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Mohican State Park Mountain Bike Trail

About This Trail

Mohican State Park's MTB trail, our longest single track mountain bike trail in the area, is located just outside Loudonville OH. From the MYB trailhead parking lot it's approximately 25 1/2 miles total, with all but about a mile of riding being sweet flowing singletrack.

The first few miles are burners - you'll spend most all of it climbing. Thats not to say that once you get to the top of that first few miles its all smooth sailing downhill - oh no, you get your downhill break, but you earn it with the climb right back up afterwards. Along the way you'll encounter the occasional technical spot like logovers and bridges, but for the most part, until you pass the 20 mile mark the vast majority of the trail is either flowing singletrack or climbing. From 20 miles on, you'll encounter rock gardens and flowy pumptrack-like stretches of trail. None of which is impassable by a beginner, but you shouldn't be seeing beginners this far in.

The first 8 miles are multidirectional but from that point on it's one-way (counter-clockwise) traffic. Hikers may be on the trail so keep your eyes open; there are wilderness campsites located throughout the park that are nearby to the trail.

Need to Know
Bailout points are limited, and just because you hit a road crossing bailout point does not mean you have an easy cruise back to the lot. Be prepared to ride a good deal. There is an out at around mile 8, and again at the covered bridge (mile 12), another around 16 and another around 20. Get a map from the campground office (they are a couple of bucks), or use the MTB Project mobile app if you think you might need to bail before completion as there is no signage at the road crossings directing you how to get back to where you started.

Description
Starting from the MTB parking lot, which is across from the campground entrance, you'll head under the bridge on Rte 3 and sweep back towards the campground. You can either ride the clearcut through the trees, a nice grassy lane, or take the road to the campground entrance. Once there, cross over the campground parking lot to the trailhead. There's a small sign at the edge of the woods. From there, the trail is pretty distinct, and anywhere a hiking trail intersects, there will be a trail marker of white 4" PVC pipe mounted on a post- quite easy to see. The same markers are used as mile markers over the entire distance of the trail.

The trail passes through stands of coniferous and mixed deciduous forest, has a few stretches of shared doubletrack (equestrian trails), and a short stretch of road ride from the covered bridge to a real grinder of a climb. A couple of gas line right-of-ways, and a couple of road crossings, are the only interruptions in the flow until you get past mile 23 and have to cross the campground road for the final leg.

Notable spots, as best I can remember...

As you climb from mile 7 to mile 8, make sure to stop and say hi to the gnome.

The mile 9 climb is well-rewarded shortly thereafter with some really fast, flowy downhills that have just been reworked. The switchbacks on the way down have been bermed, and the washed-out ruts have been cleaned up. FAST!!!

The covered bridge past 12 is a nice place to take a break. Don't get too comfy though, or your legs will rebel as soon as you start the climb out of the river valley.

Somewhere around 16 is a side trail to the fire tower. Never bothered to check it out myself but I have seen many pics from the spot, and the view is incredible.

About the 20 mile mark is where you get into some rock gardens. Start with a stretch of babyheads and progress through some truck-sized boulders. (Don't worry, you aren't going to have to huck the big ones...the trail winds between them, but it is all rocks regardless.)

The climb at 21 may or may not put you to the test. You get a nice fast downhill approach to it but its steep.

From there to 23 is a great stretch of flow. Hammer down if you can and enjoy it - you're close to the home stretch. As you make the last downhill back into the river valley, there are more reworked turns and enhanced features to keep the blood pumping.

As you finish that stretch, you'll cross a wooden bridge that takes you back onto the road. If you absolutely can't make another mile and a half, take a right on the pavement and it will take you back to the campground office where you started. DON'T DO IT!

Instead, cross the pavement bridge that crosses the river in front of you as you come off the wooden bridge. As you cross you'll see trail signage on the other side of the road. Take that trail (shared with a hiking trail), and about 20 yards in the MTB trail switchbacks up to the right. (Again, the PVC pipe trail markers are there to guide you.) You are on the home stretch! It follows the hillside, without much elevation change, but there will be rocks, and likely some water. As you finish that final mile or so, dont get complacent when you see the end of the trail spilling out into the sunshine... there's a little whoop of a jump that can put you OTB right at the finish.

Trail Conditions can be found by visiting the Mohican-Malibar Bike Club Facebook Page.

To get more information about Mohican State Park and its facilities visit their website.

Location and Directions

The entrance to Mohican State Park is at 3116 OH-3, Loudonville, OH 44842

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Trail Map

Mohican State Park Mountain Bike Trail Map

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