I haven't raced there (yet - I just signed up for this year's race, my first ever), but I live just ~1.5 miles from Burke Farm and ride there several times a week. The trail system is split into two sides.
The main side has a bit of everything. There are a couple miles worth of open, grassy field trails (mostly beginner/intermediate level) and a 4 mile loop through the woods with some flowy sections, a few roots and rocks, and some short climbs and downhills. There are a couple short "expert" sections that mainly consist of steeper climbs & hills, tighter/twistier turns, with some more rocks and roots mixed in.
Then there is the "Expert Loop", which has a separate entrance a few hundred feet down the road. This is a 3 mile loop in the woods along the side of a hill. So it has a lot of technical up and down, one longish rocky hill (maybe 1/2 mile?), a couple true nearly (but not quite!) unrideable rock gardens and tricky rocks scattered throughout, one sweet steep descent ("The Plunge"), a couple narrow bridges, and some log hops.
Last year the race course (6 mile loop) was all on the main side. In previous years they have gone over the expert loop, but I don't know if they will do so again - may have gotten some complaints due to the difficulty. (Personally, I hope they do because I've been practicing over there a bit and improving my skills
.)
I can't give you a comparison to Fair Hill or Fountainhead, as I've never been to either, but hope this gives you a flavor for the trails. In any event, I say come try it out. I like the trails here and think there's something for everyone.
Ted
The main side has a bit of everything. There are a couple miles worth of open, grassy field trails (mostly beginner/intermediate level) and a 4 mile loop through the woods with some flowy sections, a few roots and rocks, and some short climbs and downhills. There are a couple short "expert" sections that mainly consist of steeper climbs & hills, tighter/twistier turns, with some more rocks and roots mixed in.
Then there is the "Expert Loop", which has a separate entrance a few hundred feet down the road. This is a 3 mile loop in the woods along the side of a hill. So it has a lot of technical up and down, one longish rocky hill (maybe 1/2 mile?), a couple true nearly (but not quite!) unrideable rock gardens and tricky rocks scattered throughout, one sweet steep descent ("The Plunge"), a couple narrow bridges, and some log hops.
Last year the race course (6 mile loop) was all on the main side. In previous years they have gone over the expert loop, but I don't know if they will do so again - may have gotten some complaints due to the difficulty. (Personally, I hope they do because I've been practicing over there a bit and improving my skills
.)I can't give you a comparison to Fair Hill or Fountainhead, as I've never been to either, but hope this gives you a flavor for the trails. In any event, I say come try it out. I like the trails here and think there's something for everyone.
Ted
