Review Date
April 2, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: turner_dave ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This is a rolling single track around lakeside trails with a nice flow and depending on the rider ability it is quite challenging. If you are in SoFla with your mtn bike give these trails a pedal.......you won't be disappointed. Remember, in Florida we may not have mountains but what we do have is the next best thing.

Recommended Route:
Park by the Ski Rixen pavilion and head and take the single track warmup to the main trail head 1/4 mile in. Follow the directional signs. Wear a helmet and check at the park office for an access pass (free). Smile and enjoy the ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Markham Park (Sunrise), Oleta River (Miami), Amelia Aerhart (Hialeah)

Review Date
March 26, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by: RaveOn ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
My review only reflects the actual trail as ridden and not all the effort the folks have put in trying to make something out of nothing.

To think how QuietWaters went from a VERY special place for all skill levels to what we have today is sad. I'm amazed (shocked actually) to find people rating this new trail so high because its as hard or technical as riding a bike to your mailbox over loose stones. Out of respect of what the trail use to be like before hurricane Francis & Wilma (and park management) destroyed it in 2005, it would have been better to let the trail remain in our memory then what it is today.

I can't recommend going out of your way to ride QuietWater unless you go to work on trail or test a new bike part you just bought from Jim's Bike Shop - just outside the park (they need your biz). While riding the trail you will SMELL (and hear) road traffic/pollution from Sawgrass Parkway on one side and Florida's Turnpike on the other end. Because there are no trees, you can see the entire trail. You can even see a lovely landfill on the South end. There will not be any shade so you will need to bring plenty of sunscreen...you won't need water because the trail is so short - except for summer.

While the official start of the trail is next to the skate park or ski rixen, skip this beginner unpaved pathway and start at the intermediate gate. From the start of the gate and back to gate it took me only 20 minutes and I wasn't really at race pace. It took me twice as long to drive there! I won't make that mistake ever again. As an example, for those that may be familiar with the "warm up loop" at Markham, this new QuietWaters trail is just as easy (easier) but with mostly loose rocks. It reminds me of (trivia) "Davie's Ride" surface at Oleta with the simplicity of the Markham warm up loop. That isn't completely fair comparison because the Markham warm up loop is actually fun and more technical!

I don't have a bike setup for DJ, but they have a small (tiny) DJ section that looks to be well maintained.

I realize this trail is evolving but my review is of this moment in time. They should have let QuietWaters R.I.P. That what I'll be calling the trail for now on...QWRIP!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Markham and Oleta are south or QWRIP while Pinehurst and Dyers are North or QWRIP.

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Review Date
January 22, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: intense 5.5 evp ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I live in Canada and vacatoned recently in the Derrfield area. Quiet Waters is an excellent cross country sngletrack trail with some small technical sections that one can easily walk if needed. There is a bikeshop on the eastern edge of the park on Powerline (south of Hillsboro)if you need to rent a bike. Best to call in advance. A dual suspension bike is best but a single suspension (front fork only) will do fine. A loop takes 30-60 minutes depending on your skill level. There is an inner loop at the outer end. The route is not that well marked so ask about it when yo get your badge (required to ride)from the office. The park is closed on Tuesdays. During the weekend a car parking fee of $1.50 is required. Trail riding is free.

Review Date
October 20, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: mtb777 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
OK....Phase 3 is open and the trail is now over 5 miles long including the basically flat beginners loop (that's a big ring cardio workout) on tight hard packed red clay singletrack. The latest stuff in Phase 3 being fast and flowy, quick riding with a little tight and twisty stuff thrown in. We will be adding some more berms and low jumps to the Dual Trail which is a parallel twin trail that is similar but different and will break up multiple laps. The terrain is packing in nicely in P3 and all sandy areas are being reinforced with stable soils nicely. Look for 5 or 6 big rock gardens through out P3 and others throughout the trails in the future.In general, there is way more elevation than was ever there before although some of it is more gradual but overall is a better ride. We are NOT allowed to build with wood at this time but are using large rocks so the feel will be very different than the usual South Florida fare. Look for Rock Skinnys and other features like that. Signage is a little sparse right now, but that will improve too with time!! We have just begun to scratch the surface even though the majority of the trail distance is done. We have an Expert Section planned in the future and are looking to add some alternate lines that step up the level!

Come join us every 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month as we continue to rebuild and grow the trails. Visit clubmud.com for info on QW and other trails in the area.

Recommended Route:
Park at the Ski-Rixen Parking lot where the new bike wash is located and hit the front half of the beginners loop (Clockwise) till you look like you'll run into a lake...hang a left on the asphalt path 100 yards and hang a right through the Intermediate trailhead and look for the trail entrance on the left 40 yds. in and follow the trail down the Landbridge section down to the SW 10th St. fence and it will loop around to right across a ridge to the newly rebuilt old wood bridge to ThreeTree Hill and the fast Meadow Section that will lead around to the left of the fence to the Potato Patch which has a few nice climbs and drops in a low section that can be muddy at times. This leads across the access road to a little section that skirts a lake till you switch back and cross the road again and run along the the old Tour-de Fence area that"s fast n' flowy till you hit the corner with a little rock drop and turn west to a tight and twisty, bermy section that leads into the fun Half-Pipe section. That dumps you out at the Pond Drop and the beginning of P3. From there P3 takes you down the TP fence all fast and flowy 3/4 of the way to Hillsboro Blvd. in the outer loop and brings you...

Other recommended trails in the same area:
..along the Lakeside Trail South to the right turn berm into the Dual Trail parallel to the end of the outerloop turn around and back south again to the Return Trail and the end of HP/P3 intersection. the next setion brings you back east along a lake edge ala Alafia style to the next rocky section that turns south and gets some good climbs and drops with speed, a rock skinny., rock causeway, etc. the next couple of sections include some fun stuff till it spits you out at the gate. you can either loop it again there or head out to the Beginners Trail and blow the lungs out again and do the whole thing again. There's a couple of sections that can be added(built)in Phase 1 and 2 easily. and P3 has more real estate to add there as well. Come ride!! The Trees ARE growing but it's pretty wide open but the breezes off the lakes are cool in the afternoon!

Review Date
June 7, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Moose512 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
When I used to live in Deerfield (Pre-Wilma)I would ride Quiet Waters 3-4 times a week. Now I live in Miami and have been wanting to try out the new trail. The crew doing the trail maintenance is doing a great job of making something from nothing. That being said, there is a long road ahead and if I can make it up for a maintenance day I will. What really hurts is the complete lack of vegetation (bring sunscreen). The trail resembles Bootleg Canyon more than it does the old Quiet Waters. The trail is very dry and has a lot of rocks. That being said, the trail is not technical for anyone other than beginners. It is a great trail for new riders. The first section has some tight switchbacks to keep you in check and the back section has a nice section to get some speed and ride the embankment. There is one twenty foot "Difficult section" but for anyone with experience at Oleta or Markham it is just a small bump. I recommend the trail for anyone in North Broward and South Palm Beach. Anyone south of that should stick with Oleta and Markham for now. Looking forward to the future when some extra distance and terrain is added to the trail.