More New Trail Coming in 2010!

Mountain bikers will be able to enjoy even more new singletrack trail in 2010 as Brown County State Park's mountain bike trail system continues to grow.

The new trail is being built by Spectrum Trail Designs. Spectrum is the same professional trail building company that designed and created the Walnut Trail, Limekiln Trail, Pine Loop and Schooner Trace Trail in Brown County State Park. Construction has already begun on a new loop that will be located west of the existing North Tower Loop (see trail map). Construction could be complete in the spring of 2010 if weather and trail building conditions are favorable this winter. The loop will be a beginner level trail of 3-5 miles in length that will have connecting intersections on North Tower Loop and Aynes Loop. The trail will be constructed by machine and finished by hand. It will have a similar flow as the very popular Limekiln Trail, but it will utilize more elevation change and be more remote from the main trailheads. It will feature open, grassy slopes with mature trees and some valleys and overlooks. Beginners will love the slightly wider trail tread, gentle slopes and stunning views. Advanced riders will enjoy long sight-lines and the signature Brown County "flow".

The project is being overseen and run by the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association, and it is being funded with money from the $250,000 State Trails Grant that the HMBA received in 2008. The State Trails Grant has also built new trails at O'Bannon Woods State Park, Harmonie State Park and Versailles State Park. When complete, the new trail will push the Brown County State Park mountain bike trail system to over 25 miles in length.

Since trail construction started in 2004, the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association has partnered with the Indiana DNR to make Brown County the Midwest's premiere mountain bike destination.

The Schooner Factor

This is a game changer. Things will never be the same. Before and after. Whatever cliche you want to use, the new Schooner Trace expert trail at Brown County State Park is going to make a huge impact. Bike shops will sell bikes with more suspension. Locals will take their riding skills to a new level. Tall tales will be told. Pain will reign supreme. Bruises and scrapes will appear -- then shin guards. Who will be the first to clean the entire length of this beast?

Although almost all reviews of the mountain bike trail system at Brown County State Park have been glowing, many people have stated that the singletrack was so flowing that it lacked a high degree of technical challenge. Perhaps that was a fair statement. Until now. The 6 mile loop of Walnut Trail (Advanced Black Diamond) and Schooner Trace Trail (Expert Double Black Diamond) will challenge the best mountain bikers around, while at the same time retaining a nice touch of that famous Brown County flow. Those that can clean the rocks, dips, logs, bridges, narrow trail, ravines, drops, moss and switchbacks will notice that there's still a nice flow and rhythm hidden in there.

People are already asking, is it like Squirrel Gap Trail in Pisgah, NC? Is it like West Virginia with it's slick rocks and exposure? Is it reminiscent of this or that trail in Fruita, CO? Nope. It's pure Brown County through and through, but not like you've known in the past. Come ride it if you dare.

Thanks to Alex Stewart for the trail design and the photo!

The "Other" Trails in and Around Brown County

Back when there were absolutely no mountain bike trails in Brown County State Park (way back in 2003!) there was Nebo Ridge, Hickory Ridge, Valley Branch Retreat and Gnaw Bone Camp. Even without the trails in the state park the area had always been the best place in Indiana to get a mountain biking fix. All of those trails are still in existence, and they are still terrific to ride. Together with the trails in the state park there are now almost 150 miles of mountain bike trail within a short drive of downtown Nashville, Indiana.

Since the advent of the amazing trails in the state park, some of the other trails have taken a backseat to them. They are rougher to ride, less accessible and they lack the "polish" and "flow" of the state park trails. They are the yin to the state park's yang. They are everything that the trails in the state park are not. They provide a perfect compliment for the local rider or the out-of-town visitor. The Hoosier National Forest trails (Nebo and Hickory) provide a very remote backcountry experience and feeling that you just don't quite get at the state park.

