Ride Summary:
This is Maryland's singletrack at its technical best! Several steep climbs, not for the beginning rider. These are directions for the way most people go.
Trail Description:
From the Gambrill Park parking lot follow the Blue Trail. At the intersection of trails go right and continue following the Blue Trail. Keep to the right and head up the mountain. This is a steep climb and it comes at you very fast. At about 1.5 miles you'll get to the top. At a Y, stay left and then make a quick right to stay on the Blue. At a dirt road go right then left off the road onto the trail again. Make sure your suspension is dialed in at this point. YEAH - here comes some steep and gnarly singletrack to descend down! This downhill section is just over a mile long. At about 2.8 miles you'll be at the bottom On your left cross the creek and start climbing the Blue trail again. This climb is about 1.5 miles of gut wrenching small ring climbing - enjoy! Continue on the Blue trail and find a dirt road at 5.5 miles. At 6 miles find Gambrill Park road , this one is paved. Even though it's paved, Gambrill road is a nice break from the climbing you've just done. At 9.25 miles find Black trail just before the lookout. There should be a sign here for the trail. Take a left onto the Yellow/Black trail and stay left descending. Turn right near the road and head back crossing Gambrill Park Road. This will take you to the parking lot.
How to get there:
Frederick, MD is about 50 miles from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. From Frederick, take Route-40 West to Shookstown Rd. which you'll follow until making a right onto Gambrill Park Road. Park in the first lot about a half mile up the road
Additional Notes:
Try doing this in reverse. It puts most of the descending and climbing at the end of the ride. Campi
| Posted by: D.Lucas on 3/15/2006 |
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This is in Maryland not Massachusetts
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| Posted by: Nina Mento on 4/9/2003 |
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I grew up in Middletown, MD, just below Gambrill State Park, and used to ride this trail religiously. Its where I learned to mountain bike...which prepared me well for the crazy stuff I encounter now that I'm living in Colorado. There are smooth, fast stretches that allow you to gain speed, when suddenly, you come around a corner engulfed with tree roots, knife edged rocks, and a drop-off into a creek that takes you into a fern gully. The initial loose rocky decsent with log step-offs make you wonder why you're not hiking, but then you stop to spray yourself with some OFF (the bugs are terrible) and you look around to see yourself surrounded by the most beautiful trees, streams, wild mushrooms, and ponds that can be encountered in the area. Keep your head up, pedal hard, get dirty, and thank god for the watershed. I still miss this trail living in one of the mountain bike capitals of the world.Nina Mento..Aspen, CO
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| Posted by: Tom Palermo on 6/5/2000 |
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The Blue Trail could definitely be a "masochistic" trail depending on how its ridden. I have partaken in out and back rides of the Blue Trail that were over thirty miles long and took around eight hours to complete (with breaks to eat). These rides were done in late FEbruary and early March sometimes with snow on the ground.
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| Posted by: RIDE ON!!!!!!!!!! on 4/27/2000 |
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This route is only the tip of the iceburg in this area. Seek and you shall find.
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| Posted by: jose on 3/27/2000 |
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This is a great trail , Its got its easy riding and its hard . The hills where great and rough . This trail would have to be an A+ .If you want a challege,go here it fun and tiring !Have fun people and be safe.
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