MCMBA: Proud Lake

[J/C]

Wow...

Rode loops 3 and 4 last night. Pretty good shape. Start of 3 a bit muddy but the rest is good. All of 4 is good except the end section east of Childs Lake Rd which is a little wet. There is a tree across the trail in that section right after you come around a bend almost to the RR tracks. Not really bunny-hoppable for most of us.
I picked up a number of decent sized sticks the wind blew onto the trail. Things are looking pretty good for the Challenge this Saturday, looks like most of the loops just got mowed (thanks Bill?).

John

[ibisman]

Yep, I rode out from Commerce through proud lake and the trail was very nice...I was behind a couple of guys on horseback on loop one and dodged a couple huge piles until I could pass them.

[chris f.]

Yep, I rode out from Commerce through proud lake and the trail was very nice...I was behind a couple of guys on horseback on loop one and dodged a couple huge piles until I could pass them.

Can I ask what route you took to get from Commerce to Proud Lake? I like the idea of riding from Commerce to Milford and back. I know I can take the connector from Proud Lake to Milford Trail then north to the MTB trail but I wasn't sure about the best/safest from Commerce to PL.

Thanks.

[ibisman]

I just ride the paved path past the graveyard and a couple parks and you enter Proud lake by crossing the street and the trail starts there.There is a sign there with arrows. Just watch out for traffic! And there was a couple of trees down in that connector part to proud lake. Let me know and I can show you sometime. Dave

[chris f.]

I just ride the paved path past the graveyard and a couple parks and you enter Proud lake by crossing the street and the trail starts there.There is a sign there with arrows. Just watch out for traffic! And there was a couple of trees down in that connector part to proud lake. Let me know and I can show you sometime. Dave

Sounds good. Thanks.

Chris

[Builder-Bill]

The connector part from Commerce into proud lake Is all clear,I just cut the fallen trees out.
All the Loops are mowed back and ready for the Milford Trail Challenge this Sat. 4 th.
Hope to see everyone.
Bill and Sam The Trail Dog.

[converse66]

Rode loops 2,3,4 and the Kensington connector this morning before it got too hot. It is still a little soft after crossing the tracks at the start to loop 3, but everything else was dry and in great shape.

[ibisman]

I finally got to ride the other loops this morning. I met a rider ( didn't catch his name) on a blue NRS and he told me how to find the other loops. I usually only get loop 1 on my way to Milford from Commerce. There are some really nice climbs there! I made all the climbs and went into milford and did a lap and headed back to Commerce.

[davedejonge]

I just rode this trail for the first time on Friday Morning, I live at the top of the wall in loop 3, and should be out there more often.
I crossed Childs lake rd (don't ride that horse trail - lots of mud) and got SOAKED by the grass on the edge of the trail ( rode in the morning dew) the normal loops were much better thanks to the grass mowing.

Thought this map might help some who wanted to ride this trail...

this is the horse riding trail map
http://proudlaketrailriders.org/pltramap.htm


this is the mmba map
http://mmba.org/library/maps/proudlake/ProudLake.jpg

Its really easy to accidentally follow loop 4 across childs lake rd which the mmba map doesn't show as part of the trail.

Also CSX has been doing track maint and so the railroad crossing is not rideable right now, its a large pile of rocks and ashphalt.

[WICCMB]

Its really easy to accidentally follow loop 4 across childs lake rd which the mmba map doesn't show as part of the trail.

Also CSX has been doing track maint and so the railroad crossing is not rideable right now, its a large pile of rocks and ashphalt.

The MMBA map (which I just looked at for the first time) is not complete....it should be the same as the equestrian map that you posted, as all of these loops are open to all users. You can ride Loop 4 across Childs Lake Rd - which is a fun segment (when it is not wet).

The railroad crossing was removed years ago, and will likely never be repaired, as it is considered a potential hazard for the trains (since they are apparently not willing to spend money on a more durable concrete crossing). The cross-able just not ride-able.

[J/C]

Loops 1 and 2 in good shape last night. I think Loop 1 is best when you ride it clockwise like the MMBA map suggests. Once you're done with the sandy uphill near the start and the decent climb paralleling Wixom Rd, the reward is nice flow for the rest of the loop.

Longest day of the year today!

John
Assistant T/C

[galaxydean]

Is there a good map of the Kensignton to Proud Lake connector anywhere?

[J/C]

Yes probably, but I'm not aware of where you can get a copy. The trail is the Chief Pontiac Trail the Boy Scouts use to go from Kensington to Proud Lake. It basically runs east-west between Buno and Dawson roads. Look for the hiker crossing signs on South Hill and Old Plank roads if your're entering from either of those. From loop 4, you can read the state's maps to figure out which way to go at a couple different intersections.

[davedejonge]

Its really easy to accidentally follow loop 4 across childs lake rd which the mmba map doesn't show as part of the trail.

Also CSX has been doing track maint and so the railroad crossing is not rideable right now, its a large pile of rocks and ashphalt.

The MMBA map (which I just looked at for the first time) is not complete....it should be the same as the equestrian map that you posted, as all of these loops are open to all users. You can ride Loop 4 across Childs Lake Rd - which is a fun segment (when it is not wet).

The railroad crossing was removed years ago, and will likely never be repaired, as it is considered a potential hazard for the trains (since they are apparently not willing to spend money on a more durable concrete crossing). The cross-able just not ride-able.

the railroad crossing used to be managble, just the center section between the tracks was missing, but there was ashpalt leading up to the tracks on both sides. thats gone now, and has been left in a big pile thats probably 3 feet tall on each side.

The section east of Childs lake had some gravel added but is still really muddy. and has grass growing over much of the trail. I got soaked riding in the morning thru it from dew. I've never figured out how to do a loop in loop 4 without crossing childs lake like the MMBA map shows ( I ski there in the winter often)

[ssabin]

Just rode at Proud Lake for the first time this past Father's Day. Started out on Loop 4, and although I liked the terrain, and was surprised that dodging the land mines wasn't too difficult, I was rather disappointed at the lack of useful trail markings. Looking at the horse trail map, it makes sense that this loop is quite complex, but the lack of signage leaves you wondering which way to go. We ended coming out to Child's Lake Rd. halfway south to the proper crossover - missed the last part of Loop 4 west of Child's Lake road, I guess.

Has it always been this bad in terms of on trail markings? Is there a single direction that is expected for mountain bikers?

Rode Loop 3 next, and found it much easier to follow. Seemed more challenging than I expected for such a short loop. May have to return to check out the other loops and see if I can follow loop 4 better.