East of Cedar

[cheese4brains]

In the review of the River Bottoms, there is a mention of more trail to the south of the river and east of Cedar, "After crossing the creek a couple times, you'll hit the crushed rock doubletrack. Take this up to the top of the bluff. You're there. This section of the River Bottom ends here. There's more, but it's located east of Cedar, and on the south side of the river. "

Has anyone ever ridden this part of the trail, and is it any good?

[seberly]

I've ridden it many times several years ago - you access it from the parking lot/boat ramp area on the south side of the Cedar Bridge (over Hwy 77). Ride straight east from the end of the pedestrian/bike bridge then you'll see a turn to the left - if you get to the road you've gone too far. The trail is typical river bottoms stuff - double track wide area but usually one thin beaten in path - there are 3 or 4 wooden bridges that were built about 6 years ago just east of Cedar. Then the trail goes through some wash areas that are not passable if the water is high, then you end up on a wide X-C trail/road that takes you under the 494 bridge, if you go right you can get up onto the 494 bridge, if you bear left you can follow the trail along the river under the Mendota Bridge, then under the rail road tracks and then as they say to the bluff which is in historic Mendota, you can then loop across the Mendota Bridge or turn around and come back.

It is good mileage but not particularly challenging. Used to a be a great way to get more mileage on a river ride but now with the old Cedar bridge being closed options are limited.