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Smithville Lake Trails
11 reviews
4.18 of 5
Approximately 8.5 miles of flowing singletrack designed and built by and for mountain bikers. Trailhead sign should be installed soon (7/03). The trail is currently built like a lollipop (an out-and-back with a loop on the end). Ride the "connector" trail north from the Sailboat Cove trailhead and then ride the loop (doesn't matter if you go clockwise or counterclockwise), and then ride the connector back south to the trailhead (about 10 miles total). It's fast, flowing singletrack with a lot of varied terrain - open flow trail, tight technical, rocks, log crossings, creek crossings - it's got it all. No sustained climbs, due to lack of extreme elevation change.
Take Highway 169 north through Smithville. Turn right (east) on Highway W (about 2 miles north of Smithville), and follow to Paradise (W will turn to south). At Paradise, turn right and continue to Sailboat Cove (County lake access point). Park in small gravel lot adjacent to road. $5 park use fee during summer months (or $20 for season pass).
Summary: I've ridden these trails several times. They are a lot of fun, and in places, challenging for my skill level. These are the most scenic trails I've found in this area, the views of the lake are truly beautiful. If its too wet to ride the single track, the paved trails are a fun work out. There are around 25 miles of wide, curvy and scenic paved trails that are not at all crowded. I usually ride the Lawrence Ks River Trails, near my home, which are fun, but not as challenging as the Smithville trails. Riders living any where near Smithville Lake are very fortunate to have such a great trail system.
Recommended Route: I came in on W hiway from the east, drove over the bridge, and turned into the south into the parking lot with the sign "Smoken Davey". The parking there is free. I have also parked at "Sailboat Cove", but had to pay a $6 per day fee. A yearly pass is only $25, which is fairly reasonable. Sailboat Cove has very nice restroom facilities and showers
Other recommended trails in the same area: Most of my single track riding is in Lawrence Ks on the River Trails. As most people already know, they are fun and very fast. They also dry out quickly after it rains.
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Summary: I agree with Zoom... this trail is fun and there is NO vegetation/poison ivy overgrowing the trail. Not a lot of elevation change, but it's ALL singletrack. Good stuff!
Recommended Route: Start at the north trailhead and ride it all!
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Summary: Okay, I have to write an additional review because of the retarded review that was just written below this review. Someone said that these were well maintained trails and then in the very next sentence said they were overgrown and his delicate, girly little get-away sticks got some poison ivy on them and he had to scratch them. Or something like that. Cry me a river! Go ride your skinny little road bike if you don't want to come in contact with nature! Maybe we'll all get lucky and you'll come in "contact" with a Buick. He then proceeded to give this trail a 3 flamin chili rating just because HE is bothered by the foilage.
So I am going to put a 5 chili rating on here to counter balance his 3 so together, our reviews will average out to a 4 chili rating. The greater KC metro area probably has close to a 50 miles of choice singletrack. And with only a handful of trail stewards sometimes, yes sometimes in the heat of the summer, some trails get more overgrown than others. Look around you folks, the place is green everywhere! 99% of our trails are deep in forests. You don't get forests without rain, okay? And yes, rain also makes weeds grow, too.
Maybe poison ivy girl should pick up a weed eater and do a little trail maintenence instead of criticizing a trail just because him got his little legs itchy. Poor baby.
Summary: Trail is well maintained. My only issue is that the weeds are right on each side of you and if you are allergic to poison ivy like I am, riding these trails are inviting the stuff to get on you. If the trail was more clear where there was some wiggle room on the trail, it would be a blast. Right now, I have to stick to the paved roads to stay clear of the weeds.
Summary: this is a great trail. i live in smithville so i get to ride out here at least once a week. its not super technical but its got its difficult sections. One thing that the trails are known for is how fast they dry. (thank you very much erta) i love this place because it doesnt ware you out very quick. its a great place to get a short, fun ride in. Just so you know, my reccomended route has all of the harder trails on it and its meant to be a short ride, so if you dont feel comfortable, then ask some one else because i am WAY too lazy to write two routes. sorry.
Recommended Route: start at the w bridge trail head, then right when you get to the two trail intersection, go right (this trail is semi technical), ride this trail until you come out on to the blacktop again, then continue on through the next trail, youll come out at a 3 way intersection, keep going strait a little more on the blacktop and then turn left onto the singletrack. on this trail, there is a two way intersection, turn left. continue on until the trail ends. then ride the blacktop on the main strip (dont take any turns) until you see two right hand turns that are close together, take the second one. then take a quick right into the singletrack. (this trail is rated as a black trail but it is not that difficult). ride this until an intersection. turn right for a quick uphill challenge. turn left if your not feeling as spunky. if you turn right, continue on until the trail ends. if you turn left, then keep riding, cross the blacktop onto the other single track, then youll ride a short trail which will cross the pavement again and go back into the black section. when you get out of the black section and head back to the car on the pavement, or the single track (your choice). Its about
Other recommended trails in the same area: landahl
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