I'm Confused...

[Apollo]

Will someone post a link mapping out the canal singletrack so I can better understand the layout and where I should go and not go when riding the trail. I have ridden it 3-4 times but I'm confused from the get go. I understand the basic idea of going clockwise on odd days and counter clockwise on even days, but after I start there are multiple forks and different routes. What do the markings on the trees mean, like the section with the two big X's? Maybe all of this stuff is common knowledge but after all I just started riding and I am finding the canal's singletrack very difficult to navigate. Even a written explanation would suffice; I've got the whole spatial relation/ visual memory thing on lock, so if one were to just explain I think I could figure it out.

[ehscott]

I don't have a map, I bet somebody else does. It is a little confusing until you get used to it. The Red X sections go to the bluffs over looking the river. It is very pretty, but a little dicey in a couple of spots where there are roots and rocks that one can get a little hung up on, and it is a good ways down to the river if you fall there. I know a fair number of people who pass on that section. I have never paid any attention to the other markings on the trees.
When I am going clockwise, I make a left at every fork (except where down by the ponds where you come out of the woods and turn right back towards the trailhead) and when I am going counterclockwise I go right at every fork (except left at the end of the ponds to go back into the woods).

[dgaddis1]

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF THE MAIN TRAIL

The main trail is a figure 8, sort of. There is a small loop on the northern end, a larger loop on the south, and they're connected with a single piece of trail, so that section is two way traffic. It's the REALLY fast straight near the main trailhead, fastest when coming in towards the trailhead.

The X's on the trees mark the Razor's Edge section, like ehscott mentioned. Razor's Edge is NOT shown on the map linked to above, but it bypasses the 2-way section of trail. Razor's Edge is cut into the side of a cliff basically. Very fun section with some challenging short but steep rooty climbs. But there is one place the trail fell off into the river, and if you're not careful you could too...and it's a long drop to a bunch of rocks. So watch your speed in there, especially the first time you ride it.

Best advice I can give you for finding your way around is two fold:
1 - follow the path most traveled
2 - come out and join us tonight! Every Weds. Drew leads a ride at the canal from Andy Jordan's bike shop downtown. We ride from the shop, and leave at 6:30. Drew can't ride tonight, but the rest of us are still riding.

When going clockwise there is one fork you should not take. It's well after Razor's Edge, and you want to stay right. If you go left you end up on some side trails that go thru a bunch of gullies and eventually link up to the southern access trail shown on the map above. Those side trails are usually in rough condition and I don't think they're officially supposed to be there.

[Apollo]

Thanks guys I think I have It figured out at this point, now I just need to ride it again and see If I dont get confused. I can't wait to actually take full advantage of the trail without second guessing my navigation mid-ride. You boys have fun tonight, I've got to study about heart functions and disorders. yaaay.