Much like one of the earlier posters, I think something that would help increase ridership would be to model your trail system similar to Poplar Tent...a very easy to follow main trail that runs through the property and everything else is a loop off of that main trail. Poplar Tent was like going thru an amusement park: you could pick and choose which of the "rides"/options you enjoy the most or have time for and skip the options you don't want to ride that day. I can do that anyway at RRT because I've ridden it so many times, but many riders can't and certainly no new riders can do it that way. Someone who is nervous about the Plunge or Ski Run could easily skip that section and continue with the rest of the trail without confusion. As it is, a rider not really familiar with RRT about has to follow the trail from start to finish, including a few things that they really don't want to ride, in order to avoid getting lost. Navigation is actually simple, but that's not immediately evident to a rider new to the trail.

You've currently got a few elements like that...Heartbreak, Death Valley, and the Riverview Loop. It would be easy, for example, to make the first drop to the river (ending in the River Climb) an optional loop by simply having designating that as an option and having the main trail do essentially a u-turn just before crossing the dam...after going through the pines for the first time, turn left before crossing the dam and pick up at the top of the River Climb.

I don't think it would take too much to follow that design with the rest of the trail.

There's not all that much about RRT that's really difficult for an intermediate rider...just a few sections. If people could skip those sections and be able to enjoy the really unique qualities of the rest of the trail, I think maybe more would go out there.

I've been twice, and really had fun. But I got turned around a couple times. I'm sure I missed some. Would love to go back if it was little better marked. 
Thanks for all the work out there.

Chat with some local shops to have demo and or group “show me the trail day”. Most shops have emails lists and such. Or instagram; create a page for trail and show rider pics from trail cameras or candid pics when your working.

I don't get to ride as much as I would like to these days due to work, kids, etc... I can probably count on my hands at the moment how many times I've ridden this year so far and possibly my hands and feet for last year included.  When I do get out it's more of a stress reliever than anything and I'm looking for maximum payoff (fun) vs all the effort.  So, that usually means berms/flow/rollers/jumps.  Don't get me wrong, if I was riding as much as I used to several years back (2-3x+ a week) this would be the go to place which it used to be for me.  Albeit I believe RRT to have the best and maybe fastest downs... they are short but then max effort to get back up.  While great for those looking for that, for me as stated, MTB is a stress reliever and a way for me to rejuvenate after a long week/weeks/months of working and personal commitments.  I would imagine that there are quite a few that also fall in this camp.

That said, one thing I would love to see more in the area is more use of corners/berms.  I'm not talking Kerr Scott massive berms... but, just fun changes of directions.  Instead of Bee Line straight away's add in some turns/corners/berms.  Even for the strava folks, when you go slow on berms and corners and are G'ing-out and hitting them hard it still feels like you are going fast regardless how slow you take those.  It brings and element of fun as well as challenge to see how fast you can hit corners/rail berms.

River run, ski run, and a good bit of the downs at RRT feels like an all out pedal to see how insanely fast you can go straight (which is fun but then also becomes too short).  That said, peppering in some jumps along these sections would also add a lot of fun factor.  If we look at the CLT area, Cedar Valley at Fisher Farm/Allison farms is totally unique and it brings this run factor.  That said, it' is also machine cut so even after a few laps you are ready for something else.

What I love about RRT... it's so natural/raw/ and steep in some sections... and what would be totally unique to the area would be a natural/raw trail with the above features added.  Flow trails don't have to be bench cut trails and neither do jumpy lines.  Not to mention, instead of a long straight away... some  small banked/bermed corners would be awesome, changes of direction (not trail reversal to redirect the trail which RRT has lots of) .... some nice tight S-turns.  This IMHO is all pretty feasible and could possibly be easy to do at RRT since most people who love it love it cause it's raw so this doesn't need to be a perfectly sculpted machine trail.  Build it and let the riders find/sculpt the line through it.  It would only be a matter of modifying small sections of trail to put in an S-turn and small berms here and there... An S-turn (corners/berms) would essentially make you go in the same direction the existing trail is already going.

