Description for Charles Fork Lake Trails
Charles Fork is a multi-use area with over 25 miles of trails surrounding a mile long lake.
The trails were developed by local mountain biking enthusiasts and are one of the most beautiful venues in the east. The mostly singletrack trail system offers great riding for all levels of mountain bikers.
FIREROAD
A rolling extra wide trail following the ridge around half of the lake. The Fireroad leaves the west side (right side when facing the water) of the parking lot and begins an 8/10 mile climb to the ridge. A couple hundred yards up you'll come to the intersection of Lakeview Trail which bears to the left. Continuing straight, the Fireroad climbs through 2 switchbacks then levels off slightly where Jungle Pass enters from the left. Up ahead on the Fireroad is an outstanding overlook of the lake - take it in! After another short climb the trail tops the ridge and immediately drops off to the left through a low gap and bears left into the woods. This section is fairly smooth and rolling so pick up some speed before the next climb which is steep but short and so you can power over it pretty easily. There's a nice drop on the other side - a little rough at spots. The second uphill section is pretty steep but once you huff up and over the trail descends fast and smooth and runs along the edge of the ridge for another 1/2 mile or so before reaching the next uphill. This 3rd climb is longer but more gradual then the first two and has a shorter downhill on the back side. Just as you reach the bottom Tombstone Pass cuts back to the left. The Fireroad continues out the ridge. You'll climb slightly and enter a section of pines where you meet Point Pass on the left. Two more easy climbs will bring to the top of the decent. The trail falls easily at first then curves to the right and drops hard and rough. At the farm gate a left will take you on the gnarly downhill which is just that. At the bottom you'll bounce over some old culvert and splash through the creek and end up at the back of the meadow. As you near the front of the meadow, Lakeview Trail comes off the brushy hillside on the left. Continue across the low water bridge to the gravel road - TURN LEFT towards the lake. As you near the lake, Charlie's Challenge will be on your right.
JUNGLE PASS
Gets the most traffic as a way to bypass the Fireroad climb. This 0.5 mile trail leaves Jungle Pass: Gets the most traffic as a way to bypass the Fireroad climb. This 0.5 mile trail leaves Lakeview about 3/4 mile out and climbs steeply through pines and young trees to meet the Fireroad at the top of its major climb. A left will take you around the lake. However, one of the best kept secrets is the ride down Jungle Pass. If you ride the lake in the "other" direction, drop down this trail on your way back or climb the Fireroad and go down Jungle Pass to Lakeview.
LAKEVIEW TRAIL
Leaves the Fireroad a couple hundred yards from the parking lot. The 1st part of the trail alternates between meadow, brush, and forest. 3/4 mile out Jungle Pass cuts off to the right - continue straight. About a mile out there's a challenging mud hole and hump to negotiate and soon after the trail moves into mature forest and winds through a series of 5 deep coves. Coming out of the first cove you'll whip through a nice downhill section past the horse-drawn mower and make a horseshoe turn within sight of the lake. There's a primitive camping area with a fire ring and picnic table down over the point towards the lake. From here you'll make your way through 2 more hollows before coming to the cemetery. (you're 2/3rds of the way to the back of the lake) The cemetery has several marked graves dating back to the early 1900's. Just past the cemetery, Lakeview bears off to the left and Tombstone Pass heads straight up the hill through the tall grass. Continuing on Lakeview there's a short uphill (very challenging when wet) where you can practice distributing your weight properly. Things get a little rockier through this last section which runs along some narrow hillside trail and in and out of the last cove. You'll pass evidence of earlier inhabitants and hit a nice rolling stretch coming out of this last hollow - let it rip. A slight uphill will bring you to the junction of Point Pass which drops down from the Fireroad. Masochists turn right here and pedal up the hill. All others keep left on Lakeview which begins a decent to the backside of the lake. The trail here is fast and switches back several times before bouncing you out into the meadow. You're at the end of Lakeview.
TOMBSTONE PASS
Another short connecting trail between the Fireroad and Lakeview - very steep and rough at places. Tombstone leaves the Fireroad about 3 miles out. It's easy to miss since it cuts back hard to the left at the bottom of a hill - the signpost is often overgrown. After the 3rd climb on the Fireroad you'll shoot a downhill which levels off before you'd like - you just pass it. Turn around and give it a try! Tombstone will roll easily along for a while and then begin to drop off the ridge and will keep you on the brakes until you shoot out into the old orchard to meet Lakeview by the cemetery.
POINT PASS
This single track alternative to the gnarly downhill leaves the Fireroad about 1/2 mile from the back end of the lake, turning left into a section of pines. The trail travels along the ridge for a while then begins a white knuckle drop, weaving down a narrow point with some serious drops and rocky surprises along the way. A switchback at the bottom brings you to the junction with Lakeview at the top of its final decent into the meadow.
