Just my 2 - cents on this trail and area in general ...
Me and my wife have been hiking from Back Beach park near our house to these trails for years. I've always considered them more suited for hiking but recently have been mountain biking there. I have been mtb for 25 years or so and consider myself an intermediate rider - more for the years of service than for technical riding , which i barely do . Turning 50 recently :cry: I have to be careful - college tuitions , mortgage , etc . Actually I've always been abit afraid of going for it on steep rocky decents and climbs and prefer double track and fire roads . It's sorta been a work thing for me - If I get hurt I don't work and then don't get paid . Sounds kinda wimpy but that's the way it has been .
Anyway , back to the trails - the orange trail is not for beginners for sure - unless they enjoy walking with their bikes alot ! I would go as far as calling this an expert trail , because if you're not used to steep rocky descents and climbs and tight areas it is very dangerous - as I found out . I did have to walk with my bike quite a few times and when I did ride it was hairy quite often . Now here is the real reason I am posting - I ended up taking quite a fall going downhill when the rocks went out from under me . Luckily I landed ok except for really twisting my knee , which instantly was extremely painful and swollen - not good . The other problem with this trail , especially if you're riding solo - which I was - is that you are alooong way from anywhere. It took me an hour and a half to walk painfully back to my car . So I just wanted to put this out there if you venture to this trail . I know most of you would already no this - it goes for alot of trails in NJ. I just wanted to point out some of the dangers of this area. Sometimes we forget what the consequences are if we aren't careful or unfortunate .
Oh - and also - the bugs and flies suck!!! Whatever those flies are that go at you until you kill them or they get you ( deer flies I call them ) are everywhere !