As far as jumps, RRT is blessed with terrain and these can be peppered here and there given the natural terrain.  Cedar Valley for example doesn't have any jumps that are huge with massive lips but given the speed, how, and where the jumps are placed it provides lots of opportunities to catch nice air.  I think RRT is one of the crown gems of the area and has so much potential.  For fun... I'd willing to donate time/effort where I can since it is one of the closer trails to me and I'd gladly ride there over the new trails that have popped up recently.  But, that's just me... maybe most won't see any value in this.

Ok I am late to the party but I would like to put my 2 cents worth in. As others have said prior. I do enjoy the climbs the more difficult trails and the feel of being away from everything. With that said, I do not want to climb like that every time I ride. Maybe because I am getting older and don't race like I used to.. So not really sure myself on how to get and stay on the green loop since the signage is not very detailed. If the sign's could get better then I would prob. go ride here a lot more even on days I don't feel like climbing. I would still come here vs the overpopulated Sherman. So I don't think taking every technical section out of the trail is the best technique, but maybe making the green loop more visible and maybe adding some extra options to keep it fresh and flowing.  Also adding a porta jon would def. help. 

Try to address the Green Loop misconception. Pretty much it is not a separate loop other than 3 I believe very short pieces. The first 2 of which are about 20' each. Green Route would be a better term. Starting at the kiosk the "main trail" begins, at a juncture after the old house trailer where Mr Myers resides there is a page that explains the Green Route. This cut thru eliminates the downhill run to the river and the climb back up. Doing the marked left turn continues to next marked area Valley Bridge that has a marked left turn that rejoins you with the last bit of the Gorge climb. This pops out at a table and couple chairs and also is adjacent to the previously ridden trail looking ahead should be an arrow directing you into the pines. From there you will travel up and then go around an old shed located to right. This will lead down and around and thru pine field back around the same shed which now is on your left. Next you will come to a sign indicating turn left for Green Loop. Down and up and you rejoin the Main Trail and a sign saying top of stairway. continue on to parking area and kiosk. I believe that what is being asked for are more signs to reinforce confidence that the rider is still continuing on the right path. 

Another note I view RRT as one continuous loop 14 miles long. However there are many sections that have names to help identify pieces of trail. Folks that have been riding here since they were parking in my yard and the trail was only a few miles long see it differently than those that are new now see it. For example No Name Extension is just that trail that was added at a later date.  Years ago No Name Climb led to Kamikaze downhill and up Stairway. Heartbreak is an addition to the No Name Ext as Death Valley is an Addition to Heartbreak. So for a rookie to get to those two sections of trail you will have to do the No Name Ext. However those addition are easily by passed if you just want to continue on the No Name Ext. The next section is Ole Chunky named by Enoch for its earlier descriptive nature. The Plunge and Via Duct are located on this section. Best advice is to ride often enough that it becomes familiar and break it up into pieces and lengths you like. I ride a modified route that is about 6 1/2 miles with only the gorge climb. included most of the rare times that I ride. 

Well I'm sure we're all thoroughly confused and there will be an open book test on Monday.

Hey Watcher - I've ridden RRT 4-5 times, all in the last 10mos or so.  If it were closer I'd ride it alot more often but it's a little too far to fit in the "quick ride" weekly rotation.  The trails were a bit confusing the first time riding them but if you pay attention to where you are it isn't hard to figure out.  After two rides of everything, it all made sense.   

I'm not in super shape these days so skipping death valley/heartbreak and the last river loop option makes for a great challenging ride.  The full 14mi is a legit beatdown!  Thanks for building the most challenging trails in the area (this side of Old Fort)

Cherokee wrote on 09/26/19 at 5:55pm:


That's a good point.. only reason I usually skip is because I'm totally gassed by that point!

Your best option would be to use mtbproject app to plan your ride.

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Their is also a detailed map at the  Board at the trailhead, snap a pic with your smartphone and all set!