Reviewed by: Charles ,  Racer

Summary:
This trail is awesome! It is technically challenging, fitness challenging, has beautiful scenery and is primitive like a hiking trail. It feels very remote even though it is only 1 hr from Tulsa. It doesn't receive much traffic so it doesn't have a well defined trail tread in many areas. However, in the last 2 years someone has added a lot more blue dot trail markers so you don't ever get lost. Someone has also added mile markers with GPS coordinates in the last couple of years. It feels like a real mountain bike adventure instead of just another ride in a well groomed, heavily travelled park.

This trail is 18 miles long. But, it feels and rides longer because its technical with a moderate amount of climbing. Allow plenty of time, take plenty of water, powerbars, tools and consider it an Epic. Depending on rider skill and fitness level, it'll take anywhere from 3.5 to 6 hrs to complete the full course.

There's only a couple of short hike-a-bike sections that would require trials type riding skills. The rest is rideable yet technically challenging. This is not a trail for beginners or whiners! IMO This is Oklahoma's best and one of the best anywhere!

Recommended Route:
After crossing the swinging bridge, go left and ride the loop clockwise. This trail probably gets overgrown during spring and summer. So, I'd avoid it during the May-September growing season.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Ouachita Trail in Arkansas, Turkey Mtn in Tulsa, Womble Trail in Arkansas for a fast less technical trail-hiway, Camp Horizon near Ark City, KS

Reviewed by: Jon , from Tulsa, OK

Summary:
We took the lakeside trail first which was fairly rocky but well groomed and very nice. It had a fair amount of climbs and some pretty nice downhills. Had a blast on this trail, crossed a few streams and had some good views, but mostly enjoyed the technical singletrack. We decided to do the North/primitive loop. What a mistake. It took forever to cross the 6 miles. Mostly leaf covered and really hard to see the trail except for the blue dots leading the way. Some of this trail is simply unridable. Once we got to the ridge line trail we were getting pretty tired from wading through the leaves and exceptionally difficult technical riding. The ridge trail is basically Up, Up, Up, then down very fast, then Up, Up, Up. This goes on for about 10 miles. About 5 miles into this trail we simultaniously bonked, realizing the North loop had been a huge mistake. The climbs on this trail are very long and some are very steep. Granny is your friend here. The downhills are SWEET. Long, technical, fast, trecherous if taken at speed. Some of the soil washes out pretty east so be careful. And always remember what goes down must come back up, and at this place a 10 min downhill is a 30-40 minute network of climbs. I highly reccomend this trail to people that are in good shape. It is a long epic ride. Bring LOTS of water and LOTS of food. I went through 132 oz of water before I was at the end (which was kind of scary) and ate an entire box of granola bars. By the end I just wanted a drink and a lot of food.

Recommended Route:
Camp by the trailhead (there is a big sign). The trailhead is near the restrooms. Get on the trails and go towards the lake. Go to the end of this section and cross the bridge, keep riding (following the bloe dots and arrows) until you get to the rope bridge with the map. From here you can take the lakeside or the ridge line trail. Be sure to take the white crossover train that bypasses the north loop which is very primitive and not groomed at all, plus its an extra 5-6 miles).

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Turkey Mountain: Every kind of riding you can imagine. Right in the center of Tulsa, OK. Lots of local riders to show you around. Bring your handling skills.