Cross Ridges Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

This route starts with approximately two miles of flowing singletrack followed by a climb on doubletrack to the high point in the park at around 2,400 feet at the fire tower.

Shortly after the fire tower, the route re-joins the singletrack for approximately four miles with some technical descents and climbs through the backcountry.

Climb up Front Hollow Road to Leadbetter Gap and head along the reservoir back to the dam and the finish.

Bays Mountain Park has a $5 per car entry fee, you can join for a year for $25. The park has a planetarium theater and collection of animals including wolves and reptiles and other activities.

To start this featured ride, leave the upper gravel parking lot near the maintenance shed heading onto Chestnut Trail. The first 1.6 miles were built for mountain bikes and are flowing singletrack to the intersection of Azalea Trail. Turn right up the Azalea Trail onto the wide singletrack to begin the climb to the antennas on the northeastern point of the park at the two-mile mark.

At the end of Azalea Trail, turn left up to the antennas and onto River Mountain Rd for an up-and-down, sometimes steep, climb to the fire tower at the 4.4-mile mark. Past the fire tower, bear right on Indian Pipes Trail and re-join the singletrack for the next four miles.

Indian Pipes Trail passes the Bear Run Trail trailhead and continues into the park's backcountry for a little more than a mile of fast singletrack descent. Arriving at a four-way intersection with Pretty Ridge Trail and Kiner Hollow Trail, turn left onto Pretty Ridge Trail and begin a sometimes technical descent on singletrack with several tight and rocky hairpin corners and one rocky drop.

At the bottom of the descent, cross Back Hollow Trail onto Cross Ridges Trail (CR). Just after the start of Cross Ridges Trail (CR), you'll cross a small bridge recently added to the trail to begin a gradual climb on singletrack to the intersection with a footpath, Cherry Knobs Trail, at the top of the ridge.

Continue down Cross Ridges Trail (CR) to the intersection with Front Hollow Road. Cross the stream and turn left on Front Hollow Road, which is doubletrack with a couple of short, rocky, technical climbs up to Leadbetter Gap. From Leadbetter Gap, head straight ahead and downhill onto Lake Road which descends to the reservoir on a doubletrack road. The ride finishes at the reservoir dam.