Joe J
Well-Known Member
Looking for a place to ride with no hunting and clear trails come up to Orange County and check it out.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/245821098
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/245821098
Camp Orange/Highland Lakes State Park
- Thread starter Joe J
- Start date
huffster
Well-Known Member
This thread hasn't seen much action. I think Highland Lakes State Park (aka Camp Orange) is a bit of a "hidden treasure". I almost never come across another rider when I am there. Sometimes in the Tamm's Rd. parking lot I see a car or 2, but usually I have the whole place to myself. Then again, I ride a lot during the week.🙂
There are no maps I have found and very few trails are marked. What markings you may find are either left over from a former routing of the Long Path or someone went through a trail with a rattle-can. Even the latter may only be marked on 1 side of the tree. But, there are lots and lots of trails. And its not all double-track by any means. In fact, there is a ton of single-track to be explored. It is fairly well maintained - not sure if there is a group doing it. I do "rolling TM" myself.
So, I went for a ride there yesterday with the intent to map a good route that I could share with you all. This starts at the lot on Tamm's Rd, which has parking for 15-20 cars.
https://www.strava.com/activities/596388990
If you are able to put this in your GPS, I think you will find it a mostly enjoyable route with only 1 notable climb (from mile 7.3 to 8.3 on track). But, even that is a rideable climb if your fitness is decent. This is a good taste for the root-covered single-track you will find here. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Following it in the direction I rode it is best.
There are a lot more trails than this. Below is another loop I rode not too long ago that has some common trails to the link above, but a different starting point and some other trails. Only about 3 cars can park here.
https://www.strava.com/activities/566350485
Feel free to explore and enjoy!
I intend to do the same for Goosepond Mountain State Park once I can clear (lots of overgrowth) a continuous route I think you might like. Its another fairly unmarked location and my recent TM efforts have landed me with a bout of poison ivy.
There are no maps I have found and very few trails are marked. What markings you may find are either left over from a former routing of the Long Path or someone went through a trail with a rattle-can. Even the latter may only be marked on 1 side of the tree. But, there are lots and lots of trails. And its not all double-track by any means. In fact, there is a ton of single-track to be explored. It is fairly well maintained - not sure if there is a group doing it. I do "rolling TM" myself.
So, I went for a ride there yesterday with the intent to map a good route that I could share with you all. This starts at the lot on Tamm's Rd, which has parking for 15-20 cars.
https://www.strava.com/activities/596388990
If you are able to put this in your GPS, I think you will find it a mostly enjoyable route with only 1 notable climb (from mile 7.3 to 8.3 on track). But, even that is a rideable climb if your fitness is decent. This is a good taste for the root-covered single-track you will find here. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Following it in the direction I rode it is best.
There are a lot more trails than this. Below is another loop I rode not too long ago that has some common trails to the link above, but a different starting point and some other trails. Only about 3 cars can park here.
https://www.strava.com/activities/566350485
Feel free to explore and enjoy!
I intend to do the same for Goosepond Mountain State Park once I can clear (lots of overgrowth) a continuous route I think you might like. Its another fairly unmarked location and my recent TM efforts have landed me with a bout of poison ivy.
Magic
Formerly 1sh0t1b33r
Goosepond and Camp Orange are so close to me, Goosepond being about 4.5 minutes, yet I've never hit either one. Despite being short, I hear Goosepond is decent with a long climb to the top of the mountain. Everyone I've talked to says it really only gets ridden right before and after winter because the overgrowth gets crazy and nobody maintains it. As for Camp Orange, one of the guys I follow on Strava regularly puts down 15-20m there so it seems like a solid place to check out. I'm not sure if it's maintained, and if it is it may be run by the Bicycle Doctor guys up there.
jimf
Active Member
Thanks for posting this, decided to take a look at this on a day off when I had to go to Middletown for some shopping. While the single track was by no means easy to find, once you did find it the loop was pretty much continuous, fairly well marked (spray paint) and most important, fun. Looking at @huffster's strava I was able to poach most of his loop but missed quite a bit as well, will have to bring the bike on the next home depot mission and do some more exploring.
One thing that stood out was the amount of horse traffic this park gets or appears to get(I did not see any horses or anyone else for that matter when I was there) every trail had lots of hoof ruts and droppings but the trails are very clearly mountain bike specific(ie twisty in a way no equestrian or hiker would cut a trail) Despite that the trails are clearly being maintained, there was very little in the way of debris on the trails that I rode.
Good stuff, would ride again.
One thing that stood out was the amount of horse traffic this park gets or appears to get(I did not see any horses or anyone else for that matter when I was there) every trail had lots of hoof ruts and droppings but the trails are very clearly mountain bike specific(ie twisty in a way no equestrian or hiker would cut a trail) Despite that the trails are clearly being maintained, there was very little in the way of debris on the trails that I rode.
Good stuff, would ride again.