not like earlier reports found at this site of sand or poor trail conditions. Fun, fun, fun!

On two trips, almost ran over a beautiful Milk snake, noted three Gopher turtles in the path, a hawk and several vultures (the Florida State bird??).

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Estero Bay State Buffer Preserve, Collier Seminole State Park

Review Date
February 2, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: JimmyJaymz ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I found CRP to be a good are to get your legs, and sort out your bike. This area will not put a cold chill down your spine; it will allow you to focus on quick transitional changes and keeping the power on full steam. I rode it twice, and I recommend this just to learn to push yourself to improve the chops you've got.
This is offically my first trail ridden in FL. I hear things about Tampa and over in Fort Lauderdale that seem to be more top caliber. But I would not overlook this area. The constant turns and short sprints to the next corner were good for cardio.

Recommended Route:
I hear that it changes direction every month. I'd say just find a cadence and do it. My second and last lap was pretty much all in the same gear. Downshifted for some twisties, but I wheelie.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I'm a Nutmegger. CT has lots of sessionable terrain! Get 'yer pull!!!
Best would have to be MDC 6/Penwood State Forest. This 50 mile of trails covers West Hartford/Farmington/Bloomfield/Simsbury. Lots of scenery and long climbs. CT could easily be a vialbe alternative for vactioning Colorado destination, but it's Connecticut. Where Massachusetts and New Hampshire meet is a good summer spot, Magic Mountain. Yes you can downhill the whole thing. Also has carved out trails under the ski lifts.

Review Date
January 22, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: waltj ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This trail is a great place to experience mountain biking, maintained in excellent condition by the Florida Mud Cutters. Park entrance fee is cheap and as near as I could tell, a voluntary bucket. Within the first mile are several “tester” hills to get your blood pumping. Many technical drops and rises into shaded woods followed by stretches of what seems like a pleasant ride through a cow pasture. On some of the more difficult climbs there is carpeting laid alongside to assist those who need to walk it and to maintain the trail. On several of the sections the trail would split and return allowing a choice of difficulty level for our group to ride together. At the halfway point is a picnic table with a trail bailout, allowing shorter (about 5 miles) or longer loops (about 11 miles). Local riders were friendly with helpful tips. Worth the trip!

Recommended Route:
In the Ft. Myers area:Take I-75 north to Exit 26, State Road 78. Take State Road 78 east approximately 7 miles. The main entrance will be on the right, and the north side entrance will be on the left. Mountain bike area is on the north side.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Oleta Miami