Stanky Creek

Stanky Creek

	Stanky Creek
Location:	Tennessee
Nearest Town:	Memphis/Bartlett
Directions to Trailhead:	Take I-40 to Sycamore View and proceed north on Sycamore View to Bartlett Rd. Proceed north on Bartlett Rd. to Yale Rd. then left... the parking lot is the first drive on your right. Trailhead is obvious.
Trail Description:	Approximately 6.5 mile loop with different variations of riding it. The trail is not for the beginner. It is tight and twisty singletrack with abundant switch backs. There are not any hills in this area of considerable grief... but the trail has a lot of fast and tight singletrack sections. This is technical riding at its best in this area. Also there's a bonus jump course near the end of the trail.
Trail Length:	@6.5mi
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Advanced
Submitted By:	Daniel Duckworth

Mike from Germantown, TN Date: July 7, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Any route, really. It can be kinda confusing. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Rode this trail yesterday morning. It is a great ride. I enjoyed it much more than Tour de Wolf or the Wolf river trails. Stanky creek provided some good downhills, and AMPLE opportunity to develop technical skills. MUCHO twisty singletrack thru trees. Be careful, because some of the passages are narrow. As for the tree roots, they just add to the challenge of the trail. Any skill level should be able to ride here, just vary your pace. Also, watch out for the poison ivy.	Overall Rating:

Julz from Memphis, TN Date: May 5, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Try them all Other recommended trails in the same area: Tour de Wolfe(for endurance), Montgomery Bell State Park (nashville), Canal Loop(Land Between the Lakes)(bit of a drive for those two...but well worth it if you are looking to really develop your technique and stamina!!!!)
Review: Ok, I read the reviews here and hit the trail this weekend with high expectations of a good hard ride. I must say it didn't deliver. Now, don't get me wrong...the trail is a lot of fun. But I didn't find it to be particularly challenging. The trail is well maintained (thanks trail guys). I will be back to Stanky Creek when I need a fun ride. I would recommend this trail for beginners or people looking for a fast fun ride. If you want a hard core ride, to build endurance or technique...keep looking.	Overall Rating:

K Swan from Atlanta Date: March 24, 2003 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Follow the map. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Good ride. Nive obstacles. If you are not an oompa loompa you will need to duck often. For a flat trail, fun workout. Good job on the trail by the trail guys.	Overall Rating:

John Kizer from Chapel Hill, NC but go to school in Memphis Date: February 13, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Any and all. You won't have a problem having fun, I never ride it the same way. Each path is equivalent, and I'm sure you will ride them all. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This is the best trail in Memphis for sure. Outside of that area, I cannot say. In regards to my derived utility, I love these trails. Great up and down action; multiple creek crossings; switchbacks are enjoyable; one very steep hill; and contrary to that chump says about the roots, they are imperceptible with any decent suspension. Ride it after a rain if you really want some fun. Oh yeah, any skill level will undoubtedly be comfortable. Ride as fast as you feel suites your	Overall Rating:

Rock from Bartlett Date: December 2, 2002 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: White trail counter clockwise(start at east end of parking lot and go to right), yellow trail "backwards" (after finishing the white trail go straight at the intersection where white and yellow trail signs are) Other recommended trails in the same area: Tour de Wolfe for endurance training
Review: I ride this trail 2 to three times a week. Wish I had read your description of "not for beginners" before learning to ride here. Will sharpen skills quickly, but not without some "painful" lessons. I still enjoy the trails and can't wait to get out despite bruised ribs and pretty bad thigh bruise. This is a really fun set of trails that taught me a rule of biking..."you never ride the same trail twice". Trails change after rain, storms with washouts, fallen trees, etc... Worth the trip to get there and try out(one group I met came from over an hour away). Be careful the first few times out, there are some roots on downhill turns that are hidden from view (especially with leaves on the trails). As noted elsewhere, bring lots of water. Also approach bridges carefully, sometimes the entrance to bridges gets washed out a bit.	Overall Rating:

Mike from Memphis Date: November 25, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Lakeland...
Review: I ride Stanky Creek 3-4 times a week during Spring and Summer. It's a good ride. Some fun technical stuff like the descent on the blue trail, the creek crossing on the yellow trail etc..etc... Some of the elements of this trail require superior skills to master. I'm not saying you need to be an expert to ride here but I've seen many a people have to walk their bikes to get over or around sections of the trail. Lots of poison ivy (I got it 4 times last year) and after a big rain, plenty of new dead-fall to mix things up. There's also a bmx type pit that you can work on your jumping skills on. Lot's of kids hang out here and there's also hikers w/ unleashed dogs to keep you on your toes.	Overall Rating:

