Waterbury, Vermont & the SMBC

The Town of Waterbury is very similar to the town in the movie “State & Main”. But one thing the movie doesn’t have that the town does is some truly awesome mountain bike riding. Waterbury is about 40 minutes south of Burlington, right down the road from Stowe, VT. The Stowe Mountain Bike Club (SMBC) maintains the Perry Hill trails and have recently added a little warm-up hip table at the entrance to the trails. The trail begins right off the road to the Ice Rink. Just about everybody plays hockey, hockey, hockey up here. Hockey is a weird word when you look at it for a minute…

I’ve been finishing out the fall at the Waterbury trails and hope to get a few more in before rifle season (or the snow) starts. Everyone talks about the initial climb, it is a killer, but the trailhead itself speaks of the magnitude of these trails. After crossing the railroad tracks, there’s a 50 yard concrete tunnel that travels under the highway, I always imagine I’m traveling through some Dr. Who portal into the land of the super-stoked. Once you pass through, there are some instructions on reading the trail markers (nothing too complicated, red arrow is the red trail and blue arrow is the-you get the idea), a dilapidated rusty old bike sculpture (which seem to have an omnipresence in the VT) and then the climb.

Now I’m sure everyone has experienced a super fast, smooth descent with rollers, berms and natural wall rides but this aspect of the trail is one of the best finishes I’ve ever experienced, its boarders perfection. As you reach the top, the trail breaks and I always take the red. Red is best. Not much in VT reminds me of North GA, except for here. As you reach the top of the red trail, you pass an obscure gravestone with some crude carvings on it. Not sure what the story is but someone is buried right on the side of the trail. Its subtle and I knew of the story but finally saw it last week.

The descent provides the sensation we all crave when riding. Just wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. And it doesn’t stop, that’s the best part. If you rip the whole thing, you’re ready for a break at the end. You don’t have to go down to the concrete tunnel to start again, which is good. After the first run, I’m so wound up and buzzed that it would be difficult to start the whole climb again, but that’s just me.

The trials are everything a 6’’ bike is designed to do. And my FAT JACK from Lenzsport is quite at home in Waterbury.

So when you make the trip, ask a local how to get to the ice rink, look for the little parking lot on your right, cross the street and start the climb. Stick to the red trail, stay right so you can hit the pine tree section. And after your done, go to the Alchemist and get toasty on some strong brew…and I’m looking outside, wondering if I’ll time to get some runs in this afternoon.

Tamarancho Loop (Fairfax, Marin, CA)

A perfect destination in Marin County for intermediate and advance mountain bikers looking for fun and challenging singletracks. This awesome 10-mile singletrack loop starts in Fairfax and is located in the hills above Fairfax. The route offers fun rolling hills with tight switchbacks, some steep climbs and downhills, riding through wood forests, creek crossings and rock gardens. The trail head starts at Iron Spring Road in Fairfax. The Alchemist trail will take you to the lollypop shape loop intersection. The loop can be ridden clockwise or counter clockwise. I think clockwise is more fun because you get to go downhill on some technical rock sections, but if you like challenging climbing then counter clockwise is a must. You get climbing and descending both ways.

If you decide to go clockwise like I almost always do, you will get to Serpentine, Wagon Wheel and B-17 Trails. B-17 Extension goes out to the ridge near White Hills where you can admire a great view of the Bay Area and Mt. Tam. By going out to the ridge you can also connect to a brand new singletrack called Porcupine Trail with super fast switchbacks. Porcupine will take you down to Fairfax behind the White Hills Middle School. But if you rather stay on the Tamarancho loop for additional singletrack you can descend Porcupine only to Sir Francis Drake Blvd and then go back up on Porcupine to return to B-17 Extension. The next trails are Broken Dam and Goldman. At the end of Goldman you will be back at the trail junction with Alchemist trail that will take you back to Iron Springs Road.

The Tamarancho loop takes about 2-3 hours for an advance rider, and about an additional hour if you decide to add the Purcupine trail out and back.