This is fantastic for mountain biking tourism in the area. It means that visitors can have a wide variety of trail experiences during one visit. I recommend that a visit to the area of more than 2 days include one of these "alternate" rides. A perfect three days of riding would be Brown County State Park-Day 1, Nebo Ridge-Day 2, Brown County State Park-Day 3. If you're staying for a fourth day add Valley Branch or Gnaw Bone Camp, and you'll think you've landed in singletrack heaven. These "alternate" trails aren't for everybody. Your body and equipment have to be prepared. You have to have a sense of adventure, and a desire to get off the beaten path, but if you do, you will certainly be rewarded.

All of the info you need to plan your next mountain biking trip to Brown County can always be found at www.browncountymountainbiking.com.

What's The Best Way to Get An Epic Ride at BCSP?

Lots of things are conspiring to bring an absolute ton of mountain bikers to Brown County in the next week or so. The weather and trail conditions are nearly perfect. The DINO race is upcoming, and the 3-day holiday weekend is on deck. There are groups coming from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and various other places. Over the last few days I've answered more than a few emails that have asked me what the best route is for an "epic" or long ride at BCSP. For kicks, here's how I answered the last guy who asked...

"All of the trails in one day is a big, big ride. I did it a couple of weeks ago and it took about 5.5 hours with a few leisurely stops here and there. You really can't miss no matter what direction you ride, but here's my new favorite route:

Park at Lower Shelter in the shade (leave the other suckers out in the sun on the "main" parking lot). Ride up the new Pine Loop (entrance is in the tall grass in the southwest corner of the "main" parking lot) for a fantastic, gentle warm-up climb. Take it to the North Tower Connector and then take that up to the North Tower Loop.

Go counter-clockwise on North Tower. This is a smoking downhill run!
When you get to the intersection where North Tower Loop meets itself, continue going around North Tower Loop counter-clockwise. This will bring you back around and then you'll get to do the great downhill run for the second time in 45 minutes. Fun!
When you get to the bottom head on over to the Aynes Loop and run that loop clockwise. You'll have a big 'ol climb of about a mile or so. At the top of the Aynes climb you'll stop and rest at the top where it crosses an old, grassy fire road.
When you continue on you will immediately come to a nice technical, sketchy, fast downhill run. The trail meanders (mostly down) to the "frog pond" intersection where Aynes Loop meets the infamous Hesitation Point Trail. Take HP Trail out to Hesitation Point (you'll know when you get there after the 2 mile climb to the top). After gawking at the great view, cross the road and take the technical Walnut Trail all the way to Hoosier's Nest Cabin (good place to rest and refill water). Continue on (trail changes to the super-flowy Limekiln Trail) out to the Rally Campground Parking lot. Turn around and retrace your steps all the way back to the "frog pond" intersection at the end of HP Trail (are you still smiling after the 2 mile downhill?). Take the Aynes Loop clockwise (left) downhill and back over to North Tower Loop. Go clockwise (straight) on North Tower up to North Tower Connector and back down to your car on a dirt-surf down.

This route only skips the Schooner Trace Trail. It's impressive, but it's not quite done, and it takes ~1 hour to go 3.5 miles. It's super, super technical. You can add it on the way back once you pass Hoosier's Nest Cabin and take it out to Upper Schooner Road, but be forewarned you will hike-a-bike some portions. You could also fall a long, long way down ravines.

Also, if you want to add more mileage towards the end of the ride just go the "long way" counter-clockwise back around Aynes or North Tower. If you do this you are officially my hero."

New Video - Dirt Surfing on HP and North Tower Trails

Brown County Mountain Biking Is on Facebook

We're pleased to announce that we've moved further into the social media realm here at Brown County Mountain Biking. We've set up a new Facebook page that's going to make it much, much easier for users of Brown County area trails to connect with one another. It will be a great place to share information, stories, pictures, videos, and just about anything that will fit under that big tent we call the interwebs. Please click on over and join the discussion. Become a fan, tell us about your latest ride or your upcoming ride. One of the best things about riding in the Brown County area is the vibrant riding community and the great people that build, maintain, and use the trails. The trails attract all kinds of folks from all different places and walks of life. Hopefully this forum will further enrich the social side of the Brown County mountain bike scene. We'll see you on the trails and on the web!

