Willow-George Advanced Level Mountain Bike Adventure

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Topsfield, MA, US

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Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

28 mi.

1,572 ft.

Advanced level MTB ride based on distance and terrain. 25+ miles, Willowdale Forest and Georgetown-Rowley Forest. 99% all woods and single-track.

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Route Details

The **Willow-George MTB Adventure Ride** is a long advanced level mountain bike ride that connects 2 of the best parks on the North Shore. As a long endurance ride, you should be ready for 4+ hours of very-hard mountain biking and ride with a partner.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

**About the Ride:** The (2) parks are separated by 6 miles of @photo[single-track](2493885) that conveys you between both of these parks.  Both of these parks are very popular for mountain biking, each with it’s own riding style.  While Willowdale is known for its fast and twisty single-track, Georgetown is known for more technical riding.  The linking land in between is rugged fire roads and single-track.  This is real New England single-track, rated for Advanced-Intermediate level riders.

**Ride Equipment:**   Full-Suspension bike, Mountain bike, or Fat bike is recommended.  A cycle-cross bike is your last choice because of the trail system in Georgetown forest is more difficult than the rest of the ride, and does require suspension. There is no place to stop for food/water, or bike parts on this ride. Expect 3-5 hours for this ride.  Pack 100Oz water, and some food.

**Riding the Route:**  This ride starts and ends on Ipswich Road, Topsfield Mass.  There is a parking area known as “the Meadow”.  There is a small wood rail fence with a small sign denoting the Meadows.  There are often lots of cars parked there and across the street adjacent to the Ipswich River. 
Right off the start, you will get in instant flavor for the style of riding you will experience.  The first couple of miles of trails (Indian Ridge, Nuke Dump, and G-Spot) are fun and technical.  There are almost no straight lines on this ride.  Every 50 feet expect a change in direction.

At the end of **Mile 2**, you will see a @photo[large marsh](1659233), where a @photo[wooden bridge](1659231) will take you out to Georgetown forest.  You will return to this same spot in about 2.5 hours.

There is only one street crossing to be concerned with, and it is Rt 1 Topsfield. Be careful and wait for it to be clear to cross.  Once on the other side, you will be in the Willowdale estates parkland, which is small series of parks that connect many local farms and other parks together.  Horses have the right of way, please stop and give room to pass, or get stepped on.
This is the same route you will be returning on. Since the GPS Guide-lines will overlap, you will need to keep track of the direction you are going.

At **Mile 6**, you will be at or near Boxford Road, Rowley.  Once on this road, you will see a large hill across the street.  If you can find your way up to the top of this hill and across the new @photo[Beaver Dam bridge](1659235) you have now entered the Georgetown forest.
Right away you will notice the trail system is a lot more technical then most of what you have been riding.  This first short section will dump you onto a bridge that goes over Rt 95.  This is a private bridge and only available for park users. (No car traffic)   On the way out back, you will cross this bridge again. Good place for a @photo[lunch stop](1659230) and a rest.

Once over the bridge, you will take a left and follow down a road to gain access to the trails on this side.  You should be traveling in a clockwise manor for this ride. If not, you crossed your lines.

This side is a lot more technical then what you were just on.  Lots of fun found here, twisty trails, some rock scrambles, and tough climbs.   This park is small, so you will be on your way out before you know it.

On the ride back, once again, keep track of your direction. You will overlap these trails until you return to Willowdale Forest.  Once back at Willowdale you have already traveled near **Mile 20.**If you have been saving your energy in reserve because it is a long ride, now is the time to use what you have left.  The remaining trails I have selected  in Willowdale Forest are for fast riding adventure, so go for it.  Have fun, and try other ride versions of these park rides I have published for other All-Day-Adventures.

Willow-George Advanced Level Mountain Bike Adventure

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