SE Michigan: Lake Orion High School Trails

[blacksword]

Trail conditions, updates, and information for the Lake Orion High School Trails. These trails connect up to Bald Mountain, but are not 'part' of the Bald Mountain system.

[Steve_Kinley]

The trail is a mix of singletrack and two track, combined with some open paths through the fields. While it does not have large hills, there are a lot of smaller hills that do not allow for much recovery after them. Most of the singletrack is fairly tight as it twists through the trees.

It is not signed or marked but you can follow the majority of it due to the worn in paths. It may be easiest to pick up the trail as it climbs the hill from the upper parking lot toward the soccer and football fields. Once it enters Bald Mountain the shortest route is to turn right and then within a quarter mile you turn right again to exit state land and re-enter the school property. This will make the total trail a little over 6.5 miles. If you turn left when entering Bald Mountain, you can add another 4-5 miles of trail to the loop.

The trail is open for riding at any time but they may frown on parking there during school hours without getting a visitor's pass. The school does a great job in working to help maintain and help construct the trails, including major tree removal, mowing, and adding culverts and fill where required.

[Steve_Kinley]

We have been working on adding another small section of singletrack and should have it completed by tomorrow or Friday evening. The section will not have a lot of elevation change but initially will be slow due to the newly exposed soil. Once it gets worn in it should be fairly fast. I think the total length of this section to be around a quarter mile or so.

The school is also working on a reroute to avoid the path around the tennis courts. We wanted to skip the area to avoid potential conflicts with tennis spectators and bikers. As you make the climb up from the pond toward the tennis courts you will turn right near the top and cross the ditch. Then you will turn right again and go down the hill until you cut into the wooded section below the tennis courts. The path will proceed through the woods to the gravel drive that goes behind the school. We need to put in some sort of bridge or culvert at the ditch crossing.

We expect both sections to be done prior to the race on the 23rd.

[Steve_Kinley]

The new section of singletrack was completed today, adding about .3 miles to the trail. The old entrance was blocked with some brush for now and orange arrows painted to mark the direction to the new entrance. If starting behind the school I measured the trail length at about 6.1 miles before hitting Bald Mountain.

[Steve_Kinley]

All of the singletrack was cleared of leaves this afternoon, now it is easy to follow and to see the rocks, roots, etc. I will probably go through it one more time before the race on the 23rd.

[Steve_Kinley]

It's beautiful in the woods right now as you can see off the ridges and through the trees. There is something magical seeing the ribbon of dirt winding through the fallen leaves.

[Steve_Kinley]

The trails are dry in spite of yesterday's rain. The leaves have been blown off in preparation for Saturday's race and the trails should remain visible for quite some time. Some of the best riding of the year is happening now.

[str8flush24]

I was thoroughly impressed with the trails at LOHS. Its clear there has been a lot of effort put into this trail. Great job Steve.

[Steve_Kinley]

The trail has been cleared of major dead fall with the exception of two spots with trees that need a saw. I talked with the school grounds crew today and they will probably clear them in the next day or two.

The school has also been adding berms at the bottom of a couple of downhill corners. The fill is still loose but once packed it should make those corners a lot faster. In time they hope to berm up the corners of the downhill off the football field as well. Picture a giant slalom if it happens.

[Steve_Kinley]

The school cleared the trees last week. The trail is in good condition but some spots covered in leaves making it hard to see. I may clear them later this week.

[Steve_Kinley]

Most of the singletrack is now visible and easy to follow. Fast and fun!

[c0nsumer]

Beautiful conditions out there. Best I've ridden on at both LOHS and Bald Mountain.

[Steve_Kinley]

Riding it right now in the daytime is even better. The trail runs along the top of a ridge in several places that allows you to look out and realize just how much elevation change there is out there. Plus you can see across the ravines and see the other sections of the trails.

[c0nsumer]

Riding it right now in the daytime is even better. The trail runs along the top of a ridge in several places that allows you to look out and realize just how much elevation change there is out there. Plus you can see across the ravines and see the other sections of the trails.

We saw a bit of that right at the start before it got too dark, but then once the sun was down those ridges just became an abyss that one didn't want to venture over.

That swimming pool-sized hole along the single track still amuses me. Any idea where that came from?

[brad_hillman]

Steve and the LOHS staff have done an awesome job on the trails!

I live right nearby so now use them for my training rides. They say it isn't hilly but my legs are getting stronger riding these trails. I think it's the lack of recovery aspect w/ no ability to use momentum from the prior hills to get you up the next.

Steve, Can you provide a map? After all the reroutes from the race season, I'm not sure which is the primary trail direction in the fields directly behind the school. I used to come out of the woods, go left, wind around into the fields, met an intersection but continued straight up a hill and across behind the school to a sweeping right turn up a hill and back into the woods. Now I see a lot of wear on the 1st turn to the left. Does the main trail now zig-zag east-west through the field rather than north-south?

Doesn't matter much really accept I don't want to hit anyone if we have different ideas of the 'right' way.

(and this color blind guy prefers blue or white marks on the ground rather than orange or other colors that actually blend in sometimes for me)

Thanks Again! I'm lovin life with these new trails.