The Great Mileage Project

We're busy creating an accurate, downloadable and printable map for the mountain bike trails at Brown County. Up until now, our mileage and distance estimates of the trails have been based on GPS readings, which aren't that accurate for determining the actual distance that your tires are rolling on the ground. The GPS doesn't account for the myriad of dips, twists, turns, and obstacles that a good old fashioned bike computer does. We needed accurate distances for the map. We used two bike computers that were each calibrated by measuring the wheel rollout in millimeters. We didn't use just a pre-programmed setting for a generic tire size. We then averaged our distances to get the most accurate reading (the computers usually measured the exact same but were sometimes different by one or two hundreths of a mile).

We set out yesterday to tackle the task of measuring every inch of mountain bike trail that is currently on the ground at Brown County. I'm going to list those mileages here in case anyone is interested in knowing. This is probably the last time that you'll see these on the web in this kind of detail, so copy and save them now if you want it. I thought that it might be useful for people that ride there frequently and want to record their mileages without goofing with a fussy bike computer. It might also be useful for event promoters that are planning a course.

Well, without further ado, here we go:

Pine Loop: 1.20

North Tower Connector Trail: 1.19

North Tower Loop Short Way Counter Clockwise to Intersection with Aynes Connector: .76

North Tower Loop Clockwise to North Tower Entrance: .59

North Tower Clockwise to Intersection with Aynes Connector: 2.88

Aynes/North Tower Connector Trail: .15

Aynes Counter Clockwise to HP Intersection: .54

Aynes Clockwise to Top of Aynes Climb: 1.22

Top of Aynes Climb to HP Intersection: 1.63

HP Intersection with Aynes to Hobbs Hollow "Clubhouse": .85

Clubhouse to Top of HP: 1.99

HP to Upper Schooner Road on Walnut: .77

Upper Schooner Road to Schooner East Entrance Intersection on Walnut: 1.18

Schooner East Entrance Intersection to Hoosier's Nest on Walnut: .24

Hoosier's Nest to Rally Camp Parking Lot on Limekiln: 2.52

Schooner East Entrance Intersection to Upper Schooner Road on Schooner: 3.07

Upper Schooner Road to Where the Trails Ends near HP (unfinished) on Schooner: .77

That's a total of 21.55 miles of amazing trail.

It took us a little over 5 hours to ride everything with some fairly leisurely stops for refueling and fussing with bike computers and video equipment.

Excellent Conditions Abounding at Brown County

The trails are beginning to mature for the season and get into really prime condition. When it does rain, they are recovering extremely quickly. As long as you avoid riding in the pouring rain or within 12-24 hours of a deluge, you're probably going to find pretty pristine singletrack. The volunteers have been out working very hard, and their work is not going unnoticed. Nice job, folks. This has improved the trails even more. Brown County is known for its pristine, flowing singletrack, and it just keeps getting better. I did a day/night ride last night and the trail conditions are about as good as I've seen them. The plants are growing, the trees are budding, the flowers are out, and the animals are scurrying about. It's beautiful!

Here is an excellent blog post about Brown County with lots of beautiful pictures (like the one above taken by the author) and a fantastic google map that pretty much sums up what it is like right now. Check it out.

Speaking of google maps, we've been improving and tweaking our Brown County Mountain Biking Google Earth map lately, and it's dialed in! You'll need to download Google Earth to view it, but it's entirely worth it. It's all very accurate and up-to-date. Let us know if you have any suggestions.

Article About New Trails at Harmonie State Park Features BCSP Trails

There is a good article about the new professionally-built trails at Harmonie State Park in southwestern Indiana in the Evansville Courier Press. It references the success of Brown County State Park as a major crux of the article. Check it out here.

