Review Date
October 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: white mountain rider ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Great trail, thankyou to those responsible for building and maintaining this fun and challenging trail. The rock work is amazing. The flow is so good that I hardly used my brakes. Well, maybe that is an over statement, but no need to skid, thats for sure. I think my bike was made for this trail. I currently ride a 31 lb. Jamis XLT. with 5" of plush vanilla suspension. The road ride part of it sucked but only because of all the traffic. I can't imagine what it is like during a weekend. It took me about a half an hour to reach the upper parking lot. I'm not into shuttling so next I will make this part of a longer loop. The trail system and geography are similar to the Squam and belknap ranges, steep, technical and rocky. But everything is doable if your lungs and legs are strong enough. This trail itself is a masterpiece, pure downhill fun!

Recommended Route:
Up then down. Park your bike at the junction of Cranmore trail and Black Cap tr. and explore the summit of Black Cap. Don't shuttle, it only creates more pollution. I exited the trail at the Crown Ridge resort and took the road back to the parking area for Kearsarge. Next time I may exit at the water tower.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I could not find Sticks and Stones, is it still a trail?

Review Date
August 8, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: dowst ,  Downhiller

Summary:
Easily one of the best descents in New England. AMAZING views of white mountains. Trail is great for DHers and XCers alike. Fast, flowy and technical single with nice bermed turns, switchbacks, as well as some nice drops and jumps. Some sections were 30+ mph. The rock drop about halfway down is great, if you get going fast enough it can be an easy aprx15 footer, depending on where you land. Don't puss out and ride around it. Also a nice drop at bottom open field before the watertower. Never ending. Some sections could be tough for beginners. No real wood structures, but they're not really needed as there are plenty of rockgardens to keep you occupied. Skip Attitash and ride this beauty, but just make sure you get a mother or wife to chill at the outlets/shops and shuttle you up to the top every hour or so. NEMBA went all out of this one, mad props yo

Ride it, don't slide it.

Recommended Route:
I've both ridden up Hurricane Mt Rd, and been shuttled to the top, and although shuttling is great, work for your descent and ascend up the 2.2 mile 15% killer climb. I did it with my 40+lb DHFR rig without getting off or walking, so you can do it with your weight weenie XC bike.

Route:

1) Start at Black Cap trailhead/parking lot at top of Hurricane Mt Rd. (either ride up or shuttle)

2) Ride approx .75-1 mile ascent up the Black Cap trail to first branch off on right. Very Rocky and very steep.

3) Upon reaching the branch off to right, take a break and turn off the damn ProPedal, you wont be needing that for a while, heh heh. Prepare for descent.

4) Continue on Black Cap trail branch off for approx .5 mile until you reach a very nice wood sign hanging from a tree that says "Red Tail Trail". Turn Right onto this. You could also continue on straight to descend Cranmore mountain.

5) Ride Red Tail Trail. Don't Slide it, ride it.

NOTE: If you plan on riding back up Hurricane Mt Rd, when you reach the watertower at bottom, skip the last .2mile and turn right onto short fireroad, it'll save you about a mile of roadriding.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
All Mountain:

FOMBA
BEARBROOK
PAWTUCKAWAY
FORT ROCK
PISGAH

Gravity:
HIGHLAND MTB PARK
ATTITASH
SUNDAY RIVER

Review Date
September 21, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: johncandie ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Great road climb up pavement to get your heart beating followed by pure White Mountain singletrack mountain biking at its best.

Recommended Route:
Park at the bottom on Hurricane Mountain Road by the trailhead. Ride the 15% grade up 2.2 miles to the Black Cap Lot- get on the rivet or your front wheel will pop up. Head up Black Cap to the top (delightful up with fun roots and rocks), then back down and cross over to Cranmore for a buff singletrack- retrace to Red Tail. Switchbacks on the top were incredibly well maintained. Thank you White Mountain NEMBA! Loved the whoop-de-doops above the stream toward the bottom.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Sherwood Forest, Moat Mt, Greeley Pond

Review Date
October 12, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: aveski2000 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Just AWESOME. Rode it for the first time yesterday. Great views. Great trail. We did the ride from the base (water tower) up to the intersection to go over to Cranmore. Did the traverse to Cranmore and back. Both the climb and dowhill are amazing. I'll post some pics on the forum.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
First time riding in the North Conway area. I'm from Portland ME. We have great riding in the Portland area and Aggie.

Review Date
January 8, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months