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Post by mudonthetires on Nov 9, 2010 19:08:11 GMT -5
Hey guys, new to riding the area, if I want to ride just Mistletoe and not do any connectors over, will I have to pay to park every time I want to ride?
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Post by brianW on Nov 9, 2010 20:05:30 GMT -5
No if
1. ride early before the rangers show up
2. get a GA State Park season pass
3. learn the "back" entrance to Mistletoe off of Ridge Rd. (part of the connector) You can park at the end of it and ride in. Sure someone has better directions for this than me.
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Post by kconner on Nov 9, 2010 21:04:23 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to the sport....when looking for some new trails to ride, I searched Google Maps and found a map called "CSRA Mountain Bike Trails" that have all the local trails marked (including the back entrance to Mistletoe). I was able to download this and view it in Google Earth as well as on my Blackberry  |
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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 9, 2010 22:04:14 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to the sport....when looking for some new trails to ride, I searched Google Maps and found a map called "CSRA Mountain Bike Trails" that have all the local trails marked (including the back entrance to Mistletoe). I was able to download this and view it in Google Earth as well as on my Blackberry Hey, that's my map! That's the same map you get when you go to one of the Trails pages on our website and click the link to get directions. Here's another link to it.Go down Ridge Rd. It will turn to gravel. Keep an eye out for a white gate that will be on a fork to you left - park there. Ride your bike around that white gate and go down the woods road. Stay left at any fork you get to. Eventually there will be singletrack on your left, close to the bottom. It may be hard to spot with all the leaves down. If you reach the water, you missed it. Important thing to know - if you park at the back entrance to the park, be sure to wear your orange. You have to ride through some land that is hunted before getting to the state park property. |
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Post by kconner on Nov 9, 2010 22:23:39 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to the sport....when looking for some new trails to ride, I searched Google Maps and found a map called "CSRA Mountain Bike Trails" that have all the local trails marked (including the back entrance to Mistletoe). I was able to download this and view it in Google Earth as well as on my Blackberry Hey, that's my map! That's the same map you get when you go to one of the Trails pages on our website and click the link to get directions. Here's another link to it.Go down Ridge Rd. It will turn to gravel. Keep an eye out for a white gate that will be on a fork to you left - park there. Ride your bike around that white gate and go down the woods road. Stay left at any fork you get to. Eventually there will be singletrack on your left, close to the bottom. It may be hard to spot with all the leaves down. If you reach the water, you missed it. Important thing to know - if you park at the back entrance to the park, be sure to wear your orange. You have to ride through some land that is hunted before getting to the state park property. Thanks for putting it together, it will be put to good use! As far as the back entrance is concerned, what is the parking situation? It appears on Google Earth that there is plenty of room to park without blocking access, and I'm assuming this is not on private property? |
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Post by brianW on Nov 10, 2010 6:06:49 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to the sport....) Just to give you a heads up, Mistletoe, in my opinion is the hardest trail in the CSRA. Check out the creek crossings and other technical sections before riding them. The loops themselves are not well signed unlike FATS or Bartram so bring a map or better yet someone that has ridden the trail before. That being said it is a very fun trail. |
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Post by dgaddis1 on Nov 10, 2010 7:52:04 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to the sport....) Just to give you a heads up, Mistletoe, in my opinion is the hardest trail in the CSRA. Check out the creek crossings and other technical sections before riding them. The loops themselves are not well signed unlike FATS or Bartram so bring a map or better yet someone that has ridden the trail before. That being said it is a very fun trail. +1 I may be riding out there Sunday afternoon, I could show you around if you wanted. |
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Post by JIMMYC on Nov 10, 2010 8:55:00 GMT -5
forgive me for asking, it been a few years, but there was a small parking area just outside the gate at Mistletoe. That's not there anymore??
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Post by Mark Y on Nov 10, 2010 9:43:18 GMT -5
forgive me for asking, it been a few years, but there was a small parking area just outside the gate at Mistletoe. That's not there anymore?? It is there and I was wondering the same. Can't one park there without charge? |
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Post by wala on Nov 10, 2010 9:50:43 GMT -5
May not be a popular opinion, but ... why not just support the State Parks and pay the parking fee? The state parks are in need of funding and the parking fee isn't outragous.
If you ride there often then get an annual pass. It will also get you into Fort Yargo and Unicoi.
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Post by seenvic on Nov 10, 2010 10:12:02 GMT -5
May not be a popular opinion, but ... why not just support the State Parks and pay the parking fee? The state parks are in need of funding and the parking fee isn't outragous. If you ride there often then get an annual pass. It will also get you into Fort Yargo and Unicoi. +1. Thanks for saying this. |
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Post by JIMMYC on Nov 10, 2010 11:13:30 GMT -5
That's alot better than what I had. What is it $3 a car? pretty cheep for piece of mind.
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Post by Mark Y on Nov 10, 2010 11:13:32 GMT -5
I'm a proponent of use fees, but Mistletoe is a little steep @ $5. If one rode that loop several times a year, then I assume the pass would be worth it.
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Post by kconner on Nov 10, 2010 13:40:30 GMT -5
Just to give you a heads up, Mistletoe, in my opinion is the hardest trail in the CSRA. Check out the creek crossings and other technical sections before riding them. The loops themselves are not well signed unlike FATS or Bartram so bring a map or better yet someone that has ridden the trail before. That being said it is a very fun trail. +1 I may be riding out there Sunday afternoon, I could show you around if you wanted. I'm actually recovering from a broken foot  and the doctor isn't letting me on a bike for another 3 weeks. That being said, I'm going to start back on Bartram and the Canal to get back into the swing of things.... |
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Post by seenvic on Nov 10, 2010 17:05:24 GMT -5
$5 per ride is steep. Isn't a parking fee? So, 3 people going pay $5 split 3 ways???
I think Wednesdays are free. Not sure. Pretty sure I heard this on NPR at some point. Also, I think I heard you can "check out" a park pass at the public library and gain free entry. I'd check up on all this stuff as I am not 100% sure.
Only time I ride Mtoe is if I park at Keg Creek and ride over on my bike. Not doing this to skirt the fee, it is just the ride I do when I go over that way.
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Post by wala on Nov 10, 2010 18:22:17 GMT -5
Seenvic is right. It's $5 per vehicle and Wednesdays are free. You can "check out" a park pass at the library for free. The annual pass is $50.
I'd like to catch one of the group rides from Keg sometime soon, and learn how to connect the two trails.
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Post by dparrott on Nov 10, 2010 22:27:14 GMT -5
Big advantage for parking at the Ridge Road entrance is saving gas money and time if you live in the CSRA.
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Post by Mark Y on Nov 10, 2010 23:41:52 GMT -5
Big advantage for parking at the Ridge Road entrance is saving gas money and time if you live in the CSRA. Didn't think about that. I can get to Ridge Road a heckuva lot quicker than I can all the the way to MSP. |
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and the doctor isn't letting me on a bike for another 3 weeks. That being said, I'm going to start back on Bartram and the Canal to get back into the swing of things....