Locust Shade Tour

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Prince William County, VA, US

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Route Overview

Best Bike Rides DC

Mountain Bike Routes

7 mi.

592 ft.

I've been working to improve the trails at Locust Shade and have been systematically changing up my route to maximize my riding experience in an attempt to hit all the trails in my preferred direction. There are a couple of portions that I double back on, but they are necessary in order to maximize the "fun" factor. This route samples the trails in their best direction. Once you spend time seasoning 95th St. or Power you'll easily end up with double digits.

Send to Device Advanced Export View Standard Route (with cuesheet)

Route Details

This route maximizes the experience at Locust Shade and ensures you hit the trails in the "right" direction. Since 2019, when I first started flagging and working to make these trails a reality I have been looking for the best path to follow. Soince the most recent updates were completed to the Paw Pae corridor this very well may be it.

Until the recent improvement of the Paw Paw corridor I generally rode the "perimiter loop" in a clockwise direction and then hit the internal trails in both directions. I would basically make lefts all the way around until I reached the starting point. This route, however, will allow you to maximize the experience and hit each section in the "correct" direction at least once.

# Route

* Park on the main trailhead lot (second left as you drive into the park)
* Follow the double track past the @photo[bike repair station](12840018) to the @poi[entry of Bolitas](70695772).
* The ride will take you on Prince William's County's first and second MTB only designated trails
* If you are an intermediate rider or want to "shorten" the route you can easily skip the most difficult portion, the Col Du Shade

# Notes

* The trail is open year round from dawn to dusk
* Trails are marked with small colored aluminum markers. IGNORE the paint blazes
* If you want a quick spin follow the perimeter route. Make your first left onto "Bolitas" and then continue making lefts until you reach the starting point.
* virtually all of this ride is singletrack and has optional features. A MTB is highly recommended
* This route assumes you are an active and intermediate trail rider
* Bring water. The park has multiple restrooms (seasonal)

# Route Details

This route aims to help you navigate and ride all of the trails along Locust Shade Park in the "correct" direction. Locust Shade is a small park and the trail designers/builders have packed a lot of trails to enjoy. There are multiple intersections along the corridor that can easily confuse riders. Plans are in the works to install "You are heare" markers to help navigate the system. The included route has a recommended cue sheet that riders can follow to maximize their experience at the park.

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Locust Shade Tour

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Route Details

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