Standing Rocks
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.001% chance of precipitation, CLOSED! Just kidding but that place closes if there is a drizzle in the air. Kinda pisses me off as I went out of my way one time to find them closed. It doesn't make much sense either considering the type of soil there which dries quickly. I'm all for protecting the trails but they go a bit overboard.
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Word to the wise, too: don't ever ride Standing Rocks trails if they're marked "closed", no matter how dry it has been and how dry the trails actually are. I headed up there this past Memorial Day, only to find the trails closed. I thought it was strange, given that the last rainfall was more than a day earlier, and it certainly wasn't much. A "local" just coming off the the trails told me that they were open and completely dry, but because it was Memorial Day, the county parks people likely didn't change the sign.
I took him for his word and headed out. A few miles from finishing (and a few miles deep ino the woods), a county parks truck w/ two rangers pulled up along a parallel ski trail and gave me a long lecture and threatened a $180-some dollar fine for riding a closed trail. I explained the situation and the misinformation I received and was let go with a warning. (sidebar: The trails are too wet for bikes, but ok for trucks?)
It's pretty surprising how aggressive they are with closing this trail. I completely agree with closing wet trails and I never ride trails that are wet, even when they're open. However, we live in a state where (in the summer) it rains every few days. That makes it pretty hard for anyone outside of Stevens Point to plan a ride at Standing Rocks, and I'm sure many avoid it, knowing the county's reputation for closing. Just seems a little heavy-handed, and I know many agree.
I took him for his word and headed out. A few miles from finishing (and a few miles deep ino the woods), a county parks truck w/ two rangers pulled up along a parallel ski trail and gave me a long lecture and threatened a $180-some dollar fine for riding a closed trail. I explained the situation and the misinformation I received and was let go with a warning. (sidebar: The trails are too wet for bikes, but ok for trucks?)
It's pretty surprising how aggressive they are with closing this trail. I completely agree with closing wet trails and I never ride trails that are wet, even when they're open. However, we live in a state where (in the summer) it rains every few days. That makes it pretty hard for anyone outside of Stevens Point to plan a ride at Standing Rocks, and I'm sure many avoid it, knowing the county's reputation for closing. Just seems a little heavy-handed, and I know many agree.
Just to put it in perspective, I live ten minutes away from Standing Rocks and haven't ridden there once this season. I've bought season passes in the past, but with all the rain, it would have been a waste of money.pmdishwash said:
No one should ever, ever plan a trip just to go to Standing. Not only because there's a strong chance it will be closed, but because if you're driving some distance, you might as well go to Nine Mile or Underdown or Levis. Don't get me wrong, Standing is nice. But you can find better places that will definitely be open.
And the even better news is that there are more miles of singletrack being added at a couple other places here in central Wisconsin. Hartman Creek has five miles right now and will have a full ten in the next year or two and apparently they are continuing to build at Big Eau Pleine.
I have a theory that perhaps some want the numbers of MTBers at Standing to be down because they aren't crazy about having it there in the first place.
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Why is it like this?
Strange place this Standing Rocks is? Enjoy riding there usually when I am passing thru the area, but don't put it high on the list since I had a strange experience there. Parked my vehicle there and went out for a ride and when I got back went exploring on the gravel roads to some of the local lakes and had some guy following me around and back to the truck. He proceeded to lecture me about being on the trail? Apparently it was closed and when I told him I did not see any sign he got angry and said I should have called first and would have found out it was closed. He threatened to fine me, but I argued one should not have to call, besides I had no number to call anyways and the trail should be posted closed. Visibly upset he got out and put a closed sign on the trailhead and I asked why it was closed. That really pissed him off and he answered because of weather. Never did understand, because the trail was dry and in great shape and no threatening weather. I've only been back one more time and I did not pay!
Strange place this Standing Rocks is? Enjoy riding there usually when I am passing thru the area, but don't put it high on the list since I had a strange experience there. Parked my vehicle there and went out for a ride and when I got back went exploring on the gravel roads to some of the local lakes and had some guy following me around and back to the truck. He proceeded to lecture me about being on the trail? Apparently it was closed and when I told him I did not see any sign he got angry and said I should have called first and would have found out it was closed. He threatened to fine me, but I argued one should not have to call, besides I had no number to call anyways and the trail should be posted closed. Visibly upset he got out and put a closed sign on the trailhead and I asked why it was closed. That really pissed him off and he answered because of weather. Never did understand, because the trail was dry and in great shape and no threatening weather. I've only been back one more time and I did not pay!
