Click here for help on how to read this trail guide
Directions:
Length:
Technical Level:
Trail Type:
Configuration:
Trail Map(s):
Fee:
Trails:
Amenities:
Links:
Contact:
Comments:
Photos:
Video:
Trail Review:
~5 miles
2+
singletrack; wide path
loops
Spring Creek Greenway
GPS/Google (.kml) (Bike Trails) |
.gpx file (Bike Trails)
GPS/Google (.kml) (Trail Loop) |
.gpx file (Trail Loop)
none
Trail Loop |
Bike Trails | Mid-Loop Trail
Bedias Lake Trails | West Trail
none
• After a significant rain, wait at least 4 days before riding
unavailable
George Mitchell consists
of two main trails: Trail Loop and the cleverly named, Bike Trails.
There is also a Mid-Loop Trail that can garner you a little extra mileage,
but is ideally suited for bailing early. Adequate signage will keep
you on track of where you are and where you want to be, though.
Trail Loop is a nice fast, beginner-friendly loop. Measuring about 1.6 miles,
it makes for a good warm-up loop before hitting the actual mountain
bike trail. There really isn’t anything remotely technical to it and
it’s more of a wide path, but is suitable for getting that certain someone
used to riding knobby tires. There are also several off-shoots, specifically
Bedias Lake Trails and West Trail, that add a little extra mileage,
but are more-or-less out and backs.
The mountain bike trail itself is the big attraction at George Mitchell and
consists of 3 miles of non-stop twisting and turning. Please note, however,
that if you have a bad habit of catching your handlebars on nearby trees
you might want to avoid George Mitchell. Then again, if you want to
quickly break the habit by way of tough love, this trail will certainly
convince you to do so. Non-stop winding singletrack, the straight-aways
are few and far between, and those that do exist are short lived...but
that’s the fun of Flintridge (as it often referred to). There are plenty
of roots to aid in your appreciation of your bike’s suspension, while
elevation changes are minimal, as with most every other trail in this
region of Texas, but that certainly does not translate into a lack of
fun by any means. Just watch your shoulders, your head and your handlebars
and you will keep your smile for the entire ride.
One important thing to note is that during the earlier hours you may want
to keep an eye out for the wildlife that tends to chill out in the middle
of the trail (Trail Loop, in particular) trying to get a little sun.
In one trip around Trail Loop I came across a box turtle; a big, mean
snapping turtle; and two Copperheads. If you come across any of George
Mitchell Nature Preserve’s natural residents, just ride peacefully by
and you should be fine.
~ MountainBikeTx.com(Apr 2010)