Lake Lurleen State Park

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

View the current map of the area at wambarides.org/trails/lake-…

There are no bail out routes on this ride. If you have a mechanical halfway around you have a 6 mile hike to get back to the trailhead (7.5 miles if you were on Five Oaks) unless you swim the lake but that will make the Ranger very unhappy. Be prepared. Take plenty of water, enough equipment to fix two flats and a mend broken chain and a cell phone. (Although you may have to climb a ridge to get a signal) Allow plenty of time to complete your ride before sunset.

This ride uses the following trails:

Lakeside Trail:

This 2-mile trail (one-way) begins at the South Trailhead and ends at the Lake Lurleen Dam. There, it connects to the much longer Tashka Trail. Lakeside Trail is an excellent option for short hikes and as an introductory ride for novice mountain bikers. It follows the lake shoreline, providing continuous, beautiful scenery. Use caution. The trail is shared by hikers, bikers and bank fishermen.

Tashka Trail:

This 9-mile segment begins where Lakeside Trail concludes, at the west end of Lake Lurleen Dam, next to the dam spillway. Use caution. Some sections are steeply graded, sandy, or covered with loose gravel. In addition, the 9 miles contain no shortcuts to either trailhead. Plan accordingly, as you'll be in a wilderness environment. Due to the prevalence of tight turns, long climbs and descents, beginning mountain bikers will find sections of Tashka very challenging.

Ridge Trail:

This 4 mile optional loop is the latest addition to the Tashka Trail System completed in June of 2012. The loop splits off from the Tashka Trail within 350 ft. of the North Trailhead and travels in a southerly direction for approximately 2.3 miles, turns back to the north for the remaining 1.7 miles, and rejoins the Tashka Trail within 150 ft. of the loop starting point. The wide trail corridor and gradual elevation changes make the loop suitable for beginners, as well as intermediate and expert riders. Day hikers and trail runners looking for easy access to a beautiful section of the Tashka Trail System will find this loop exceptional. The loop is open for use in either a counter-clockwise (described above) or clockwise direction of travel; however the beginner mountain biker will likely prefer the counterclockwise direction.

Roadway:

There are 1.3 miles of paved roadways that connect the South and North Trailheads.