Free State Park Admission on Sunday, May 3...and May 2 too (see details below)

Get your carload of family and friends in the gate of any Indiana state park, lake or state forest without spending a dime on Sunday, May 3, as part of the annual Welcome Back Weekend, the traditional lid-lifter of the spring recreation season.
"This a great time to visit a DNR property," said Ginger Murphy, assistant director for stewardship in the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. "It's a chance for people who've never visited or haven't recently stopped by to discover a state treasure and save a few dollars at the same time."
Even veteran park-goers will notice something new or updated at most properties. Features include the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza opening in June at Lincoln State Park, new electric campsites at Ouabache, comfort stations under construction at Clifty Falls and Lincoln, new Gus Grissom Memorial exhibits at Spring Mill State Park, improved mountain bike trails at several properties and more than 300 new interpretive wayside signs all around the state to help you enjoy and better understand what you see. For a complete list of improvements and additions, see http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-Property-Updates2009_Successes2008.pdf.
"We hope people will like what they see and buy a $36 Annual Entrance Pass ($18 for ages 65 and older), which will get their carload through any entrance gate for the rest of 2009."
Normal weekend gate fees for most properties are $5 per day for an in-state vehicle and $7 per day for an out-of-state vehicle. During the week, most fees are $4 for in-state and $7 for out-of-state. All other fees will be in effect. The only thing waived is the daily entrance normally charged for any car, truck, bicycle or pedestrian. The entrance fee for Historic Prophetstown at Prophetstown State Park remains in effect.
May 3 is the second consecutive day you can enter a state park or lake without paying a gate fee, but there's a condition. That's because May 2 is annual INShape Indiana DNR Day. Registered INShape participants will be e-mailed a coupon by the end of April. That coupon, when shown at the gate, gets the carload in free on Saturday, May 2 to participate in walks and other activities.
To register as an INShape participant, see www.INShape.IN.gov. To see scheduled walks and activities, visit www.dnr.in.gov/healthy. Information about INShape Indiana also is available at 1-800-433-0746. The INShape coupon is not valid for entrance or camping on Friday night, May 1 or at state forest properties.

Salt Creek Greenway in Nashville Needs Mountain Biker Support

As we’re certain you are aware, the federal government recently passed a stimulus bill to help jump-start the economy. In that bill is approximately $20,000,000 for the state of Indiana to use in its “Transportation Enhancement” program. It is that program, administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), that funds pedestrian trails in Indiana. Brown County’s Salt Creek Trail is aggressively seeking a portion of the funding. We need your help.

What we would like for you to do is e-mail State Representative Eric Koch (h65@iga.in.gov ), State Representative Peggy Welch (h60@iga.in.gov), State Senator Vi Simpson (s40@iga.in.gov) and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman (http://www.in.gov/lg/2935.htm from her Lt. Governor web site) and urge them to support funding for the Salt Creek Trail from the Transportation Enhancement program.

Both the west end of the trail (from CVS to the YMCA) and the east end (from the outdoor swimming pool in Brown County State Park to the west boundary of the school corporation’s Eagle Park) should be under construction within the next year. We have about half of the funds needed for the middle section of the trail, which will connect the east and west ends. Stimulus funding could put us over the top and hasten the completion of the full 2.5-mile, paved trail, a free, public facility for walking, running, biking, etc.

What will the trail do for our county? The recreation and health benefits of trails are obvious. Not so obvious is what communities that have trails are discovering–that trails are economic development engines. They create new businesses (bike shops, ice cream and drink stops, etc.), increase property values along the path, and bring new tourism dollars into the community.

Completion of the Salt Creek Trail has become urgent because of the successful Brown County State Park mountain-biking system, which was recently listed by a national magazine as the second-best mountain-biking trail network in the country. That trail is already bringing in new visitors and money, and as word spreads it will continue to increase in traffic in the weeks and months ahead. Completion of the Salt Creek Trail will allow mountain-bikers easy access from the State Park to Jefferson Street in Nashville, where their dollars will start showing up in shops, restaurants and lodging establishments.

We appreciate your help and look forward to completing the trail!

