Review Date
August 7, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: eknepp ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I was in the area on Business travel and had my bike with me so I decided to give it a try. I will first say that the trail markings for levels (Novice, Advance, Expert) are completely reverse from what they should be. The Novice trail has all kindas of nice drops, jumps, bridges, etc. while the expert is just twisty switch backs.

Recommended Route:
I recommend the Novice trail because it is the most fun. The trail has plenty of switch backs, a few small log crossings, some nice bridge drops, and one stump jump. I would recommend doing this loop multiple times for a good workout.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Freedom Park in Williamsburg, VA

Review Date
March 2, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: One track mind ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
For those that have ridden the best of richmond & williamsburg, this is a bumpy NON event. Super flat, roots everywhere & literally a "ride in the park" Great for beginners but again this trail calls for 29ers or full suspension, cause its got roots to rattle your nuts loose! @ best it has a fun 1 ft ramp launch in the 1st loop a nice couple of small down hills & switchbacks & a fun log over section in advanced loop, & i don't know how the expert loop got the name..it was easier than the 1st intermidiate loop?? Great place to start, worst place for you L5-S1!

Recommended Route:
Second loop (advanced)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Nike Carrolton Park

New Quarter Park

Freedom Park

York River Park

Review Date
September 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Treeshark ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
A great time! Took my wife for her first single track ride. She loved it. A fun ride that is not too taxing, and just tough enough for first time riders, and I thought great fun for someone more experienced. The trails flow well and are marked well. The map on EVMA was spot on. Very nice area to ride, and we only saw four other riders the whole time we were there. Like most have said, the advanced trail is probably harder than the expert trail. The expert trail was probably labeled as such due to some pretty quick downhills that ended in turns and went right back up. Not steep, but "rooted" uphills. Much narrower track as well. The advanced trail has one obstacle that I thought was pretty tough. A ramp up to a cutout tree that decends over 2 large cut stumps. I honestly almost lost it going over the other side, and it goes right into a turn. The aproach is very "rooty" so tough to get a good start at it. On the expert trail, the wife took 2 spills due to the turns at the bottom of the short downhills, but she is a trooper. :) I highly recommend this set of trails to anyone.

Recommended Route:
Take the trails in order from novice to advanced to expert. It flows well that way, and the novice trail actually has quite a few bridges on it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Marl Ravine at York River S.P. and for an easy, but long ride, Back bay to False Cape S.P. and beyond.

Review Date
August 9, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: mh53eflyguy ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I found this trail on the EVMA.org website and I have driven by this location numerous time not knowing that there was a trail there over the years. The first trail is the novice trail, which is a a short 500ft ride up from the parking lot. There are a lot of turns, nothing too tight, but also not a lot of hills, so I can understand the novice plot.
I think the signs for the next trail need to be better marked, because I was unsure if I was heading the right way. Pass under the power lines and follow the dirt rode up to where the fire road to the advanced course. This has roots and ruts, and some hills, but nothing too tough. There is that log ramp, watch out for the two stumps on the other side.
Here is my next complaint/critique, I could not find the expert trail. There was a sign pointing to the left after exiting the advanced trail back to the parking lot, but not to the expert trail, which i'm now to assume was to the right. Even then, the trail forks; one road is all gravel and goes right, the other looked like it could be a trail, but it was unmarked. I then road back to the parkinglot and a fellow rider also could not find the expert trail. More signs!!!!!

Better signs would be a plus, but otherwise it was a good time!

Recommended Route:
Go right after the advanced trail for the expert trail?

Other recommended trails in the same area:
New Quarter Park

Review Date
July 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: vilondon ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I started off at Hardwood Mills about four months ago... definitely a beginners trail. It has three different trails listed as Beginner, Advanced, and Expert. I think the Advanced is the most fun trail, and is more difficult than the Expert. Although, the Expert does have a lot of turns that are fun. None are too difficult, and we ride the last two twice a piece to get any kind of workout. We ride here when we are in a hurry and just want to get a ride in for the day.

Recommended Route:
I reccomend parking off Denbigh rather than off Oriana; it takes you directly to the end of the Expert trail; just follow the path down.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
New Quarter Park, Freedom Park