Review Date
January 28, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Beiner ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
What an awesome trail. My brother and I rode it summer of '07 in humid conditions. Looks like it would be fun in the mud. Like all good bike trails, the maps given by the park are not at all accurate, they just give you a good starting point (tee-pees).

You'll be next to the river, you'll get focused on the riding and the next thing you know the river is a mile away and you're hundreds of feet above it. What that means is that it's not super hard but it took all my focus and it's fun to ride and neither my brother or I had to hike much if at all and we're not exactly all-pro on the trail. Overall 5 stars for the fun factor.

Recommended Route:
If you have time and don't have wives waiting for you at a local cabin, then take time to explore every off-shoot.

Review Date
September 26, 2007

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Former Cheesehead ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I should preface my review by saying that I'm not a local and I have only ridden this trail once (and likely never again due to where I live). I was traveling across Nebraska on my way to a race in Wisconsin and thought I'd sample some different trails along the way.

I'd have to summarize this trail as a "tale of two trails." Depending on where you start, you'll first encounter either the gnarly, overgrown, bluff-hanging portion or the sweet, buff, flowy section. I think the main difference is the one traverses up-and-down on the edge of this bluff while the other portion sits on top of the bluff and has little elevation gain/lose.

Personally, I thought the gnarly section lacked any rhythm or enjoyment. Maybe stronger riders like it? To each his/her own. It wasn't marked at all and every branch led to more miserable stuff. I've been riding for over a decade and consider myself a fairly capable rider, but the short "ups" were a pain to hike up... nearly impossible to ride. I kept finding myself skirting the downhills because I knew I'd have to climb myself back up the bluff.

That said, the flowy, buff wooded singletrack section was stellar (if you like that stuff). I couldn't believe how much trail existed in what felt like a tiny wooded grove. Really fun stuff that I wanted to take a second helping of.

I also uncovered a cool little section with a brook/waterfall running through it. I had to hit the road at that point, but I wanted to explore a little more of. Overall, with some stewardship and maintenance, I think this network could be a destination for riders.

Recommended Route:
Couldn't tell ya! I was lost for most of the ride because the trails weren't marked at all. Maybe there are maps at the park hdqt? I think this place has a ton of trails in it and it would require a bunch of exploring to have a great feel for. Since I was only there for 90 minutes, I'm not sure I can properly review/represent this trail network (but I'll try anyway since I like to listen to myself "talk").

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Not from Nebraska, so couldn't tell you.

Review Date
May 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: jacob_hi ,  Racer

Summary:
#1 IN EASTERN NEBRASKA!!!

DIFFICULTLY 4 (of 5). narrow single-tracks, lots of gravity cavities, there's some nice boulders, sharp curves, water-crossings, the whole thing rides like a rollercoaster (ups and downs) and lots of blind corners. lots of technicals to keep things interesting. it's through some thick forests, and it's only about 20 miles from Lincoln.

i was told the main trail is 12-miles, but i think with all the new additions and the hidden tracks there has to be over 50 miles of trails.

i would say people who are intermediate to expert riders shouldn't have much problem riding here. if you're a beginner or rookie or out of shape, this place is probably going to hurt you. LOL!

BRING WATER (preferably a camelback) & A HELMET!!!

Recommended Route:
i rode yesterday and today. yesterday i explored which was a lot of fun, and foolishly started by the horse stables. today i took the advice of the reviewers on here and started by the teepees.

FUN & FAST RIDE: as you enter the park make a LEFT at the first intersection (T) after the ranger vehicle stamp station. park wherever. there are numerous trailheads by the cabins in this area -- PICK ONE & RIDE!!! (NOTE: there's a bridge that's washed out, the trail is blocked off w/ CAUTION tape, but if you go under it and carry your bike across the bridge remnants, the trail on the other side is well worth the work!)

GRUELING WORKOUT RIDE: instead of a left at the entrance T-intersection, make a right. drive all the way to horse stables. start riding on the horse trails... it's a long steep ride up, but it's well worth the speed you get on "rollercoaster" ride to the other side of the park.

CLOCKWISE is a fast ride, as you're generally going down in elevation.

COUNTER-CLOCKWISE is a calve-burning blast, you're generally moving up in elevation.

there are still some trail markers/paint left from the 6-hour endurance race that was held there last weekend -- GREAT ROUTE!!!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Wilderness Park

Review Date
September 20, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: nbrablec9 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Great overall trail. Can spend hours on the dirt! Plenty of up and down hill with a nice creek bend toward the front of the park. You can make it an easy ride or a vigerous ride depending on the route you take.

Recommended Route:
When you first enter the park, take your first left after the boothe. You will go to the bottom of the hill and take a right. My personal favorite. Ride near the creek bend for a bit , then make your way to the horse trails. Great ride! Just remember to stay clear of the horse trails till early evening.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
swanson park-

Review Date
May 5, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Pistol2Ne ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Yay, is the first thought that comes to my mind when riding this trail. I rode it on a rather muddy day which tended to make the ride a little more grueling than i anticapated. I am extremly out of shape, is one of the many things i learned on this trail. There are so many great features about it, I don't know where to start, ok well maybe the switchbacks were the funnest or mabe the gully or maybe the bridge or maybe the first downhill, IDK.

Recommended Route:
Park in the circle lot that says turkey somethin then just get lost. Also be ready for a s-o-b of a climb to start out the day or morning in my case.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
none go here