CHARLIE'S CHALLENGE
This trail is rolling and fast in some places, rocky and technical in others. What makes the challenge is a major climb at the rear. Leaves the gravel road at the back of the lake and begins a gruesome climb. After the initial climb, the trails levels off for a bit where it meets Trevor's Trail. At this point, Charlie's cuts hard to the right and continues up about 50 yds. then turns left. About half up this next climb, the trail bears left - don't continue up the hill since you will leave city land and get onto private property. Follow the trail along the edge of the hill, around a point and onto a bench that leads around a small bowl. The trail will hug the hillside eventually running through a brushy area and up and over a small point. The head of the hollow is reached via a rough section of trail which crossed the ravine just below the ridge and continues to hug the hillside on its way out this cove. About 1/4 mile ahead you climb to the ridge by a hay barn. Here the trail bears left and widens rolling along with pasture and some nice views on the right. After a short climb the trail goes left. Take a break and walk over to the to the fence line on the right for a great view. Back on the trail you'll a rolling decent with a steep drop near the bottom. At the bottom of the hill you again meet Trevor's Trail. This next section of Charlie's is made for speed, Let it Rip! ( Of course if you want to take it easy there's lots to enjoy at a slower pace also) You'll begin by zipping along some nice rolling sections that will soon turn rocky but again give way to a fast paced section. Don't get too carried away cause you're in for some quick drops and a few short sharp climbs. About 1 1/2 miles in there's a very serious 4' drop. You'll soon see the big rocks watching you from the right - kick it up a gear. When you pass the old barn foundation you're in the home stretch with about a mile to go. You can see Gunnar just ahead, spectators begin to dot the woods, cheering you on, as the trail rolls quickly along through awesome dips and turns. A refreshing scent whips at your nostrils as you enter a section of pines where the trail cut left and down. You're now screaming but aware of the tricky turn approaching at the bottom. As you round the curve, you jump to the big ring and glide along the bench above the lake to the top of a steep switchback which will shoot out across the dam and back to .....reality.
TREVOR'S TRAIL
Technical sections with sharps turns and ups and downs make up this trial. Lots of fun! Trevor's leaves Charlie's Challenge after about a 1/4 mile climb from the gravel road. The trail winds its way to the back of another cove, gradually climbing towards an upper bench, then slowly drops back out over several trees and rock piles before ripping its way through tight ravines to climb onto the back of the whale. As you drop of the whale look straight out to see an excellent section of forest. If you want an additional challenge, turn around and try pedaling up the face of the whale. Another short climb will bring you to the worst root on the trail followed by more root rattling as you pass through a stand of large beech. The woods will open a bit as you near the point where you rejoin Charlie's which will drop in from the right.
LOW GAP SPUR
This trail leaves Charlie’s Challenge at its high point on the ridge next to the overlook. Low Gap Spur drops away from the ridge at first but then turns back towards the fence line and some more excellent scenery. From here the trails begins its drop along the fence then, veering to the left, the trail follows an old farm road to the low gap. Here the trail turns slightly to the left for the last downhill shot that will bring you back to Charlie’s close to the big rocks. Ahead on the left a short distance Chadway Trail cuts down the hill.
CHADWAY TRAIL
This new section of trail offers a more challenging ride dropping in and out of several steep ravines. The trail leaves Charlie's a short distance from where Low Gap drops in and falls off to the left. After a short decent and climb, it moves quickly along a bench before transversing the first ravine. After that you'll find yourself in an section of smaller trees and brush (more or less below the old log barn foundation on Charlie's). Once you're back into the deep woods, get ready for technical riding. You'll cover this convoluted section by following the edges of ravines then dropping into them and climbing hard out the other side. We have provided assisted at two spots with a bridge and some major rock construction. When you're through this section, you'll make a very hairy decent along the edge of a ravine on a very narrow section of trail. At this point, you'll be very close to the lake and the trail will join up with the "fisherman trail" that leads from the dam to the first cove. Unless you want to go that seclude cove where you might accidentally fall in the water, bear right and Chadway Trail brings you into Charlie's again in the middle of the switchback that leaves the dam.
CHADWAY TRAIL
This new section of trail offers a more challenging ride dropping in and out of several steep ravines. The trail leaves Charlie's a short distance from where Low Gap drops in and falls off to the left. After a short decent and climb, it moves quickly along a bench before transversing the first ravine. After that you'll find yourself in an section of smaller trees and brush (more or less below the old log barn foundation on Charlie's). Once you're back into the deep woods, get ready for technical riding. You'll cover this convoluted section by following the edges of ravines then dropping into them and climbing hard out the other side. We have provided assisted at two spots with a bridge and some major rock construction. When you're through this section, you'll make a very hairy decent along the edge of a ravine on a very narrow section of trail. At this point, you'll be very close to the lake and the trail will join up with the "fisherman trail" that leads from the dam to the first cove. Unless you want to go that seclude cove where you might accidentally fall in the water, bear right and Chadway Trail brings you into Charlie's again in the middle of the switchback that leaves the dam.
Log Cabin Trail
Overall this is a rather technical trail with no major climbs. It leaves the backside of the small meadow just above the parking lot following an old logging road. Soon after you enter the woods it makes a steep drop and crosses a rocky ravine. After meandering along, the trails makes a very steep climb and begins to make its way up to the next bench. There are some nice rocky sections thru here and the trail dips in and out of a few ravines. The trail pretty much follows this bench passing through some brushy areas and meets up with an access road that comes up from the meadows below the dam. (this was the downhill course several years ago). Follow this road to the left (uphill) thru a brushy meadow. Soon after you get back into the woods, the trail angles off to the left onto single track again. [you can stay on this access road and climb to the top of the ridge and by keeping left meet the Fireroad] Log Cabin trail follows this bench around for a while then the trail angles up the hillside to the next level. The trail stays on this bench and winds around and meet the Fireroad about halfway up to the ridge. From here you can continue up and ride the Fireroad or cut down Jungle Pass and do Lakeview.
Information provided from: http://www.charlesfork.org/
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