Review Date
May 13, 2012

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: David Peck Jr ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
The trail is in my home town. I consider it an Easy trail with some intermediate sections. It comes to 6 miles on my bike computer. The trail crosses the paved portion a few time and makes it nice if you are tied and want an easy way back. Section one has long switch backs and rooted parts. The second section is pretty flat and you can go fast. The third section has some nice tight switch backs at first then go fast through the field and trees. At the end of the "third" section you will come to a tee. If you go right, your back on the paved trail, if you go left, you get a taste of climbing and desent. The Fourth Section is a little longer and has the longest climb. The fifth and sixth section are just plain pleasent. really a great easy ride. After you cross into the seventh section, it is fast, then climb, then fast, and then climb and technicial desent and climb. There will be a place were the trail will come close to the Paved trail again. But it goes not cross it. It will start down hill and right in the right is the trail again, if you don't there is a pretty sizeable jump! On the way out a tight righthander goes into a hard but short climb. Here are some pictures from my facebook
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2135454637046.123536.1566494074&type=3&l=f34a838d40
Parking in limited, but there is usually room. Porta-John, Tennis court, and paved pathway (2.5mile) that is lighted.

Recommended Route:
After getting off I-75 (279) Head north on Old 27. Turn Right at the second light (there is a Tractor Suppy, K-mart, Golf USA on the intersection) and follow the road to the end. Parking is limited, however most of the time there is room.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hanson Hills, Boyne Mtn, Shingle Mill Pathway, High Country Trail

Review Date
July 27, 2009

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: car_auctioneer ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
A surprisingly good trail for a municipal park. Of all the trails I rode in the area last weekend, this one was the best. Relatively flat (but has some climbs), good twisty switchbacks, fast sections through trees, nice scenery, easy to find, close to Gaylord and I-75. Perfect diversion to break up a long drive through northern Michigan.

On the down side, like all trails in the area it's quite sandy. It also could be marked better. After completing nearly the 7 mile loop I got turned around and wound up going back in the wrong direction. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, I hate getting lost. How about some signs, Gaylord, to finish off an already nice park!

I'd give the trail a 4 rating if it weren't for the lack of signage. Print a map before you go, you can't get one there. If you get lost, hop on an asphalt trail and head back to the parking lot, but even those aren't marked so great either!

Recommended Route:
Take Otsego Rd. south from Main St. in Gaylord to E. Commerce Blvd, turn left, Aspen Park at the end. Trailhead just before parking lot, west of tennis courts.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Boyne Mountain (lots of climbing), Hanson Hills in Gaylord (well marked trail and easy to find) but Aspen is better than both, frankly.