I'll second that! Rode it this morning for the first time. OMG freaking awesome! Those climbs kicked my butt but so worth it. The wet roots and rocks made it even more challenging. I'm pooped.

Had a great ride this afternoon. Rocks and roots were dry by then, and there really wasn't any really slick areas. Got to introduce someone to RRT, too, and now they're definitely adding it to their rotation.

Back raining this morn. I'll see what it looks like later this afternoon.

xplantRVA wrote on 05/19/16 at 9:56pm:


I thought that was an interesting question, so while we wait for Steve's accurate answer, I thought I'd give it a shot using a phone app I have. The app lets you use an aerial view to establish perimeter points and it estimates the acreage inside. As best I can tell, the major part of the trail uses about 83 acres on the part from the old car next to the gravel road to where Stairway comes back out on the gravel road. I didn't do the narrow part to/from the parking area. This could be quite a bit off because I got a little lost on exactly where Stairway goes through that section of woods. It will be interesting to get the correct answer.

xplantRVA wrote on 05/19/16 at 9:56pm:

Pretty sure it's 98 acres, if I recall correctly from the one time I asked Steve a few years back when I ran into him working on a new section.

Well actually one parcel is about 60 acres our dad and mom bought it around 1955 the other parcel was 30 acres they bought about 1982. My brothers house was built on an acre and a half that was cut out of the 30 acre parcel. So about 90 acres. The fields that we planted the pines in were pastures and cotton fields thru about 1990. I didn't do much with that land so far as trail goes. There is an odd spur that was left attached that has the River View option guess it was flood land that wasn't good for much. I've always had a tendency to crowd trail in to an area. Some of the treads are to close but having 15 feet horizontal and 8 to 10 feet vertical helps it get by. I see things I would of laid out different but sometimes you just start and do what you can and make the best of it.

There was about 5/8" more rain Saturday after I changed the status to open. Changing to open was more about giving a heads up for today so folks could make plans. Leaving it open for today and conditions will improve as the day goes providing rain stays away.

Just finished up a lap there.  Thanks for opening Steve.  A sizable limb fell about 30 ft. behind me about a 1/4 mile before Frankenstein.  Heard it crack and could see it fall out of my peripheral.  Very glad I wasn't a couple seconds slower today.
Trail was fun as always and the new section is getting packed in pretty well.

DK, Curious as to what was keeping you from trying this trail with it only being 5 miles away? What can I do to encourage someone like yourself to give it a try?

I live ten minutes away now and love this place. in all honesty theres maybe 2 or 3 climbs, that make you work, but they are over in less than 90 seconds. the pay off is worth it. everything else is perfect and rideable singletrack. If this trail was up north it would be just a standard trail. Nothing overly technical here.

I enjoy Lake Normand and WWC...but this is really one of the best trails in Charlotte.