The land where Tamarancho is located is property of the Boy Scouts of America. To ride those trails you should get a $5 day pass that can be purchased on-line or at the local Fairfax bike store Sunshine Bicycles. Funds go toward the land lease and trail maintenance.

If you like beer and want to try a local brew, a visit to Iron Springs Brewery is a must. It is located in the heart of Fairfax 

Related Links:

Mountain Biking Marin
Tamarancho Stats
Women’s Bike Clinic

Hawkes Creek Farm (Winterville, GA)

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Configuration: Loop
Length: 4.5 miles

For many, the passion for mountain biking is a unique bond built between earth’s selfless offerings of beautiful landscapes and the ensuing need to explore these tracts, ever progressing in strength, technique, and confidence. Regrettably, many of these natural playgrounds are left unexplored by anxious two-wheeled travelers, inaccessible as private property. Fortunately, there is hope. Some landowners share this same passion for mountain biking and have unselfishly made their land available for others to enjoy. Hawkes Creek Farm, located outside of Winterville GA, is privately owned but is open to the public for riders to explore expanses of sycamore and poplar forest, green, rolling pastures, and lush ravines on a well-maintained 8 km loop singletrack loop. A minimal amount of horse use exists, so visitors are preferred to ride on odd days to avoid horse-bike collisions.

The parking lot is easily located at the entrance of Hawkes Creek Farm just off of Hargrove Lake road. With the trailhead directly across from the parking lot, this loop trail is navigated with ease for local races are often held here and the trail is well-marked and maintained. Enter the hardwood canopy, following a quick singletrack, and enjoy this rural Georgia landscape. Do not loose too much focus on the trail because minor root and log obstacles do exist to punish any lackadaisical rider. Quickly thereafter, you emerge to a gravel road and head right. Watch for arrows to your left that will lead you on to a grassy doubletrack that traverses horse pastures, lined with barbed-wire fencing, and accented with a quintessential barn on the horizon.

Watch for on-looking white-tail deer as you make a quick descent into the next forested section followed by the first steep climb. Following suit to many trails in Georgia, the occasional set of exposed roots and downed trees add a certain cadence to your ride while the smooth, quick sections of singletrack add a chorus of wind whistling through your helmet as you are able to enjoy turns and straight-aways at speeds of enjoyable levels. The songs of singing tree frogs welcome you as the trail descends to a creek bottom. A few contours exist, followed by a tranquil ride alongside Hawkes Creek which abruptly ends after the 4 km marker.

A left turn peels you from the creek’s sweet embrace and ascends towards a short slickrock and rock garden section. Attack this section with rabid intentions, and if your balance, strength, and luck are perfectly aligned you will be granted success. Do not celebrate prematurely though, because the trail continues to climb for another 50 feet. Atop the hill, a small victory is warranted, and with a quick drag on the camelback you push on. Cross another gravel road at the 5 km marker and travel along more singletrack with familiar ups and downs. On one particular descent, a small launch is encountered for those interested in removing their wheels from the ground momentarily. Although a smooth landing does exist, a sharp left at the bottom demands a quick, sliding left turn; otherwise an elegant (or not so elegant) swan dive into the approaching foliage is rather likely.

The understory becomes thicker and oak and poplar trees dwarf any rider as the trail hugs the edges of a lush ravine. After squeezing through a few tight trees, the trail ascends from this bottomland to the top of a long climb. The trail rolls over the hill and you are shortly back to where you started from at the parking lot. Hawkes Creek Farm offers an excellent singletrack ride in a wonderful landscape, with hills and obstacles to transform this trail into a moderately difficult ride. With than being said, it is certainly manageable for beginners and laps can added for a more advanced ride. As this trail is privately owned, be respectful and maintain full biking etiquette to preserve continued access to awesome areas such as this.

Google Map of the Trailhead

Big Drop Brian Head Mountain Bike Trail (Parowan, Utah)

Length: The descent of the big drop is about three miles. However the trail can be taken for almost twenty miles into the heart of Parowan Utah.

