Russell Mill is very well designed and a great option for a quick two-hour ride with the option to be longer by combining different sections of multiple trails.
There is great singletrack everywhere here; you won't be disappointed.
This ride is fast with sometimes tight, twisting, and flowing singletrack. There is never too much elevation gain but enough to challenge most riders from time to time.
The whole park has quite a few balance log rides though, in general, it's not very technical. Along the way, you can find a few things to launch/drop off of. It can be slick in the fall with leaves on the trails especially when wet from rain. Many trails have switchbacks that almost fold onto the previous sections.
From the parking lot, go past the sign board on the fire road to a small open area with a stone sign. OR take the immediate right out of the lot across from sign board to take a short trail by the pond to the stone sign above.
Either way, go through the two brown posts to
Yellow Finch trail. This will take you to the pump track as well. Once you’ve had your fill, exit on the other side of the pump track across a wooden bridge to finish the trail. Expect some quad work here for a warm-up mostly uphill towards the end of the trail. I take a right at the end onto
Red Bird Connector to marker 11.
Take a right onto
Blue Heron Loop to marker 10. The
Blue Heron Loop is a fairly easy, well-graded loop by itself. For the purpose of this ride, it’s a good reference point for exploring the park. Same goes for the
Green Birdhouse Loop. Take a right to continue on the
Blue Heron Loop but only for a minute and look for the start of
Wild Turkey on your right.
This is one of the most fun trails here. This trail is best done downhill and is a good bypass option for part of the
Blue Heron Loop. It is smooth, well-packed and features many turns, some of which have nice berms. It's fast, flowing singletrack. Take it to the end and marker 3.
Take
Wild Turkey to its end at marker 3, turn left, and go to marker 4 (they’re connected by fire road/
Green Birdhouse Loop).
Look left at marker 4 for the start of
Lower White Owl. There is a really nice and long log ride with a drop option at the upper start of this trail. The rest of the trail is fairly smooth and well-packed with only occasional rocks and roots. Take it to the end at marker 8 and the start of
Upper White Owl.
This intermediate trail is well-packed and doesn't contain as many features as some other trails at RM, however, there are some larger rocks and a few optional features at the bottom. It makes for fast riding, especially on the way down. This will eventually take you back almost to marker 4 and the
Green Birdhouse Loop. Follow to markers 5, 6, and 7.
At marker 7, look for the start of
Orange Goose Loop. This is 1.5-mile section of really nice singletrack with a few features like log rides and some boulder drops. This is the longest of the trails at Russel Mill Pond. The trail is largely smooth and well-packed with lots of fun features along the way. There are a few rock gardens and exposed bedrock along the way.
Take it back to marker 8 and take a right onto the
Green Birdhouse Loop (mostly fire road), past marker 9, and then to marker 10.
Take a right at marker 10 to
Red Bird Connector. This is a very rocky trail. It’s a bit too rocky, especially at the end of a tiring ride. Thankfully, it’s short. Take it back to
Yellow Finch, the pump track, and finally to the In/Out Trail to the lot to finish.
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