Horse Nettle Trail

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From the parking lot at Pandapas Pond, facing the kiosk, head to the left and get on a short access trail heading towards the pond. This access is a likely place to see multiple other trail users. You'll pick up Horsenettle after about a quarter mile on your left. You start up a short llittle climb, then down to a sloggy creek. Once you cross the creek, let the climbing begin!

The steepest part of the climb is right at the beginning where it hits about 19%. The rest of the nearly steady 2.5 mile climb up settles in between 12% and 15%. Not a technical climb at all, but there are a few roots to navigate that will cause you to break traction if you don't get them right. Horsenettle generally drains well, but there are a few areas on the climb that get really soft after a rain and will make you feel like you're pedaling in quicksand.

There is one mellow rocky section on the trail just before it lets out to a fire road, pretty much marking the half-way point. This road undulates with about four short climb/descents that can be real heartbreakers - just when you think you're done climbing, you're not! When you pass the communications tower on your left you're just about done. The end of the fire road is a circle with a trailhead to finally get back into singletrack. It's a fun little romp that gets you access to Snakeroot and Jacobs Ladder.

If you like an aerobic challenge, you'll love Horsenettle! There are no switchbacks - it's just up and more up, but there are a few places along the way with less up where you can do a rolling recovery. If you don't want to tackle the whole thing, you can bail and take Joe Pye back down.