Review Date
May 16, 2012

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: FishMan473 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I have been curious about these trails for a while, and I was in the area this weekend with my bike so I gave them a try. The bulk of the trails in the woods are pretty fun to ride. Unfortunately they were also pretty busy with hikers on the sunny summer Sunday afternoon I was there. There are only about 3 miles of what most people would consider mountain bike trails. Te Prairie Trail isn't really a mountain bike trail just a mowed path, and frankly that's not really a prairie either.

Recommended Route:
From the Trail head (o

Other recommended trails in the same area:
There's nothing nearby. Comlara Park is a little over an hour further south. If you're a local or here visiting the parks, then I think Matthiessen is worth hitting up for a couple of laps.

Review Date
November 30, 2010

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: rivermac ,  Racer

Summary:
Sorry to report that this area is not worth a drive from any distance. It is small and VERY CROWDED. The park is frequented by families and fishermen who use these same trails to get down to the river. What's even worse are the many horse groups that are on both the singletrack trails and the meadow trails. It is a constant stop, get off the bike, wait for equestrians or hikers to pass, get back on, go fifty feet and repeat the process. Last time I was there I got yelled at because it has rained the day before, yet the trails were marked open, and I didn't think it was wet. I hardly left any tire marks - yet this local dude had the nerve to tell me I shouldn't have been on one of the trails that his club just built. Trails are similar to the ones at Farmdale, but there are many more miles to ride at Farmdale, and far less hassle with other trail users. With all this baggage, I didn't bother going back for their race. Heard it was a bust, too.

Review Date
July 15, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Duce97 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Single track , some nice technical features. A double wide begineers path. Ivca has done a great job brining these trails to life and cleaning them up. Cambr has the newest map on thier site http://cambr.org/SMF/index.php?topic=2228.0

Recommended Route:
Lake loop to ridge trail

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I&M Canal

Comments

rivermac (11/30/2010)

Not the greatest trails, and usually loaded with hikers with dogs on and off leash, and horses. I like Palos or Farmdale near Washington, IL much better.

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Review Date
October 22, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: SINGLETRACK ERIC ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Nice place to go and pound out a few miles
and get a workout some nice sceenery and various wildlife.I ride this trail about once a month.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I&M CANEL

Review Date
October 2, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Ridden Trail:
More than 3 years

Reviewed by: brian ,  Racer

Summary:
This trail was started by a locale club,
shortly after getting the ok to go ahead
we lost 90% of our memborship. It's been
a slow road since. Horse rider's have stolen sign's, and with 2 or 3 people it
has been hard to keep up. I will placing
more sign's this fall to better mark the trail. this loop is the only open trail
ANYWHERE in Matt. state park. The trail is perfect for intervel workouts, also
have seen a pair of hawks, vols, vultures, maybe a mink, blue bird's, and lot's of deer. The loop is fun for anyone, moderatly challanging for some, easy for others.
Happy Trail's
brian