Shawn Whiz from Cordova, TN Date: August 31, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: enter trail at west end of parking lot and once on the trail always make left turns whenever you can. this should ensure that you ride the full length of the trail.. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: this trail is quite long do to it's twisty nature but can easily be ridden in less that an hour. this trail is also tight in some spots but overall has plenty of space to let it rip. the most annoying part of this trail is the continuous crossings of tree roots.. although it can be considered somewhat fun and technical, by the end of the trail even the small roots were more of a nusiance than anything.	Overall Rating:

Kenny from Nashville (formerly Memphis) Date: November 6, 2001 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Follow the directions at the top of the page Other recommended trails in the same area: Challenge course, Herb Parsons, Lakeland
Review: I'm reviewing the trail based on my thoughts, not telling everyone else the route they should ride. For the past couple of years, I've raced XC and 12 hour races on this course. The first single track section is so technical, I felt like I was in a drive through waiting to put in my order for a faster trail. I guess that means I need to hone my technical skills. Then, I hit the downhill and hard right at the bottom and never stop smiling from that point on. It's easier to get your HR up to keep a good pace once you're a mile or a mile.5 in. It also seems to be of benefit to cut your bars down maybe a 1/4 inch on either side. It's a great trail and is very well maintained. I especially liked the old bike frame hanging at the "info board."	Overall Rating:

Brad Hoel from Millington, TN Date: July 21, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: They're all good! Other recommended trails in the same area: Have'nt been in town long enough to find others
Review: I have ridden mountain bike all over the world and must say that "Stanky Creek" is by far one of the best technical rides I have found. It's all there! I was very surprised to find such a great ride so close to home. Thank you to all who have put in the time and effort to make it the great ride it is.	Overall Rating:

Brad from Cordova, TN USA Date: November 3, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: follow the white arrows Other recommended trails in the same area: I am new to the area and cannot reccommend any other good trails yet.
Review: This is one of the better trails in the Memphis area, as it is all single track and has a good mix of rolling terrain. The creek is definitely "stanky" and a well chosen name for the trail. The trail is marked, but you must look closely in some areas to insure you are following the route correctly. Be sure to attempt all of the challenging areas, such as large fallen trees with wooden ramps which have been constructed over them.	Overall Rating:

Bob Giffin from Millington, TN Date: October 24, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Enter white loop by kiosk(info board) and you hit the new section before the fire road(its nice and technical). Stop by "AIR CITY" to check out the latest jumps. Hit the yellow loop and finish with the blue loop big downhill. All and all it is 9.0 miles now with the 3 new sections. Thanx MRC(Memphis Racing Cyclists). Other recommended trails in the same area: NONE. This is the best around!
Review: White loop is 4.3 miles. Yellow loop is 4.6. Blue is 1.3 with a great down hill. Great time! Summer time it runs real fast. In the Fall when the leaves drop, well it gets tricky. Then winter time it gets real fun with the rain and mud. Oh, bring water.	Overall Rating:

Cary Hazlerig from Bartlett, TN Date: January 28, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Go in trail at the parking lot and keep going straight to ride the older loops. After about 1 minute, come out at a clearing and go over the bridge. Go straight to ride 1 loop and veer left to ride 2nd loop. Also, to ride shorter, more treacherous and fun loop, start at parking lot, go into trail and turn left where downhill ends (about 15 seconds). Turn left where road forks and immediately right after that. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Excellent singletrack for Memphis region. Such a great variety of loops. (3 in all) plus a BMX section in case you feel like thrashing. This is like a mountain bike fun park. It's all here-- some rolling hills, steep downhills, creek crossings, bridges, Ultra-tight wooded sections, jumps...........it's all good. Be careful of a couple of funky crossing bridges. Can be confusing if you've never been there before. There used to be a map on the trailhead but it got torn down. Thanks to the former MRC for making this trail happen. Watch for a possible annual "12 hours of Stank" daytime/nighttime race this spring.	Overall Rating:

ben pruitt from bartlett Date: December 20, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: the parking area in on the north side of yale road, west of bartlett blvd. Other recommended trails in the same area: lakeland
Review: my preferred route is to enter the trail on the west end of the gravel parking area. approx 50-100 yds in there will be a trail that takes a hard left. this part of the trail is about 1 mile and has the best downhill in this region. when you get back to the main trail take a right and go back to the parking lot. enter the next trail at the east end of the gravel parking area. depending on the turns you make----you will be in for 5-8 miles of the finest riding in west tennessee.	Overall Rating: