Name: Big Bend Ride
Rating: 2.5

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E-Bikes Unknown

Family Friendly For the most part, this is doubletrack with only moderate elevation changes. You can drive a long way in, park, and ride shorter sections that are completely closed to motorized traffic.

Overview

This is an overlooked section of the Sheltowee Trace which is all gravel and dirt and legal for mountain biking. It can be quiet and remote in feel or you can run into traffic jams with hikers, trail runners and other mountain bikers. There are lots of side roads to explore as well as some hidden overlooks and Whites Branch Arch.

Much of the ride is easy in difficulty, but there are harder sections the further you get from the paved road.

Need to Know

This route can be overgrown in the summer. There are multiple "tank traps" on the Whites Branch section.

Description

This is the Sheltowee Trace NRT: Section 15 South, from the entrance of Hollerwood Park up to the entrance of Natural Bridge State Park, with a few out-and-back spurs.

Much of the ride is made up of gravel roads. The northern section is trail with some decent technical sections. The trail goes over an arch in the narrows.

The section north of Whites Branch Arch has some nice technical sections and some riding over exposed sandstone.

History & Background

At one time, this area was popular with ORVs and ATVs. There is still some activity in the area, but the USFS and the State Park closed the Whites Branch section of the Sheltowee Trace to motorized traffic.