Difficulty: Moderate to expert. The initial descent is quite taxing and not recommended to anyone who is new to biking. However the valley trail is fairly easy riding.

Location: The big drop trail (one of the many names) starts at the northern edge of the Brian Head ski resort in the rocky mountains of Southern Utah. Brain Head is located about twenty miles south of Parowan Utah, a small farming town located off of I-15. The nearby city of Cedar City Utah offers many standard services as does the ski resort itself.

Time of year: The big drop is only accessible from late spring through fall until the first snow fall of the year.

Special considerations: Brian Head is located at a very high elevation. This means the drop can cause problems for people who are sensitive to oxygen levels.

The trail: The big drop begins at the southern edge of Brian Head and follows a level and smooth path for about 500 feet or so. At the end of this path is a sudden and very steep drop of about ten feet. It is recommended that during the drop you keep your body weight low and to the back of the bike until the trail levels out slightly. If the first drop is a bit more than you feel you can take, there are alternate paths to both the east and west of the path.

Once you have made the drop you will be spending the next three miles in an intense descent that will cover over three thousand vertical feet. During this drop will be several steep inclines that are ideal for gaining speed. However use caution as what appears to be a level trail can lead to another sudden drop. During the descent you will have several opportunities to engage in daring Ariel maneuvers such as high jumping and table topping. In fact there are a few areas that those of a very brave and robust nature can attempt jumps over a deep gorge. However do this only at your own risk as the Iron County search and rescue often can take a minute to get to you.

After the intense three thousand foot jump may people bail out onto the road and stow their bikes and gear and ride either back up to Brian Head for another run or a different trail. The honest truth though is that these early leavers are missing some of the most beautiful terrain crafted by the hand of nature. While the trail may no longer be as intense it offers a good ride with several hills and valleys through beautiful forest land. If you are going through during an early morning or late afternoon ride do not be surprised if you spy some of the local wildlife such as a deer or beaver as both are common to the area.

While this valley trail goes on for about twenty miles there are several ideal areas to leave the trail and get back on the road. However there are also many prime and open to the public camping areas. Those who either have the time or were looking to camp in the first place will find there is no shortage of wonderful camp sites. However, if you were only planning on a day trip that is fine as well. The valley trail ends at the edge of the town of Parowan near a small convenience store where you can buy a cool drink or meet with whoever you had plans with to drive you back to where ever you mean to go.

All in all the big drop is a great trail that leads through and astonishing array of trail types and scenery. If ever you have the chance to visit Southern Utah try to make it to Brian Head for this and many other fine trails.

441 Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)

It is not an easy accomplishment for a single trail to satisfy the needs of multiple disciplines of riding. It is particularly difficult in an area lacking the epic combination of long, steep descents forged with technical obstacles. 441 trail, however, magnificently exploits the given terrain to create a ride that should satisfy cross-country and freeride bikers alike. With steep climbs, technical rock obstacles, and tabletop jumps, this singletrack trail is constantly progressing (thanks to hard-working local riders) into a masterful playground packed tight within encroaching development.

The trailhead begins just north of Loop 10 off of highway 441. Accessed with ease from the North Oconee River Greenway, riders often park at the North Oconee River Greenway parking lot at the intersection and MLK and College Ave. to avoid potential parking issues closer to the trailhead. After a quick ride alongside the muddy Oconee River and a skillful set of maneuvers to avoid passing walkers, joggers, and daring eastern chipmunks, exit the Greenway path to the right just before entering Sandy Creek Nature Center. This street will lead straight to Hwy. 441, with the singletrack trailhead directly across the highway, next to a gas station .

As a trail that is completely developed and maintained by a diverse set of local riders, there are no trail markers and no set routes or direction that must be obeyed. In fact, sections can be looped, bypassed, or added to create routes as diverse as the terrain. This review, however, follows a route that maximizes distance and captures a multitude of obstacles, hills, and jumps. The trail begins by squeezing through a pine dominated forest, with sections requiring careful attention to your elbows as to avoid an intimate, yet abrasive encounter with a loblolly pine. Stay right as you follow the perimeter which leads to a bumpy descent, across a wood-plank bridge.

