Review Date
April 7, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: ieyasu3 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Love this place. My wife and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary last Oct. Rented a cabin. Bonus is that they allow dogs in the cabin (we have a 12 yr. old female German Shepherd). Not many parks allow dogs.

As to the trails, the big climbs followed by ridge riding and then big downhills are what characterize this place. The lower lying trails on the west side of the park road are also good for beginner to intermediate riders.

Recommended Route:
Several recommendations:

1. Stony run falls is a fantastic climb with spectacular views. While it's an endurance challenge, it's entirely rideable so no frustrating hike-a-bike sections. I actually prefer to take the trail all the way to the top of the ridge. Take a right on the blue-blazed Middle Mountain ridge trail. From here you have a couple of options. The salty stump trail is a classic bench cut descent. Steep in sections but not too technical. Gives you access to the lower lying trails which you can take to get back to the Stony Run Falls trail head.

Another descent option is to stay on the blue-blazed Middle Mountain trail. Very fun, fast non-technical descent for the most part. Toward the end, there are very steep switchbacks. Don't be surprise if you have to get off the bike here. Eventually dumps you out on to the Smith Creek Rd. If you take a right on Smith Creek (and stay on Smith Creek) you'll get back to Douthat State Park rd. Probably about a 20 min road ride back to the park.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Carvin's Cove (but closed as of Mar. 2008 b/c of fire)

Review Date
February 3, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: doubleB ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
The trails here are known to the region's riders as "mountain bike Disneyland", this is not by accident. I always look forward to trips out here to ride. The scenery is magnificent, especially in early Spring as the green velvet creeps up to the top of the mountain ranges.

Incredible trails with climbs that feel as if your bike is being pulled along by an invisible force - you'll look down and find you are in a gear twice as high as normal. Downhills are a rush.

Recommended Route:
Follow the race course route - you won't be disappointed.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Mountain Lake Conservancy Trail System
www.MtnLakeConservancy.org

Review Date
December 29, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Big Al ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
The opening trail description can be misleading. There are trails here for all skill levels, but you better be able to pedal up hill for considerable distances to really enjpy your rides here.
generally the trails are in excellent shape. They are a combination of soil and shale pieces that hold up well to the elements. The trails also dry out quickly.Be prepared for extended climbs to get to the top of the mountains,for downhillers there is no way to shuttle to the top, You have to earn your reward the honest way.

Recommended Route:
The park office offers maps that show a general degree of difficulty, with milage and blaze type. They are relatively accurate. On this ride we travelled up the asphalt road to the highest point of access at Guest Lodge Trail. Follow this to the start of Mountain Top Trail, continue out Mountain Top to the great down hill on Brushy Hollow Trail.If you have time you can make a huge loop around the outer perimeter of the park.This requires 2 strong uphill climbs and 2 great downhills.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If you can try to ride everything at Douthat while you are there.

Review Date
June 8, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: greg767 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The website for Douthat (doubt-that) state park states there are over 40 miles of trails in this park. I rode less than half of that in the two days that I was in this area. Check in with the park ranger station to get a pretty good map of the trails. The trails are all well marked with color coded banners on trees. The woods are so dense that you have no choice but to stay on the trails and believe me, you wouldn't want to attempt anything outside of them. Day one, I rode the Stony Run Falls route (4.5 miles up) then on to the Tuscarora Overlook trail. I took the Blue Suck Falls trail back down to the ranger station. The climb was overwhelming to my Florida legs and I ended up walking many lengths of the steepest climbs. Day two, I took the Buck Hollow trail to the opposing side summit and rode down on the Brushy Hollow trail to the main road. Both of these routes are summarized by brutal climbs and excellent long, fast downhill runs that will leave your hands cramping from brake use. The other reviews may be a little out of date but are still accurate. These trails are tight singletrack and in places are somewhat overgrown. Overall, this was an incredible place to ride with a fantastic view for those who are able to make it to the top.

Recommended Route:
Stony Run Falls to Blue Suck Falls for the descent on the west side. Take Buck Hollow trail up on the eastern side of the park and run down the Beards Gap trail to the ranger station.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
None, there wasn't enough time to check out the rest of the local area.

Review Date
November 4, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: hdovrheel ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I've hiked or biked very trail on the Middle mtn side. This is a great place for both. Monster climb up Stony run will punish even the best riders! The descent is worth any Hike-a-Bike you have to do. This one of the best places to ride I've ever been. I recommend camping and riding a couple days.

Recommended Route:
Start at the Ranger station (get a map) and go across rt 629 towards the White Oak Camp Ground. The trail you want is on the left past the camp entrance "Beards Gap hollow" ). Continue up Beards til you intersect with Locust Gap (go left) and follow this to Stony Run. Go right on Stony run and UP for about five miles. You can continue all the way to the top on Stony but I like to go to to Tusc overlook for the view and lunch. Either way, follow the trail to Middle mountaiin trail. Now the real fun begins, watch for Salt Stump on the right. This is very fast and some sections are pretty narrow with serious a drop-off if you go off trail. If you let it roll, you can create quite the pucker factor at times! Look for pine tree trail and take a right. Stay on Pine tree til you see middle hollow on the left. All of the lower trails are rocky and rooty with some loose sandy spots. All of it's fast and FUN. Take middle all the way down to the lake. Go left at the lake and take the road from the campground back to the Ranger Staion.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I've done a couple of variations on this side of the mountains. You can come down Look out rock from tusc overlook to blue suck falls if you want a little more tech (ROCKY) descending. Last time I was here I took the recommended route above and then back around Laurel View to blue suck falls up to locust gap and back down Stony run (20 miles). Keep in mind if you do this, Blue Suck is serious hike-a-bike for about 1/2 mile!

I've only ridden the mountain top ridge once. I did not pick a good way to ascend. I went up beards gap trail and had to push alot. There is a great downhill with cool switchbacks coming down into brushy hollow once you reach the top. I'll post another route for this side once I find a better way!