Review Date
May 17, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: indygreg ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Drove out from NE side of Indy today to ride. Not sure it was worth it. Well, at $4 a gallon, and $4.50 to get in I know it was not.

It is scenic in areas, that is for sure. It is a nice setting, not very crowded, etc. The trail is just okay IMHO. Lots of climbing, which I liked and which is hard to find in central IN. However, I just felt like you were never paid back for it . . . not a lot of areas to use gravity as your friend. So much of the trail has about 4' of visibility so it would take many passes to gain much confidence at all. You have no idea of what is next.

The open (non forest) areas are terrible. Like a 1" rut surrounded by grass. If it is mildly wet that spells trouble.

Bottom line: It is a good workout ride. It teaches climbing and it has a ton of tight turns. If this is what you like, it is good for you. If you like some speed, this trail is not for you. Now I am fairly tentative and others (especially when all the trail is fully dry) would clearly be faster than I went, but this is a very slow trail compared to 96th in Indy.

It is long, which is nice. The bad side is there are few places to stop if you want to rest for a moment and there is no way for lesser riders to take a short route, which is not ideal to attract riders.

Review Date
February 22, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: woodencigars ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Westwood Park....
The trail is now ten miles long completely circling the 180 acre lake. The trail was completed in 2006 and features several bridges across fingers of the lake. The path is one way going counter-clockwise around the lake. Several log jumps are in the trail that offer a good challenge to those who are advanced in their riding skills. The single track path offers a wide variety of hills and valleys with plenty of tight high growth areas in the summer. However, some great views of the lake are also supplied along the path. The area is full of wild life including deer, coyotes, cranes, herrons and beavers. The trail is intermediate to advanced riding. Many of the obstacles can be walked over by beginners. One loop around the lake is usually an hour to an hour and a half. All in all a great ride. $2.00 per bike and $2.50 to enter the park.

Recommended Route:
The start of the trail is south of the Trailhead parking lot. The trail ends at the Trailhead parking lot. From the parking lot ride about 200 yards south and look to the left for a mile marker 0 sign. Every mile has a mile marker on the right of the path as you ride counter-clockwise around the lake.

Review Date
August 23, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: twistyrider ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I just rode this trail this past Monday. For a trail that is only a few years old, it's riding in very nice. This trail doesn't have any hard technical stuff but this fast flowing trail will still keep your attention. Lot's of bridges and the the hills are a plenty. The people who built this did an excellent job of making use of the terrain. It flows very very well. The scenery alone is worth an hour's drive.

I would like to see some off shoot trails with large rocks, drops and trees to ride over. Overall ane excellent trail.

Review Date
June 12, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: Loretta ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
As a quick update on WW. As we sit here in June of 2006, Westwood Park is a complete 10 mile loop around the lake. The trail is getting faster and faster every day and we are always on the lookout for potential problem areas.

The area across the Big Dig (approx. 100 yards long and about 5 miles in from trailhead) is under contruction. This area is having drain tile installed with crushed stone over top to get you across this perenially muddy area. Please be patient with us on this area as it is difficult to get the heavy machinery back to this area after it has rained. Once finished it will be a 36 inch wide crushed stone path across the Big Dig. For now, the Big Dig section is pretty much a 100 yard hike-a-bike, if muddy.

The trail, in general, is in great shape and getting greater. We have re-routed trouble areas in the last mile as well as constructed a rock garden on the northeast section of the trail network. We plan to extend the rock garden to more than double it's current length.

For the particulars and up to date info on WW, please go to the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association ( www.hmba.org). This is the group responsible for building and maintaining Westwood (as well as several other trails in the state). The HMBA has put in thousands of labor hours at WW over the past three years.

Length of trail= 9.8 miles

Trail type= 95% singletrack. Full loop around lake

Trail travel= Counter-clockwise. From the parking lot head toward the lake and follow the trail across the dam. Finish the loop at the parking lot.

Total climbing per loop= 740 feet according to my Polar. This is a little deceiving because you never hit any major climb. It is a series of small hills where momentum is the name of the game. Rarely, if ever, will you use your granny gear but your big ring won't get a lot of use either.

Number of bridges= 17 and counting. Ranging from 4 feet to 108 feet in length.

Expert lap times= 40 to 50 minutes
Sport lap times= 50 to 60 minutes
Beginner lap times 60 to 80 minutes

Map to Westwood= http://www.hmba.org/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=6&g2_itemId=5059

Map of the loop= http://www.hmba.org/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=6&g2_itemId=5056

BIG THANKS TO THE MTB RACE TEAMS (BIKE LINE RACING HANCOCK REGIONAL RACING) THAT HAVE COME OUT AND HELPED BUILD TRAILS.

Recommended Route:
Travel counter clockwise. So, starting in the parking lot travel down the blacktop road toward the lake for about 100 feet. The trail begins on your right. Follow the trail around the lake and finish at the parking lot.

Shelters, changing stations, drinking fountains, picnic tables, soda machines, bathrooms, etc. are available right at or near the trail head.

Watch out for horses.

NIGHT RIDING IS ALLOWED AT WESTWOOD!! BRING YOUR LIGHTS!!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Brown County State Park- Nashville, IN
Nebo Ridge- Story, IN
Town Run Trail Park- Indianapolis, IN
Rangeline Preserve- Anderson, IN

Review Date
April 20, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: holzhaus ,  Racer

Summary:
Wow, the loop around the lake is finally complete. It is awesome! The trail designers and builders (I had a small part) have done fantastic work here. The layout highlights the property so well, with many great lake views, nice ravines, bridges, bench cuts, etc...
It will get even better with use and with a few small improvements and fine-tuning by hard-working HMBA members.
I don't recommend a true novice trying to make the whole loop, but an out-and-back would be fun (go south first, toward the dam). For intermediate and advanced riders, it's tough to beat this trail if you are within an hour or two. And it would be a nice stop if you are just passing through from another part of the country / region.
I think it will be a very popular stop on the DINO race schedule.

Recommended Route:
I like it counter clockwise. After parking, head down the road toward the lake / boat ramp... but stay right at the top of the hill, toward a metal gate. The trail starts to the right of this gate. After that, just follow the route for a fantastic 10 mile ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Brown County
North Vernon
Doin'it Outdoors