Traverse momentarily, then take a giant gulp of oxygen and begin cranking up a fairly steep hill that includes a natural half-pipe near the top, just to keep things interesting. As you approach the top, the trail makes a sharp turn to the left that descends and traverses across the hill in which you just climbed. Momentum and balance is imperative, for rock, root, and log obstacles lie and wait to claim victim of the approaching, unsuspecting rider.

Continue winding back and forth, with the occasional stretch of ripping downhill. These downhill stretches are certainly well-earned, because hills do not go un-ridden on this trail.

The steep climbs and technical trail obstacles keep the mouths of numerous cross-country riders constantly watering while the occasional well placed set of drops and rock hits can satisfy the likes of any freerider looking to bounce down a trail on their beefy rigs, grinning from ear to ear. Before completing the first section of trail, a series of four drops can entertain any rider of any discipline.

Prepare for a sharp right turn at the bottom of the third drop, a quick ascent, and then a gradual, meandering climb out of the first forested section. The trail leads through a kudzu-ridden field, and is then intersected by a road. Cross the road and press on following the trail into the second forested section.

Quick, tight turns shortly subside and give way to yet another straight, gradual climb. A rock garden awaits you at the top. Upon successfully negotiating the rocks, you are left overlooking a ravine, which has been wonderfully transformed into a small, yet highly entertaining freeride area. Make your way around to the top of the ravine, pick your line and get ready for take off. Two tabletops, a smaller gap jump, a number of different drop-in points, and wall ride allow for a suite of combinations that puts any dollar menu to shame.

After you have had your fun at the freeride pit, you may continue up from the top of the ravine and exit the forest to a power line cut. Alternatively, there is another loop still in its infancy that begins just to the other side of the freeride drop-in. This extension loop descends and traverses the other side of the hill that you climbed moments ago. As this trail is still being developed, sections are not well worn but can certainly add mileage and more fun to your ride as it eventually loops back to the freeride pit that you just left. To exit, ride to the power line cut and head right for a fast downhill section that empties you onto the trail that enters the second forest section.

To return to the trailhead, cross the street following the trail back across the kudzu field and into the first forested section. Instead of backtracking the entire way back, one can stay right once the trail parallels the highway for a finale that leaves your heart pounding as you make fast drops and quick passes through tight trees. 441 trail is a great ride for confident beginners who are ready to progress their riding to the next level. Conversely, more advanced riders will appreciate the technicality of the ride and anxiously wait for what will come next with the ongoing development of the trail. Broken chains, flat tires, and broken arms are not strangers to this trail, so be prepared, be careful, and enjoy this rough, challenging ride, and if it is not challenging enough for you, try riding this route in the other direction.

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate - Advanced
Technical Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Configuration: Loop with some backtracking
Length: 4 miles

Google Map of the Trailhead

Cochran Shoals Mountain Bike Trail (Atlanta, GA)

Cochran Shoals is a 4.2 mile walking, and biking loop that runs parallel to the famous Chattahoochee River. It is a state park trail with a three dollar parking fee required per vehicle.

The main trail is a packed gravel trail making it a great ride for family and mountain bike beginners. If you are feeling a little adventurous, or are in the mood to stretch your skills a little, the trail forks at the 1.25 trail marker. This fork leads to a packed dirt trail that is both narrow and fast (if you’re willing to pedal through it). This offshoot has a few small s-turns but nothing to throw even the most basic riders off.

The dirt trail parallels the main trail for about twenty yards before again merging with the main trail. If you want to continue the main loop you will find yourself on a simple, yet enjoyable ride back to the parking lot you came from, but then you’d be missing the best part.