Bob Kirlin
Chairman, Salt Creek Trail Committee

Tom Tuley
Vice-chairman, Salt Creek Trail Committee

"33 Best Rides in North America: North America's Best Trails"

“Best” is a big word. It’s only four letters long, but it’s hard to apply such an absolute term to something as subjective as riding a great trail. So we asked our readers for help in finding the “best” trails in the USA and Canada. Nominations came in from the four corners of the continent, and the 11 trails we selected—along with two runners-up per category—offer some of the best mountain biking on the planet.





We asked, you spoke. From the best descents in Whistler to the epic singletrack of Moab, Fruita and Pisgah, here are the best trails on the continent, nominated by the readers of Bike magazine.







Brown County Trails
Nashville, IN
This expanding trail system is quickly becoming a favorite destination for Midwest riders. The network started with 9 miles of volunteer-built trails, then an additional 10 miles were added with the aid of a $150,000 federal Recreational Trails Program grant. Now, its 19 miles of singletrack is among the most varied terrain east of the Mississippi. From berms to steep switchbacks to tight trees to rock gardens, these trails have it all. And even more are on the way, with an ambitious expansion plan already in the works.

Brown County Makes List of 33 Top Trails in North America!

I heard through the grapevine yesterday that Brown County was mentioned in the latest issue of Bike Magazine. Supposedly, it made their list of the 33 top trails in North America. Needless to say, this is an amazing accomplishment. The HMBA only began building mountain bike trails in Brown County about five years ago. At that time, Indiana had received the WORST grade of all of the fifty states on IMBA's annual report card. Since then, Indiana's mountain bike advocates have proven that you can make lemonade out of lemons when you roll up your sleeves and get to work. Recognition such as this makes it all worthwile. The amazing thing is that Brown County isn't even close to being finished. The trail mileage will most likely double, if not triple, in the future. I'll post more details on BCSP's ranking in Bike as I get them. In the meantime, start planning your trip(s) to come ride the trails this upcoming season.

Road Bike Race at Brown County State Park

Each year Brown County State Park usually plays host to a terrific, challenging road cycling race. This year the Brown County State Park Road Race is on Sunday, April 26. This is a great weekend to come to the park for some mountain biking and to see some very exciting road racing action as well. The race course utilizes the southern loop from the 1987 PanAm Games road cycling course. The loop goes right by the state park campgrounds, so if you're camping there you'll have a front row seat. As we get closer to the event I'll highlight some of the best spots along the course to watch via a Google Earth map. Circle this date on your calendar and bring your friends and family for a full weekend of some amazing mountain and road cycling.

Avoid Riding in the "Freeze/Thaw" Cycles

This time of year it can be very tricky to mountain bike in Indiana. The running joke that "if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes" seems to hold true more often than not. This makes it difficult to find good trail conditions. Often times, the trails are frozen solid, but it's too cold to ride. Other times, the weather is beautiful, but then the trails are too muddy or soft to ride. The Hoosier Mountain Bike Association has a great description of what freeze/thaw cycles are and how to avoid bad trail conditions.

"When soil freezes all the moisture turns to ice crystals between the particles of the soil, and in clay or loam soil they are tightly packed together. As the moisture freezes the crystals expand and tear the clay apart which shatters it, then as it thaws the soil becomes more porous and allows more moisture in. This is repeated with every successive thaw. In Indiana we can get as many as 100 freeze thaw cycles in a season. Please be very careful when trying to ride the trails in the winter. The best time to ride is when the trail is frozen solid. On days when the temperature goes below freezing at night, the worst thing you can do is wait for the sun to come out and warm up the trail before riding. The trails can be very soft even if it hasn’t rained recently. Even if the temperature stays below freezing South facing trails can defrost in sunlight and turn to mush. If you are leaving ruts in the trail where you have ridden please leave the trail. The ruts will allow even more water to remain on the trail and make it even worse. If people see you riding they will want to ride too, so very soon the trail reaches a point of meltdown. If you would like to find out the trail conditions on your particular trail before driving there please visit the HMBA message boards. All of these trails are maintained by the Hoosier Mountain Biking Association and all the design, maintainance and building work is done voluntarily by local mountain bikers. If you would like to find out more about the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association and how you can help please visit hmba.org.