Review Date
October 15, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: ss85 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Not what you expect. Very tight singletrack with a sandstone base, small, steep hills, and rock outcroppings in the middle of a mixedgrass prairie environment make for a unique ride. Trail alternates between flowy, technical, and sandy. Lots of doubling back and climbing...even sections of riding on sandstone outcroppings above the water!

Designed for mountain bikers by mountain bikers. Worth the stop along I-70 and even worth a special trip.

Recommended Route:
clockwise: yellow (sand, then grassy hills, then outcrops, and back to hills), purple (grassy hills, rock, ledges, rock, rock), red (rock, grassy hills), and back to yellow.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Coming from KC, I can recommend Lake Perry (woods, roots, dirt, fun), Clinton (1/3 rock, 1/3 clay, 1/3 mud, white trail is grueling), swope park (90% easy, 10% wear a helmet), etc etc.

Review Date
September 21, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: CRogge ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Oh man! Real trails in the middle of Kansas! I've been riding the Eastern Kansas trails for over 12 years and I never knew until earlier this summer that there were trails this good in this part of Kansas. My wife and I camped at Wilson Lake earlier this summer as a convenient stop at the start of a 5000 mile, 11 day road trip. Leaving in the morning, I saw a few places where a trail crossed the road. I thought, "hey, there are trails out here!" I came back to the lake this last weekend to camp and ride the trail and I was blown away!
The trail is fast and flowy and then suddenly there's one of several sandstone outcroppings that you have to really work the bike up and over or carefully drop off of. I was really suprised at the level of technical difficulty of some of the features. The portion of the trail that encircles an old radio tower hill was really fun with lots of exposed sandstone. This was really fantastic riding and will add a nice change of scenery to the usual forest and limestone trails of the East.
Two warnings:
1, If you are used to riding in the shaded woods of the usual Kansas or Missouri trails, BRING SUNSCREEN. You will be out in the sun almost the entire time.
2, The burrs out there were numerous, although I think they were soft enough not to puncture tires. I was running Stan's, so I didn't experience them if they did. They are bad enough that you wouldn't want to go barefoot in any part of the park while camping.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Clinton, Landahl, Perry, LRT, BuRP,

Review Date
June 22, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Joellivin ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Wow, this trail is awsome! They must have expanded it even more because now it is a 20 mile ride! I didnt respect this trail enough and am totally exhausted. It's not super technical just really fun swooping downhill then gut busting uphill. This is my kind of trail, the downhill sections allow you to carry quite a bit of speed.

Recommended Route:
The trail is very well marked, dont forget to bring $4.50 for the self pay station at the state park.

Review Date
April 14, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: bcendo321 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
A gem of a trail indeed. Up, down, all around, tight singletrack that can be hammered or meandered. Reminded me of a mini-Fruita with its hills, sandy soil and rim-riding above the water (not quite the drops of course, but exhillerating nonetheless). Very well built trail comprised of tight turns & switchbacks mixed with staight down-then-ups. Mostly smooth with a few rocky sections near the beginning of the ride. You will be fairly spent at the end with the total elevation gain.

I was in Great Bend for work before riding and stopped into racer Cameron Chambers' family's Golden Belt Bicycle Company. Cameron, his dad Doug and the others could not have been nicer and more willing to help a Lake Wilson first-timer. Good people like that are another reason we all love to ride. They have a race & festival the first part of May, call them at 620-793-7060 or 800-561-2453 for details of the fun.

Thanks Golden Belt for your trailwork and generosity. A prime piece of singletrack was needed in the hills of central Kansas, and Lake Wilson is it. It's worth the trip, either as a destination from even a few hours away, or a must-ride heading east or west on I-70.

Recommended Route:
Start at the parking lot trail marker, and pretty-much stay left as you ride the trail clockwise. When it doubt just go with how the trail flows. Because the trail is mostly tree-less, you can always head up the nearest hill to get your bearings with the lake, road, marina, etc. if you get lost. Be sure and continue riding after you first go under the road bridge, the close-to-the-water riding is just about to begin and you don't want to miss it. And on your return when your about to say enough with the hills, it will smooth out and you can speed back to your car in the big ring.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Two hours east--Lake Perry (northeast of Topeka).

Review Date
December 27, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: renegadewalker ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Wow if you are driving across Ks. on I-70 this trail is a must and a welcome break. I thought Kansas was flat. Plan 90 min for the 12 mile a great ride!!!!!!!!!!!