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John Muir Trails
80 reviews
3.88 of 5
Mostly single track trails and fast paced ride. This is one of my favorite trails. This trail demands attention, and constant gear shifting. Unlike in the west where I find myself climbing in the lowest gear, I find myself in the Big Chain ring here. Fast paced to avoid being passed and calculate when to pass!
The scenery is worth the drive by itself. The trail is located in a depression created by nature during the ice age. Tree's tower over the trail.
Watch your speed, the rangers are actively inspecting for trail/ parking passes.
Man This is awesome. Email me if you have any questions. I live in the west.
City of La Grange, Wisconsin. Driving along highway 12, turn right on County H highway. At this corner there is a General Store / Bike shop. The Java and stuff here is good. Bike rentals available.
Summary: Killer trail. Very fast, with perfectly laid-out corners and uphill/downhill transitions. This is a flowy, usually-in-the-middle-ring, hardtail type trail. Very little technical content, however.
This trail was clearly laid out by a mountain biker who wants to minimize hitting the brakes and maintain a high average speed. In general, you scrub off speed only by going uphill or by holding a line in a corner.
I rode the blue and white loops and I'd say these trails are worth a 2hr drive or so.
This trail reminds me a bit of Tsali, NC.
Recommended Route: Blue loop and white loop are all I tried.
Other recommended trails in the same area: na
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Summary: It's been about a year since this trail has been reviewed here, so I figure it's time...
The guys working this trail (with some input from IMBA) are doing an excellent job. The trails have remained FAST with good flow and due to some smart re-routing, are now more sustainable (sorry to reviewer below for taking away some faster DHs). These trails support an amazing traffic flow, attracting all kinds of riders from all over major metro areas (Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison + others). In addition, they host a couple races a year and amazingly, they stay in great condition. This is not by luck. Extensive volunteer efforts with some state maintenance procedures have combined to offer up some really great trails. The best conditions are early and late season. Mid summer overgrowth might take away a bit of the fun and speed - especially on the "connector". Trails will CLOSE due to wet conditions, so call ahead for current trail conditions: Trail Hotline: 262 594 6202.
All one-way trails, no horses or horse crap, no power vehicles and very few hikers (they know better) help add to overall fun.
Ratings below are depending on what you put in. If you ride lazy, you won't benefit from how fast/fun these trails are when you're on the gas.
Recommended Route: Blue is fast - hammer down - 43min - ave speed 15.00 mph
Epic - Blue/connector/emma green and connector back. Despite what you may have read below, you CAN hammer the connector - it just takes some good bike handling skills and confidence. It also helps to be a local and know where every rock/root/tree is. Epic: 1:59min fast riding.
Hit the inner loops for some more technical climbs over rock gardens, etc.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Not much else around here. Head north to Wausau (9mile) or Levis Trow for some more excellent midwest riding
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Summary: I recommend you disregard the review a couple prior to this one.Anyone who is riding one of the best trail systems anywhere,and is swearing out loud while doing so,has got bigger issues than trail design.There are places to ride without tight twisties,occasional mud and over hanging branches...its called THE ROAD!For mtn. bikers looking for a truly epic ride these trails have it all.Everything from tight twisty and open swooping singletrack to rock gardens,roots,"grunt"uphills and challenging switchbacks.Technically the more experienced rider will have to keep on their toes, but the beginner won't be overwhelmed.The last couple of years the trail builders here have eliminated a lot of the rutted trail built on the fall line of hills and replaced it with sweet bench cut trail.Consequently the trail is now safer,more sustainable and more fun to ride.Aerobically you'll need to be in pretty good shape to comfortably complete the longer routes -but why hurry?Take your time and enjoy this terrific trail system!There are restrooms,water,a liquid only vending machine,picnic tables with shelter and grill and a bike wash rack at the trailhead.They just recently placed new singage on the trail with intermittent mile markers and "You Are Here" signs at different intersections.There is also an active IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol committed to these trails.
