Review Date
October 13, 2004

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: shznit65 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This trail is ok but is really getting bad because of the motorized traffic that can not be regulated enough!rutts and mud and overall trashy....really dissapointing

Recommended Route:
behind target

Other recommended trails in the same area:
greenwood park trail kicks this trails butt!!try and never go back to this one!

Review Date
June 17, 2004

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: BruceBrown ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
A nice "along the river" trail that has the options to test you if you choose to go up into the woods at the brickyard. Lots of singletrack up in that area that is not very clearly marked, but just allows you to meander around up and down chutes and gulleys to test your stamina. After you do that, head back down to the river and ride the rest of Sycamore which hangs along the river with some nice sand and banked curves as you wind your way north of the Target Store to Johnstown and back (or start in Johnstown and ride to Target and back).

I would avoid the trail when it is wet or caked with mud (which is often due to the rainfall).

Recommended Route:
Start either at the trailhead at Target on Euclid or at the north end off the highway in Johnstown. At the brickyard area - head up into the woods and singletrack for some fun. Again - a lot of the trail remains not marked so it is easy to find yourself getting lost at times.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Best known secret in Iowa: Lake Ahquabi south of Indianola, Iowa. A multi-use trail that has hikers, mountain bikers and cross country skiers (in winter) that goes around the lake through the woods. A nice course with plenty of up and downs that challenge one to maintain a momentum. A couple of more challenging granny gear climbs - including one up a several hundred yard gravel and log staircase that will burn anyone's lungs.

There are a lot of singletrack trails in the woods before you reach the lake right off of the first picnic area when entering the State Park. Park in the lot by the first picnic area before descending down to the lake. The trails are off to the northeast side o These are the "real" mountain biking trails and are filled with logs, tough climbs and descents, gorgeous wooded views and are the "secret" that very few know about. There are about 3 decent sized loops that all merge at one point or another. Probably the best mountain biking secret in Iowa. I've been biking these trails for nearly a year and hardly ever see another set of tracks - let alone another bike. Not so on the main loop around the lake, but these gems are worth the trip to ride.

Review Date
October 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Less than 1 month

Review Date
March 28, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Review Date
January 20, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week