Review Date
December 13, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: gbose ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
A great trail -- one of my favorites! a nice mix of technical sections (you can walk them easy, if you like), open trails. Very scenic. You ride by a creek, though it's mostly dry or muddy slush, with the drought this year. Very good flow.

Carry sufficient water! there's no facilities and few bailouts along the trail.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Francis Beatty (NC)

Review Date
May 31, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Cherokee ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is a really enjoyable trail, with a little bit of everything except for hills...it has small ones, but nothing to push your limits. It has been knocked for not being tough enough, but there needs to be a variety of trails. I've ridden every trail in the greater Charlotte area and like to take my wife and teen-age daughters on this one, as it has some technical aspects, but isn't a killer for them. It is, however, very interesting for all of us...rocks, roots, smooth fast stretches, swinging bridges, tunnels, and nice rolling terrain. It's their favorite. On a hot day, take plenty of water; since it's an "out and back" trail, there's really no way to short-cut it if you run low on water.

Recommended Route:
You must start at the recreation complex on the south end. There's no provision to pay at the "barn" end of the trail. Get a map at the kiosk, as it's easy to get off the bike trail onto the horse trails. DO PAY!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Comparable easy ones are North Meck, Itusi,and Col. Francis Beatty. More challenging are Beech Springs, Keyauwee at Wood Run (Uwharrie Natl Park), and Renaissance. Catawba, my favorite, is temporarily closed until sometime in 2006.

Review Date
April 23, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: dmitchell4 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Well, they've done away with the annual membership for starters. It's now a $3 daily fee. I'd say this is well worth the three bucks. Good mix of technical (pronounced rooty) climbs and decents and a great fast downhill section that's just shy of a mile. Several swinging bridge crossings. Watch out for two way traffic and hikers on trails.

Recommended Route:
All riding starts at the recreation center.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Poplar Tent/Beech Springs

Review Date
January 2, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Review Date
April 28, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week