Trail Conditions - MN River Bottoms (West)

[Rebecca]

We are planning on taking some 'newbie' bike riders out tonight for their first off-road experience!

Does anyone have any updates on the rideability of the West Side of the River Bottoms?

[G man]

Rode west and east and back again this morning. Major concern is the first water/creek crossing. The boards that look like a bridge are actually floating. I took a pretty good spill. Trails are actually in good shape a few puddles. It is drying out fast.

[Rebecca]

Thank you for your reply! Then we shall be riding tonight at MN River Bottoms (West).....

If there are any other "newer" people that would like to join us...we drive a BIG BLACK Conversion Van!

[TrailPatrol]

Thank you for your reply! Then we shall be riding tonight at MN River Bottoms (West).....

If there are any other "newer" people that would like to join us...we drive a BIG BLACK Conversion Van!
Come back to the River Bottoms on Sunday, 1:00PM, Lyndale lot and Ride with the Patrol!

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans

[cheese4brains]

I just got back from riding the bottoms west from the Bloomington Ferry Lot to the 9 mile raft. The trail is in rough shape.

There are probably about 20 small muddy areas - they're the usual ones plus a few extra. Given the wide range of people who bike the trail, the trail is about 3 lanes wide in these areas, so you have the choice of riding through or around without causing much extra damage. :cryin: Where it's not muddy the trail is generally tacky, and even the usual sandy areas seem packed down. The benefit here is that you can take the corners faster, but watch out for the mud ...

There are two areas to watch out for. Just to the west of the raft the trail is flooded out for about 10-15 feet. You can WALK around it w/o a problem. More good news - there doesn't appear to be any type of man-made bypass started, but I'm willing to bet things will change when we get to the warm weather next week. The other more important area, mentioned elsewhere, is the first big gully to the east of the Ferry lot. It's flooded to about a foot and a half deep, and the pallet that was there was really only designed to mitigate the mud and not act as an actual bridge. Dismount and walk through - it's the only option. Your shoes WILL get wet. The river is a good 5 feet from flooding over the banks completely in most other areas.

IMHO there are better trails out there right now. I personally wish I'd have driven the extra 15 minutes to Lebanon this AM - I'd have been much happier. The combination of slowing to ride through mud and dismounting to go around flooding took most of the fun out of what is usually a fast and fun ride.

[Mateo]

The other more important area, mentioned elsewhere, is the first big gully to the east of the Ferry lot. It's flooded to about a foot and a half deep, and the pallet that was there was really only designed to mitigate the mud and not act as an actual bridge. Dismount and walk through - it's the only option. Your shoes WILL get wet.

I have a good picture of this "floating" pallet crossing here: http://overthemountains.com/gallery_06-04-04.html

As long as you respect the muddy spots, it's a good ride right now...

[nigel]

WOW thats some high water in those pics!!!!!! Great pics tho, looks like ya'll had some fun :) Guess i'll avoid it Sunday if it rains tonight or Sunday!
D

[TrailPatrol]

I rode the west side today, and the trail was in great shape. Not too many people riding. They must have been at the State Fair. Trail is solid in most areas, and sandy in the usual spots. Pretty dry, all things considered. Everyone was behaving, too. I didn't hand out any IMBA rules cards! :mad: The raft is pretty useless again as the water level is way down.

Supposedly a hiker broke her arm on the other side of 9 Mile, but I wasn't there. Ironically, it was mountain bikers who found and helped her and called 911.

Ride safe,
:banana:
Hans