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I've ridden there twice....both times the trails were open....glorious good times with no hassles. I rode in my first mtb race there some time in the later 80's.....the standing rocks cantilever classic.....when people raced in blue jeans....So I guess I've ridden there 3 times, cuz I didn't count that first race. Whoever built the new singletrack there did a really nice job. I have a picture somewhere of those trails.....ahh yes, here you go.....with no lecture and good tidings.
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Nice pic. Don't read me wrong, although I had one strange experience I still have ridden there a half dozen times and always enjoyed the ride tremendously and I will continue to ride there. I will just need to get a number and call ahead. Going to help my brother out with an airport ride from Milwaukee this coming weekend, so I might hit Greenbush on Sunday morning early afternoon?, and then possibly hit Standing Rocks if I am heading back on Monday. Might drop my brother off in Fond du Lac and make a late night run home on Sunday?, not sure yet. Will post to try and hook up with some riders?
Yeah, they seem to close the trail after any chance of rain. I bought a season pass last year and got my moneys worth out of it. Bought one this year and I've only ridden it 4 times since May. Hopefully we get a break from this rain (as I type this I look at the radar and see more storms headed our way). After a ride last year I did the singletrack and was waiting back at my vehicle in the parking lot for my girlfriend who was picking berries in the park. A park ranger comes up to me in a John Deere Gator and asks to see my trail pass. Being that I wasn't on the trail & sitting in my vehicle I though it was a little odd but proceeded to show him my pass. That's the only time I've run into any park rangers at the rock. Heres the # to get the current mountain bike trail conditions. 715-824-3949. If memory serves me correct Gomez, that looks like the rock garden when you enter trail section 2
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Hey Costanza thanks for the phone number. Might try to ride there Sunday morning if they are open.
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I wouldn't hold your breath. Chance of rain Friday and Saturday.Steve O'Punc said:
I've read through this thread and felt I should respond to some of the comments being made.
I am member of the Point Pursuit bike club which does the maintenance on the trails at Standing Rocks.
The county has a policy dating back to the 70's that states the trails will be closed for 24 hours if more than 1/4" of rain falls in a 24 hour period. More rain means more time drying. How they came up with this number I'm not sure. We have to live with it because I cannot find any info that would help in this regard. The county is also being very aggressive in trying to control the garlic mustard within the park. Mud on tires is a good way to spread GM seed. Safety is always a concern with the county.
Add to this that we have had a wet end to June and over 3X the amount of rain in July than is normal and yes the trails have been closed a lot. I can assure you that the park managers are frustrated that they have had to close the trails as much as they have this year - sometimes opening the trails only for a few hours.
Some of the problem is the logging that was done last fall. It has created some areas in section 1 that take a long time to dry out. Even today there is a huge muck hole on section 1. Anybody who has ridden there this year knows what I'm talking about.The other problem is that a mountain biker and a park manager have different views as to what wet and dry are.
Who ever said that they think the county has an agenda to eliminate or discourage mountain biking simply does not know what they are talking about. The county has always cooperated with us since the trails were open 7 years ago.
I hope this gives you some insight as to why things happen the way they do. I strongly encourage you to call ahead.
Jim S.
I am member of the Point Pursuit bike club which does the maintenance on the trails at Standing Rocks.
The county has a policy dating back to the 70's that states the trails will be closed for 24 hours if more than 1/4" of rain falls in a 24 hour period. More rain means more time drying. How they came up with this number I'm not sure. We have to live with it because I cannot find any info that would help in this regard. The county is also being very aggressive in trying to control the garlic mustard within the park. Mud on tires is a good way to spread GM seed. Safety is always a concern with the county.
Add to this that we have had a wet end to June and over 3X the amount of rain in July than is normal and yes the trails have been closed a lot. I can assure you that the park managers are frustrated that they have had to close the trails as much as they have this year - sometimes opening the trails only for a few hours.
Some of the problem is the logging that was done last fall. It has created some areas in section 1 that take a long time to dry out. Even today there is a huge muck hole on section 1. Anybody who has ridden there this year knows what I'm talking about.The other problem is that a mountain biker and a park manager have different views as to what wet and dry are.
Who ever said that they think the county has an agenda to eliminate or discourage mountain biking simply does not know what they are talking about. The county has always cooperated with us since the trails were open 7 years ago.
I hope this gives you some insight as to why things happen the way they do. I strongly encourage you to call ahead.
Jim S.
Well spoken jims. Good information, and as usual, the local people doing the work are the ones who know what is really happening. It is easy for people that do not know what is going on to make judgements. And as I have found just about everywhere, the local governmental bodies want to work with good responsible organizations.
BTW: For any planned trip, especially a day trip, it only makes sense to call the trails you are going to and make sure they are open.
BTW: For any planned trip, especially a day trip, it only makes sense to call the trails you are going to and make sure they are open.
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