fish67
New Member
Anyone frequent the St. Mary's Lake Loop on a mountain bike? Who maintains this trail?
St. Mary’s Lake Loop - goBIKEMD
St. Mary’s Lake Loop - goBIKEMD
St. Mary;s Lake Loop
- Thread starter fish67
- Start date
dustin
UAIOE
I havent been there in a couple months, but it's pretty good. If you go clockwise, it is more difficult at the beginning. IIRC it's about 8 miles for the loop.
It is fairly technical. After heavy rains there is some thick mud, but there are narrow bridge spans to ride across, a couple other bridges, a few fast, but short downhills, and a few steep but short hills. plenty of elbow room for 95% of the trail, but still single track for 95%.
remember to bring cash for parking ($3 per car in state I think) honor system.
*edit* the roots are not bad as stated in the trail review link, but im used to lots of roots.
from the link, the large, top photo of the trail is the only part of it that is not singletrack
It is fairly technical. After heavy rains there is some thick mud, but there are narrow bridge spans to ride across, a couple other bridges, a few fast, but short downhills, and a few steep but short hills. plenty of elbow room for 95% of the trail, but still single track for 95%.
remember to bring cash for parking ($3 per car in state I think) honor system.
*edit* the roots are not bad as stated in the trail review link, but im used to lots of roots.
from the link, the large, top photo of the trail is the only part of it that is not singletrack
Last edited:
corollinout
Member
It's a little closer to the 7 mile mark. I've never biked it but have walked it with fishing gear.
I've biked it a few times and starting clockwise is def the hardest. Lots of steep short hills, roots and mud. It will kick your butt if you haven't rode in a while. After that it's fairly easy going. I hardly see any horses there unlike Cedarville. It is $3 honor system to park and I've seen the park rangers there plenty of times giving warnings. Most people are to cheap to pay though. I got a season pass.
bulldog
New Member
^^^This^^^ Just a touch over 7.
I have never biked it, but run it with a sport tracking system that has GPS and it's about 7.25 ish.
Crewdawg141
IYAMYAS!!!!!
It is a good time that is made even better by the lack of patties to dodge. The season pass is definitely the way to go!
fish67
New Member
It is a good time that is made even better by the lack of patties to dodge. The season pass is definitely the way to go!
Yes - season pass is the way to go. It will work at Rosaryville and Cedarville as well.
As for who maintains it, that's a combination of DNR and the local mtb community (just getting formalized as a non-profit at SMMB | Southern Maryland Mountain Bikers ).
Shoot me an email if you want to hear more about the group or help out, join the contact lists etc.
We're actively building new trails up into the area between Indian Bridge and the lake now.
Shoot me an email if you want to hear more about the group or help out, join the contact lists etc.
We're actively building new trails up into the area between Indian Bridge and the lake now.
bohman
Well-Known Member
I don't know if it's any worse than other places, but the roots are a factor if you don't have any suspension. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, but by the end of the loop I was jealous of those in my group who at least had suspension on the front forks. Lots of punishment for the hands/arms without it.
It won't stop me from doing it again if I ever get some free time.
dustin
UAIOE
dang, not a bike snob, but i thought most folks had front suspension on their mountain bikes nowadays
you get extra points for goin old school!
bohman
Well-Known Member
I do have a tendency to do that. Also, I don't have squat for spending money at the moment, so new bike/bike parts are out of the equation right now. So it's ride what I have or don't ride, and I like to ride.