Review Date
June 22, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: GreenLightGo ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Great trail - it's got some technical sections, a bit of flow and plenty of aerobic challenge, all in a beautiful setting. The EVMA folks do a great job. Marl Ravine's technical sections are at the beginning and end - the middle 4 miles is probably a classic intermediate due to the cardio challenge.

Great trail - I look forward to seeing the other networks in eastern VA.

Recommended Route:
Singletrack is directional for the most part.

Review Date
July 9, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Edward Morris ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Good hard trail with lots of hard short climbs and technical surfaces. Almost the same length of New Quarter but much harder. You have to work up all these climbs and over the roots and ruts. Not a beginner trail, good areobic workout and decent technical workout.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Wahrani

Review Date
January 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: evil genius ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
lots of new stuff on the marl ravine. lots of log piles, and a good drop near 3/4 of the way through.the laurel glenn has a few fun downhills and a good steep climb. the whole park is fun!

Recommended Route:
ride the whole park!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
upper county, freedom, new quarter

Review Date
August 4, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: fugi ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This trail is pretty popular and you are sure to see at least one other rider there no matter what time of the week you go there. The Marl Ravine trail is around 6 miles in lenth and although there are no major obsticalls (see saws, balance beams etc.) the crazy ascents and fast downhills will keep you on your toes the whole time. There is this one awsome fast downhill swich back that is banked so much that at speed you can feel the G forces planting your bike down in the turn! There are two bail out points that can shorten the ride to about 2 miles if you choose but if you miss the second one your in for the long haul all the way though. For all the hard tailers some parts of the Marl Ravine trail can get pretty rooty, lowering my tire pressure helped me a lot. If that wasnt enough, for those of you that have been to the trail in the last year or so they have reopened the Laurel Glen trail!!!! It has had a slight face lift and feels fresh as ever. It is still around 2 miles long. The rest of the park has a lot of multi use trails (around 10 miles or so) in case you want to get your cross county on. There is a $2 fee at the gate and I didnt have the change on me but the nice older man at the gate let me ride now and pay later(I came back that same day to pay him). Note- this area of York Co. is a pretty popular road bike riding area also, if your into that.

Recommended Route:
?

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

Review Date
April 20, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: BruceLee ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The Marl Ravine trail at York River State Park is the best trail I've ridden in the Hampton Roads area. This trail is a combination of Beaver Dam and Hardwood Mills. The trail is about 6 miles in length and is a tight, singletrack with lots of jumps, roots, stumps, curves and hills. EVMA has done a great job with clearing debris, maintaining the trail and marking the route. From the far parking lot at York River State Park take the multi-use trail until you see the sign for Marl Ravine and you're sure to have a great time. If you ride the whole trail (don't take the optional cut-throughs) its 6 miles and then tack on another 2 miles to and from the parking lot for a total of 8 miles. I highly recommend this trail to everyone in the area, by far the best I've ridden.

Recommended Route:
Marl Ravine

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Beaver Dam Park in Gloucester, VA and Hardwood Mills in Newport News, VA