On the back side of the loop (not the riverside), there are three turn offs to the right. Take the first right turn and challenge yourself with a difficult up hill climb that is known for separating the rock stars from the groupies. At the top of this steep incline lies a small gated cemetery with grave stones from the late 1800’s. As you follow the trail around the cemetery a side trail will pop you out onto a new main trail which spans from Cochran Shoals to Sope Creek. Follow the trail to the right for about a quarter mile and you will start to see glances of houses through the trees on your left.

As far as the trail maps are concerned this is the mid-way point between the Cochran Shoals and Sope Creek, but who needs a map? Now you will turn around so get ready to rule the trail! The first quarter mile will, of course, be what you just rode, but just after the intersection of the cemetery trail, the main trail takes on a nice and lazy slope that will allow you to gain some great speed. WATCH OUT, this part of the trail is infested with wooden cross beams to contain corrosion of dirt, and they have been known to creep up on more than one unwary rider. The easiest way to approach this part of the trail would be to stay to the side and follow the grooves cut by earlier riders.

Ride at your own level, but if you are looking to really kick some butt stay in the middle once the wooden ties are spaced far enough apart because some of these baby’s will drop you two to two and half feet. With the help of the lips on the ties you can get enough air for x-ups, and if you are feeling like really stretching it out, possibly a table top. The downhill ends at the main trail which leads to a nice leisurely ride back to the parking lot.

Chase Street Mountain Bike Trail (Athens, GA)

Despite ongoing development throughout the Georgia Piedmont, it is still possible to hop off of the unforgiving pavement and disappear into a forested seclusion filled with screaming downhills, grueling uphills, and scattered hairpin turns. Chase Street trail is no exception, located just miles from downtown Athens, GA, this trail provides an easy escape for local and visiting biking enthusiasts alike. Don’t let the distance fool you. Chase Street trail can provide a well-deserved sense of achievement for any beginner and more advanced riders can tack on a few more laps for a satisfying pace and even hill-climb workout.

Located off of Chase street just outside of Loop 10, a gravel double track leads west, parallel to Loop 10, towards the trailhead. Like of many of these urban escapes, the trail is not well marked but easily located with a watchful set of eyes. As you approach the forested section on your right, just prior to the steep double track ascent directly ahead, look right for the trailhead that quickly descends into the thick hardwood forest. A subsequent quick left turn begins a series of back and forth traverses that leaves your legs burning and quickly empties you on to another double track alongside a stream. Continue with the stream to your right, looking for a single track that veers off to the left and ascends up the hillside for another section of back and forth traversing.

After negotiating a series of down logs and steep climbs, the trail levels out and leads to a fairly technical rock garden. Easily bypassed to the right, the main trail progresses through a short, yet challenging series of rocks that has left some with a face full of dirt. After a few more turns and a gradual ascent, you are emptied back onto the gravel double track from which you began. Head right and immediately cross the road to enter a very short forested section that quickly spits you back across the same double track and into the second forested section.

Canopies of sweetgum, grapevine, and pine needles envelop the trail as you crank past the remains of old golf carts (due to the neighboring country club) and fly over a wooden bridge crossing another small stream. A steady climb evolves to a steep finish that completes the second forested section. Upon exiting, the trail leads straight to the railroad tracks. For those who have parked at the trailhead, this would be a good spot to turn around and follow the trail back to the beginning to complete a nice out and back ride. Otherwise, some folks opt to cross the tracks and head left that eventually leads to an access road to the boulevard neighborhood of Athens. Another option would be to cross and join with the Loop 10 trail that begins directly beneath the underpass.

Where this trail lacks in technical difficulty, it certainly makes up for in strenuousness. The location and trail length is accommodating for those who want to get a quick ride in after work or pound out a few laps for an intense hill workout. For those driving to the trailhead, the gravel double track had been used for parking as well as surrounding business parking lots. Parking at a business during business hours might not be appreciated so make sure where you choose to park is ok.

Overall Difficulty: Intermediate
Technical Difficulty: Easy
Physical Difficulty: Strenuous
Configuration: Out and back
Length: 2.70 miles

Google Map of the Trailhead