Montgomery Bell State Park Mtb Trail

Montgomery Bell State Park Mtb Trail

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	Montgomery Bell State Park Mtb Trail
Location:	Tennessee
Nearest Town:	White Bluff ,Tn
Directions to Trailhead:	From Nashville Tn, take Hwy 70w to White Bluff, Tn.(Approx 30 miles) After passing the Shell station on R and the Park Motor Co.on L, take your first R onto Jones Creek Rd.Passing the Ebbtide boat plant, take the next R onto Bill Duke Rd and immediate R into trailhead parking lot. Alternate interstate route is I-40w to Hwy 96 exit (Fairview/Dickson). Take L off ramp towards Dickson. Stay on 96 until it tees into Hwy 70 (approx 10 miles)then take R following signs to the park. Take L onto Laurel Furnace Rd (last L before park main entrance)and it will T into Jones Creek Rd. Take a R and 2nd left into Bill Duke Rd. Take immediate R into parking lot.
Trail Description:	This trail is now offically opened after five long years of intensive volunteer work. It will be a true testament to all who gave so unselfishly of their free time to make it happen. The trail is all singletrack created specifically for mountain biking by people who actually ride bikes and followed the IMBA school of design through out. It gives the rider a little bit of everything, tight& technical,longer fast lines, extended climbing, log & water crossings, and even a little downhill section.All the while enjoying some of the nicest hardwood forest scenery with a spring fed stream running down the center of the property. The best feature of this spot is the soil that drains like a sponge so you can literally ride it year round! Only during Jan/Feb/March do we get the dreaded freeze/thaw thing which we will observe a temporary closure if conditions warrant. At this time the trail is made up of two loops that emanate from the main trailhead. Going to your left takes you on the shorter five mile loop consisting of short, tight technical lines. Taking the right loop at the base of the trailhead (after taking R at trailhead, take next R after culvert), you will be on the seven mile section which is longer lines with more climbing. This is also the section where you will access the oneway downhill section. There will be more trail developed in the next year which will encompass longer straight sections as well as some surprises! We hope to have in the neighborhood of about 25 miles of singletrack when finished! If you are interested in pitching in to help, please contact me @ swankmotee@hotmail.com or through < Harpethbikeclub.com>.
Trail Length:	Approx 13 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Trails for all skill levels
Web Link:	http://Harpethbikeclub.com
Submitted By:	Tommy Hatcher

tnmtnbiker from Nashville Date: July 5, 2003 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Only did the 5.9 loop. There is a 7 mile loop also. Other recommended trails in the same area: The only other trail on the west side is Bowie Nature Center and that is usually closed if there is a whiff of rain in the air. The best place to ride is Lock 4 in Gallatin.
Review: Did the 5.9 mile loop twice. The trail is in great shape and very smooth. This loop has a lot of turns and you can't get a lot of speed going because you never know when the next sharp turn is coming up. There are lots of logs placed over the trail and there are several creek crossings that are tricky. There were some trees down that blocked the entire trail. Not recommended for newbies.	Overall Rating:

biker from nashpatch Date: May 13, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: good from either direction Other recommended trails in the same area: In order of preference: HC, Lock 4, Montgomery Bell, Chickasaw Trace, Fairview
Review: Great work to all who helped work on this trail. It's really great to have people doing such outstanding work so the rest of us lazy slobs can enjoy and critique their work...God bless America! The trail is fantastic. It’s becoming a favorite. Whoever said this trail handles water well hit the nail on the head! I’d say it's waterproof! (Almost, ok it’s water repellant.) Now for the criticisms: The extremely sharp rocks ripped a couple of tires to shreds, but that's what I get for running Python Air Lights with Ultra Light tubes. I’ve got to give someone heck for the goofy entrance to the 7 mile loop. Come on, let's find some really tight trees and see how many times we can turn between them. I hope the guys who worked on these trails are ribbing whoever laid out that section. I see bikers are already bypassing the insanity. Being the first and last taste of the trail, it makes you forget the rest of the cool stuff including a few fast downhills. Aside from that, great work! Outstanding job!	Overall Rating:

