StephenH
Just made a trip up here for the first time. Fairly neat place.
This is a set of gravel trails (maybe concrete in places- not sure) and also canoe access points. Part of the state park system, costs you $5 to get on them.
Right now, the trail is officially closed from Hwy 380 to FM 428. A ranger said this was due to fallen trees and trail needing repaving, and the trail wouldn't be opened in that area until late spring or so.
If you go, take your own map, and figure out where all the trail goes ahead of time. For some unknown reason, they have these big bulletin boards at the trailheads but no trail maps anywhere to be seen, and no clear signs indicating where the trails go. I got up to Elm Fork and thought that was the end of it, as the trail turns out into a parking lot. I even rode around the parking lot some and didn't notice any trail leaving there. (I was planning to from from 380 to Elm Fork, which would have been a nice 18 mile ride).
The part of the trail I rode on was gravel, car-width, sort of coarse in a few places- ideal for fat tires, although you don't need a suspension system. It is fairly level, as it follows a creek. Ideal for family riding. I don't know what the trails are like north of Elm Fork or south of 428. Some of it to the north may be mountain biking territory rather than paved or graveled trail.
Halfway between 428 and Elm Fork was a bulletin board that DID have a map on it. Looking at the map, I saw there should be a Historic McKinney Bridge. But I never spotted it going north. Turns out, that sign is there because that's where the bridge is- only it doesn't say "Bridge over here". The bridge is about 50 yards off the trail, with a dirt track leading out to it.
At the Elm Fork trailhead, note that there is an East and West Elm, about a half mile apart. A concrete sidewalk runs between them- add a half mile to your trip by running down it. I discovered it by accident.
Something not obvious from the map is that FM 455 to the east of Elm Fork and FM 428 in both directions from the access point are good riding roads with wide shoulders. To get from the trail up on FM 455, you're going to have a good climb at some point. These roads are both part of the 30-mile route on the Turkey Roll. 455 has wide shoulders all the way across the dam, if you care to ride across it, with narrower shoulders on past there.
A trail map of the lower part of the trail is here:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4503_176a.pdf
Not that for reasons unknown, North is to the Left. The trail actually runs north to south.
A map of Isle du Bois Unit showing northern trails is here (with North at Left again):
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4503_176a.pdf
I noticed on these maps just now it says "Please wear your helmet in the park", but I don't recall seeing any signs saying that- not sure if it's a requirement or not. Didn't seem too critical diddling along at 14 mph.
This is a set of gravel trails (maybe concrete in places- not sure) and also canoe access points. Part of the state park system, costs you $5 to get on them.
Right now, the trail is officially closed from Hwy 380 to FM 428. A ranger said this was due to fallen trees and trail needing repaving, and the trail wouldn't be opened in that area until late spring or so.
If you go, take your own map, and figure out where all the trail goes ahead of time. For some unknown reason, they have these big bulletin boards at the trailheads but no trail maps anywhere to be seen, and no clear signs indicating where the trails go. I got up to Elm Fork and thought that was the end of it, as the trail turns out into a parking lot. I even rode around the parking lot some and didn't notice any trail leaving there. (I was planning to from from 380 to Elm Fork, which would have been a nice 18 mile ride).
The part of the trail I rode on was gravel, car-width, sort of coarse in a few places- ideal for fat tires, although you don't need a suspension system. It is fairly level, as it follows a creek. Ideal for family riding. I don't know what the trails are like north of Elm Fork or south of 428. Some of it to the north may be mountain biking territory rather than paved or graveled trail.
Halfway between 428 and Elm Fork was a bulletin board that DID have a map on it. Looking at the map, I saw there should be a Historic McKinney Bridge. But I never spotted it going north. Turns out, that sign is there because that's where the bridge is- only it doesn't say "Bridge over here". The bridge is about 50 yards off the trail, with a dirt track leading out to it.
At the Elm Fork trailhead, note that there is an East and West Elm, about a half mile apart. A concrete sidewalk runs between them- add a half mile to your trip by running down it. I discovered it by accident.
Something not obvious from the map is that FM 455 to the east of Elm Fork and FM 428 in both directions from the access point are good riding roads with wide shoulders. To get from the trail up on FM 455, you're going to have a good climb at some point. These roads are both part of the 30-mile route on the Turkey Roll. 455 has wide shoulders all the way across the dam, if you care to ride across it, with narrower shoulders on past there.
A trail map of the lower part of the trail is here:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4503_176a.pdf
Not that for reasons unknown, North is to the Left. The trail actually runs north to south.
A map of Isle du Bois Unit showing northern trails is here (with North at Left again):
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4503_176a.pdf
I noticed on these maps just now it says "Please wear your helmet in the park", but I don't recall seeing any signs saying that- not sure if it's a requirement or not. Didn't seem too critical diddling along at 14 mph.