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A ride with combined singletrack and paved trail.


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Map Key

15.4

Miles

24.8

KM

40%

Singletrack

869' 265 m

High

798' 243 m

Low

878' 268 m

Up

878' 268 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Don't ride when it is wet.

Overview

This is a mix of singletrack, doubletrack and paved trail. It's very flat with some rolling hills - overall a fun and fast track that anyone can ride.

The drawbacks include riding some paved bike trail to tie together both ends of the singletrack trails. Other than that, this is a great route!

Description

There is parking at both ends and even a parking lot about halfway between each end.
Starting from the northern parking lot go west into some nice flowing singletrack to a levy. Turn south and ride to the top of the levy. There are a couple of connector sections that you'll see to your left as you ride along the west trail and Top Shelf - Keep going straight.

Take the third left and cruise around the High Life section that will bring you back within 5 feet of where you entered that section initially. Turn left, back onto the Top Shelf trail, and onto the two-track area. Head south on a two-way traffic section. Once you get to the split veer right down a tree-lined path and follow the power lines to where the trail splits again. Turn left onto the Lake Loop and follow it around the lake back to Top Shelf. Stay on Top Shelf to the paved Trestle to Trestle bike trail. Turn left and ride the pavement a few miles to the Tai Village pond and turn left onto the singletrack. This is a fun flowing section called Sycamore South and has a nice downhill drop toward the river trails. Follow these trails to the South parking lot and turn around and ride the same Sycamore South and Trestle to Trestle trail in reverse. This time, turn right just after the bridge over Beaver Creek and drop a short but steep trail into Sycamore North

Stay along the creek all the way to the Des Moines river where it turns back north. The trail has a few small hills here and even an old mosaic tiled porch you can jump if you want. A short ways further is another intersection. You can go straight and ride over a big log-over with ramps or turn left and do the most fun part of the trail. The "pump" and "pump extended" section. The log over and "pump" will join back together.

The next intersection will be the two-way traffic area. Just keep right at the following intersection to stay on the Sycamore North trail. After a ways, you'll ride up a hill and turn left. Very shortly after there will be another intersection, turn right to stay on Sycamore North. The trail opens up shortly after this section and is fast and wide back to the parking lot. Enjoy the ride!

Contacts

Shared By:

Gary Barber with improvements by Chris K

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 16 votes

#1661

Overall
  4.1 from 16 votes
5 Star
44%
4 Star
31%
3 Star
19%
2 Star
6%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#10

in Iowa

#1,661

Overall
50 Views Last Month
6,975 Since Mar 22, 2015
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

36%
21%
36%
7%
0%
0%

Photos

fall riding
Oct 26, 2019 near Johnston, IA
Scenic fall riding
Oct 26, 2019 near Johnston, IA
Lake overlook
Oct 26, 2019 near Johnston, IA
Lake Loop trail
Mar 24, 2015 near Johnston, IA
Sycamore North trail Johnston Iowa
Sep 26, 2020 near Johnston, IA
High ground near Top Shelf
Mar 22, 2015 near Johnston, IA

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