rob feature from nashville Date: April 13, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: ? Other recommended trails in the same area: lock 4, hamilton creek, chickisaw trace
Review: all work and no play jack!!! perhaps i took the wrong route...i'm guessing this since i met most riders there head-on. but this trail was no fun. too slow. and the funny thing is...there aren't that many technical areas...just tons of little things to break momentum. it's obvious that somebody put lots of work in this trail, so i can't knock it for that. it just ain't fast enough for me. these also happen to be some poorly marked trails, so take a map or something. i coudn't find a map anywhere out there and i got lost...tons of switchbacks here.	Overall Rating:

Jim Hargrave from Hendersonville, TN. Date: March 29, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: We went right... Other recommended trails in the same area: Lock4 Gallatin, Hamilton Creek-Percy Priest Lake
Review: Very nice work on these trails. We were having so much fun we got lost but just follow the creek and it all makes sense. Lots of gradual climbs for cardio work and plenty of tight turns, logs and drop offs. Can't wait for summer riding in the shade. Really nice dense forest. Had some ticks when I got home but I just threw them in my wife's salad. Wednesdays are free. If I lived in the area ,I would get a season pass. thanks to all the people who worked their butts off on this trail.	Overall Rating:

Kirby from Kingston Springs Date: March 16, 2003 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: doesn't matter. For those who do not know, the park just recently built a pay station at the parking lot of the trail. The cost is $3 a day to park. I rode there this past weekend not knowing they had built it and had no money to pay. Had to take the warning ticket. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: I thought this trail was great. I am a beginner rider and was very challenged by these trails. They are very windy which really helps me develop my speed with control of my bike. This trail is really sharpening my skills and desire to ride. Thank you to Tommy Hatcher and all the others who helped to built this trail.	Overall Rating:

jim from petway Date: February 16, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: I like to take the first left on the short loop becuase it seems like a faster ride.Either way its a great place to improve your skills and if your not tired after the short loop try the long one at the end of the entrance trail. Other recommended trails in the same area: If you drive all the way to white bluff and its to wet try the chaetam game reserve just 12 miles from Montgomery bell and you can find solid ground
Review: The quality of this trail is excellent but if we dont all respect the rules and stay off the trail when its wet it wont last.I live close to this trail and am thankful to the one who carried out the task of getting this trail built.I wish I had found out about the work that was being done sooner so I could have helped.but I am contacting tommy to heip on the rest.	Overall Rating:

C Moore from Nashville Date: January 22, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: ALL Other recommended trails in the same area: LOCK 4 IN GALLATIN,CHICKSAW IN COLUMBIA
Review: SHORT LOOP IS TIGHT AND TWISTY NOT ANY LONG CLIMBS AND A FEW LOGS LONG LOOP IS NOT AS TWISTY SMALL CREEK CROSSINGS SOME CLIMBING A FEW LOGS NEW SECTION IS JUST BUFFED IN FAST WITH GREAT CLIMBS AND DOWNHILLS ALL TRAILS DRAIL VERY WELL!	Overall Rating:

Jeff from Nashville,TN Date: January 3, 2003 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Any direction,This is a great trail in any direction you choose to ride.For the shorter loop(almost 5 miles) take the first left after entering the trail and ride clockwise.For the longer loop(appox 7-8 miles) go straight after entering the trail and then go right after you go thru the culvert. Other recommended trails in the same area: Lock 4,Columbia, fairview (if it is open) and LBL in Kentucky.
Review: This trail is great, the best single track in the Tennesee area.I've rode this trail 5 times since it officially opened and it is in great shape. It looks like it will hold up to rain very well.Thanks to Tommy Hatcher for all the hard work on this trail and getting it open for everyone to ride. Lots of log crossing, several creek crossings.plenty of climbimg and nice switchbacks.Lots to keep you busy while riding this trail.This is not a trail for beginners (thats just my opinion).While riding this trail last week I meet a couple from South Carolina that had just been on a mountain bike riding vacation out west.They said this trail and LBL was better single track riding then any where they've been.	Overall Rating: