Christie Lakes has made it their mission over the past couple years to build great, sustainable singletrack. And they have succeeded. With more builds in the works, this trail system will continue to entertain mountain bikers of all skill levels.
Christie Lakes combines great, rolling terrain with man-made berms to make this a great, flowing ride.
Once you enter the Christie Lakes Conservation area, you'll follow the signs that will lead you to the mountain bike parking area. This parking lot will start you off with the
Round the Lake Trail, but is the closest lot to the singletrack riding.
Get your bearings with the trail map, but be sure to have the
MTB Project mobile app loaded and ready to go. There is pretty good signage where the singletrack meets up with the main loops, but many trails will cross the doubletrack several times. This trail system is winding enough that you could get turned around and end up riding the same sections over and over again (which isn't the worst thing ever, either).
Getting started, you are going to want to head over Spencer Creek and look for
Trillium Trail Connector on the left side of the trail. Be sure to stay off the Enchanted Forest Trail unless you are under 12 as this is a Kids-Only area. Stay to the right and enjoy a short climb before descending back down to the Maintenance Rd where you'll cross over and enjoy some great singletrack pine riding.
At the intersection of
Trillium Trail and
Happy Hawthorn, jump on Happy. This trail crosss over
Hill and Dale before winding its way back. At the second meet up with
Hill and Dale, hang a left down over a small bridge before meeting up with
Devil's Punchbowl. Some climbing here, but definitely worth it as great banks on the corners make this a fun section.
Head back to where you left off
Happy Hawthorn and head left to finish it off. Once again, you'll meet up with
Trillium Trail, this time turn right. After a couple quick hairpin turns, you'll meet back up with the Maintenance Rd. Resist the urge to continue on
Trillium Trail, but instead get on the doubletrack for a minute - I promise it will all be worth it when you very quickly hop on
Ebb and Flow South.
This trail has the most climbing and is enjoyable ridden in either direction as the climb is rewarded with quick, tight, bermed corners. EFS will toss you out onto
Lowland Trail for a second before you head left on Maintenance Rd. At the first opportunity, on the right, get back onto the singletrack - this will bring you to
Runway.
Stay to the right and enjoy one of the more technical trails in the system. On
Runway, you'll encounter woop-de-doos, perfect berms, and even some elevated switchbacks. You might want to do this a couple times before taking
Ebb and Flow back towards
Trillium Trail. Stay on
Ebb and Flow until you meet back with Maintenance Rd and again, turn right.
Off of Maintenance Rd you'll meet back up with
Trillium Trail and this time you'll head right to finish this trail off. Cross over
Round the Lake Trail and stay on
Trillium Trail. Follow this until you again meet up with
Round the Lake Trail and head on back to your car, or turn around and do it in reverse.
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