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A fun ride with short steep rooty climbs and fast descents in and out of the ravine.


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Map Key

5.5

Miles

8.8

KM

Singletrack

101' 31 m

High

38' 12 m

Low

228' 70 m

Up

228' 70 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

10%

Max Grade (6°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Family Friendly This is a VA State Park.

For park specific information, please visit their website
at virginiastateparks.gov or call Customer
Service Center at 1-800-933-PARK (7275).

Description

Average time to complete is ~40 minutes based on Strava data. My first ride on the trail took about 55 minutes.

Starting from the parking area just past the rangers kiosk, make your way back towards the ranger station and up a short paved path to a fire road. This fire road is called Back Bone Trail. You'll continue for about 1-mile and the entrance to Marl Ravine trail is on the right. Cross over Meh Te Kos Bridle trail, which is a Horse Trail, and you'll see a sign on the right and a picnic table on the left. This is a ONE WAY TRAIL and has a few sections that shoot off the main trail but merge back on a bit further down.

The trail is fun and winding. It has some short steep climbs, which can be difficult to conquer when there are leaves on the ground. It also has short steep descents with some pretty fun switch backs.There are a few bridges that get across the small creeks that flow through this area. As for the rest of the trail, there's not much in the way of technical features but you do get the occasional placed rock garden and log. It can get rooty in some places but nothing too gnarly.

In my opinion, and this is just my opinion, if you are an XC kinda rider this trail is for you. It will definitely get the blood pumping.

Contacts

Shared By:

Ruben Hernandez

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 16 votes

#8225

Overall
  3.9 from 16 votes
5 Star
19%
4 Star
69%
3 Star
6%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
6%
Trail Rankings

#194

in Virginia

#8,225

Overall
17 Views Last Month
2,293 Since Dec 23, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

6%
0%
25%
38%
31%
0%

Photos

The 1st of the rock gardens and hardest b/c it bends left. There’s two more that are straight and you can ride over them quickly. A lot of fun!
Aug 31, 2018 near William…, VA
Bridge at the bottom of the Marl Ravine Trail, at one of a few creek crossings. The descent was a blast!!
Dec 24, 2015 near William…, VA
The biggest of the logs to ride on the trail.
Aug 31, 2018 near William…, VA
Double set of logs to ride
Aug 31, 2018 near William…, VA
Top view
Aug 31, 2018 near William…, VA
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 30, 2022
Robert Snyder
woohoo did it on the gravel
Sep 21, 2019
shanetcox
Mar 2, 2019
Andrew Campbell
Feb 10, 2019
James Bird
it's a little longer than original 6.5mi
Sep 22, 2018
Tammy Akey
So well maintained
Aug 31, 2018
Joshua B
Aug 21, 2018
Gary Ryan
Jul 7, 2018
Nathanael High
8.1mi
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