Recommended Route: There are 6 loops that start at the trailhead ranging from 1-10 miles long.None of the trails are really "easy".Other than the 1 mile Red loop they all have some rocks,roots ,sand or climbs to negotiate.The main difference between the loops is distance.There is also the Connector Trail(aprox.6 miles each direction)that connects the Muir Trail cluster to the Carlin Trail cluster to the north.The Connector contains the most diverse trail tread as well as the most technical riding of the whole system.Epic riders will want to do the Blue Loop to the Connector until it ends at the Carlin.Then do the Green Loop on the Carlin,the Connector back to the Blue,and in.Almost 30 miles of riding!The less adventurous can just pick a trail out from the map posted at the trailhead by distance and go for it.There is also a "Kids Corral"so your young ones can get introduced to mtn.biking by riding a mowed grass field with some little "obstacles" mixed in.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Wisconsin has a lot of great trails.Try Levis-Trow Mound up north a ways.(BTW... there ARE no trails in Denver!)
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Summary: The website below has the best descriptions and the most up to date maps. What it doesn't have is the petty complaining so many people like to engage in. This is a great trail system. If you go home from Kettle, not feeling tired, its your fault not the trails.
Kudos to the people at Muir who have put up new trail markings and maps. I can finially figure out where I've been riding all of these years.
Recommended Route: Outer Blue, connector and Carlin makes for a good day. Try the new bypass trail that is detailed in the website above. Takes you through a remote, rocky section in the middle of the park.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Rock Cut in Rockford. Blue Mound although I really have never enjoyed myself there. HPT in LaCrosse.
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Summary: Ok, well, I am going to be very critical. Problem one. Stop taking away my fast downhill sections. Seriously, that's the best part. Two...They re-did the connector a year or two ago and its better. My issue is that on the way back to the trail head all you do is go in and out through the tress. It feels like you are going in a circle and then around one more time for fun. I rode it today by myself and actually cursed out loud cause I was so irritated that i was going in and around every tree in the freaking forest!!! Just get me out already. I'm OK with losing .2 of a mile!! The moron who thought this was a good idea should be punished. Anyone who has ridden this knows what I am talking about. You cant even get any speed because of all the tight turns that never stop coming. Oh yeah, it sounds fun but not at 5 mph!! Its not fun. It gets very redundant. Redo this area of the path already!!! Please... Give us some technical terrain.
Ok, now back to the main trail. Step one. buy a weed wacker already. I feel like I need a full face helmet because of all the weeds and trees hanging over into the pathway. Some of you may say that weeds are not a big deal. Your right. They are not. But weeds with thorns that cut your face and eyes out are!!! The state charges a lot of money to ride here. Make it worth it to your.
Number 2... again... stop taking away all of the fast downhill. In attempt to make this "technical" you start riding down hill and then take a very sharp switchback up the hill. Thats a problem. First, cause of erosion that you are always crying about and also ITS NOT FUN. That takes all your speed away and u can crash very easy because of this. And its all over the new stuff.
Third... Please cut down the little trees that you send me through that are about an inch wider than my handle bars!! Oh yeah it "technical" alright. Problem is I have to slow down for every one so i don't clip my handle bars. Crashing into trees in not my 'box of candy'. This, once again, is not fun because of the absence of speed! Any momentum you had is gone!!
4th... drain the water holes! This is ridiculas!! 2 weeks after it has rained there are puddles of much and get into every creves of your bike!! And they are deep, as much of 8-10 inches! No kidding!! Your telling me that you cant find a way to drain these?? Come on!!
Recommended Route: Well there you have it... They wont let me write anymore above so I am finishing down here! I sure hope someone that has some power on what goes on in this forest reads this and used this common sence to make these trails awesome!! Please please give us some fast fun DHILL....
Other recommended trails in the same area: None... this is Wisconsin... go to Denver and ride.
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