LHORBA Intermediate Ride

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

This intermediate ride is intended as a roughly 16-mile out-and-back ride but is listed at closer to 12 miles to illustrate shortcuts available for the return trip. This ride features the less rocky trails on the south shore of the Yellow Creek mountain biking trail system, beginning at the day-use area of the Park.

The day-use area also provides restrooms, showers, and picnic facilities along with the Park's beach and boat rental area.

This ride starts at the map kiosk located by a couple parking spaces between the two main day-use parking loops. Some trails featured in this ride are relatively new and may not be shown on the current (9/20) version of the Park map and/or the kiosk map. An image of this area of the Park map is included with this listing.

At the kiosk, you'll cross over to the dirt road climbing the hill. But rather than following the road, continue along the brushline on the hillside above the parking area to the right. The trail cuts into the woods over a small footbridge and begins a gentile climb on the mountain bike version of the Ridge Top Trail. Unfortunately, this is a duplicate naming that also applies to the multi-use trail in the same area, so check the mapping on the MTB Project mobile app if you are unsure of your location.

As you begin your climb, you'll cross another trail that drops to the pavilion to your right and a second trail more on contour. Ridge Top consists of a rooty gradual climb and descent. The other end of Ridge Top MTB returns to a crossing of the dirt road that you saw at the start.

Cross the road and continue your gradual climb on the 6-mile Simpson Trail until it crests and becomes more rolling terrain. You'll cross or encounter several other trails. The ride generally continues straight but check your app if you are unsure.

After a couple stream crossings, you'll dump out onto Campground Road at the perimeter of the Park. The gravel road to your left is a private drive. Your ride will hook around to the right, through a Park gate and onto a grassy section of the road you crossed earlier.

As the road begins to climb, the singletrack "Foundation" section of the trail drops into the brush on the right for a more level flowy section that will bring back to this road again on the other side of the rise.

The Simpson Trail continues across the grassy road and follows a rolling flowy meandering route to the Dam Site Trail. It begins with the "Blair Witch" section of the trail that slaloms tightly through the evergreens. As you round a curve to your left, exiting the evergreens, watch for an informal social trail on your right. You'll be cutting across this 20'+/- link on your return if you are taking the shortcuts.

The trail crosses directly over Campground Road above the Grandpa's Cove boat launch. At Hoffman Road, you'll follow the road briefly to cross a small bridge before re-entering the woods on the opposite side of the road. When you reach Myers Road, you'll bear left to pick up the trail on the opposite side. You'll intersect with the Dam Site Trail just west of its trailhead at Hoffman Road, where you'll have a decision point. These trail crossings may not be readily apparent to vehicular traffic, so use caution crossing the roads.

You can make a sharp left to follow the initially wide grassy Dam Site Trail, bear left across that trail to follow the more challenging, yet-unmapped Billy Goat Trail or hairpin to the right to pick up the Hoffman Road leg of the return shortcut. This ride uses the southern half of Dam Site, crossing over to the shoreline leg via the unmapped, but signed, connector.

The connecter is located beyond the two stream crossings at the base of the hill of the "Soul Sucker" climb. The shoreline segment of Dam Site is a fairly level grassy doubletrack leading to a steeper paved climb on an abandoned section of Hoffman Road.

When you reach the top, you can jog right onto Dam Site again with a quick left onto Simpson to retrace your route for an out-and-back.