CRAMBA: Clinton River Park Trail (Dodge Park Trail)

[bbenoit1984]

if you havn't been there yet I get in at Joyce park..

I tried to jump in on the trail in a few spots today and got a minute or so into my ride then came across lakes and had to turn around.. It must take about a month for this place to dry out good

[pharus]

I have never ridden this trail. Can someone tell me where to park, where the trailhead is. Are there any maps online that would show me where the trail goes, how long it is, etc? I had heard that this trail connects to other trails too. Any info would be great. Thanks.

[blacksword]

I have never ridden this trail. Can someone tell me where to park, where the trailhead is. Are there any maps online that would show me where the trail goes, how long it is, etc? I had heard that this trail connects to other trails too. Any info would be great. Thanks.

This trail is still under construction. As such, we have not yet made full maps, however the city of Sterling Heights Does have a map of the park available.

The trail head, when finished will be off Edison Drive. This is just west of Schoenherr road, on the South Side of Clinton River Road.


During the trail day today, we added just under a half mile of new single track.

To access this new trail, park or ride near the culdesack at Edison. Take the paved path 1/4 mile north and on the right you will see some pink and orange flagging tape. We are leaving this tape up for a few weeks to allow the trail to get worked in. There will also be trail marking posts soon to follow.

[E-Man]

Rode the trail today. That is some loose soil in some areas, but like any fresh cut trial it will take time to pack everything down. I thought there was a bunch of trail cut last year? I say that because I was expecting more trail. I saw the markers going into an area that was not cut yet. What is the ultimate plan for milage? For the trail that was cut last year, how well did it hold up the all the water that area sees?

[Weihs]

I was out there,too today. The new trail is nice, glad it's not a sidewalk through the woods :).

Blacksword, sorry I couldn't make it out for the trail day, what was the turnout like? I plan to get some trail hours in on this trail and I'd like to help cut in the marked off area where the work stopped, really just a lot of low vegetation. Can you tell me what I should use to clear that stuff?

Another question. Riding around through the various trails today, I saw yellow markings (paint and flagging) in addition to the red,pink and orange. Is there a significance to this? Did the MMBA put up the yellow stuff?

I also checked out the trail over by Farmstead and Jaycee Parks for the first time, nice work there too. There were a few low spots that were muddy, near the crane, for instance. Do we have a plan for those?

For as "flatlandish" as Sterling Heights is, I can see the potential for a decent beginner/intermediate trail here after seeing some of the new work. Hope we can continue to cut more technical trail at this site since there's not a lot of elevation!

[Week End Redneck]

Wrong post edit...............

[i69whitey]

since this got bumped up, i feel it is my duty to warm y'all
this trail is a muddy mesquito infested mess,
even the playground was swarming.
AND: Jude and i both ended up with poison ivy.

[kwings00]

I rode Dodge Park yesterday afternoon. The Edison side is muddy and mesquito infested like you would not believe. DO NOT STOP or you will be covered in mesquito's! JC park portion was not bad at all.

Trail has potential to be a great trail. Obviously there is work still to be done. Hope to catch the next trail day...just remember to bring the mesquito spray!

[verbalkint99]

you are not kidding, my GF and I were out there Monday and the squitos were horrible!! We came across a couple out walking they stopped us and asked us for directions back to Dodge Park...they were trying to cut their walk short due to the bugs....i directed them on where to go and noticed that despite their constant flailing arms they were both covered in the *beep* things! I went in after dousing myself in spray and still came out with bites on my legs and hands.

[kwings00]

I love this idea of having a course basically right down the road from my house, but my concern is the history of Dodge Park always being flooded which means tons of little buggers.

I was lucky, not one bite. I was covered in mud and sweaty, so maybe is the alternative to bug spray?? Kind of like Arnold in Predator? Haha.

Oh yeah, came across fresh deer tracks as well....still no hippos.

[Week End Redneck]

Rode trail today and was impressed with it. Havent ridden there since the late 90's when I still lived over there. I used to ride back there as a kid and a lot of the old trails are still used. Needs better trail directions, but as time goes on I'm sure some will be added. Trail was moist in low areas as usual from yesterdays quick rain and the mosquitos were terrible. Don't stop riding without bug spray on or you will get eaten alive(we forgot of coarse).This trail has a lot of potential. I would like to make it out for the next trail day. As we left from the trail we were quickly suprised by one of Sterling Heights finest. He pulled us over and let us off with a warning. He lets us know he is the trail coordinator and asks what we thought of the trail. It was nice meeting you and look forward to meeting up again(under better conditions. lol) for a ride or a trail day. Never got your name by the way? Why did you pull us over anyway? Were still not sure. lol

[blacksword]

I was out there,too today. The new trail is nice, glad it's not a sidewalk through the woods .

Blacksword, sorry I couldn't make it out for the trail day, what was the turnout like? I plan to get some trail hours in on this trail and I'd like to help cut in the marked off area where the work stopped, really just a lot of low vegetation. Can you tell me what I should use to clear that stuff?

Another question. Riding around through the various trails today, I saw yellow markings (paint and flagging) in addition to the red,pink and orange. Is there a significance to this? Did the MMBA put up the yellow stuff?

I also checked out the trail over by Farmstead and Jaycee Parks for the first time, nice work there too. There were a few low spots that were muddy, near the crane, for instance. Do we have a plan for those?

For as "flatlandish" as Sterling Heights is, I can see the potential for a decent beginner/intermediate trail here after seeing some of the new work. Hope we can continue to cut more technical trail at this site since there's not a lot of elevation!

I do want to do more around the crane, with a likely re-route to the north of that whole area. That being said, we have to go through the area of the crane to get to higher ground north of the crane. We are also working to secure grant money that will allow us to build boardwalks similar to those at stony creek.
As to the Yellow paint, we are not sure what that is all about. I think the locals put it up to help them find their way home!

There is a section, oh, several hundred feet long, that is all dumped dirt. Most likely from the back of a semi. This dirt is nice and long and even and we plan to run the trail down the entire length of it. This work will be done on the Oct 24th trail date- Keep in mind, this is a tentative date. I have to get with Aaron Burgess and make sure we can do that date. We will be cutting new trail to connected the section we made in June up to the other trails we worked on in the fall of 08. Currently there is around 2.5 miles of trail, Im suspecting around 3.5 when we are done this year. For now, this will be out and back, bi directional. Hopefully as next year progresses we can add more sections and make a loop in areas.

This trail has suffered this summer with the immense amount of rain we have had, much of the year it has been flooded out. Mother nature, she is fickle.

[i69whitey]

rode the trail monday night, found it dry enough to ride everything.
tried to follow the additional trail thats marked toward the 'north'? from what we built last fall,
ended in the middle on nowhere, then found alittle piece more,...
i see where these pieces may connect, but ma nature is ag'in us out there.

still a nice creepy night ride close to town,
maybe it should be the night ride option after the brewery on Massive Fallout Day.

[blacksword]

Was out today, trail is in excellent shape. I cleared a tree from the northwestern end of the trail, up near JayCee park and the express way. Aaron and I put in two new trail marking posts. One across from the Dodge Park bridge, and one at the end of the same section of trail.
Also RE-Closed the section right near dodge park that we re-routed early in the year.

TRAIL DAY OCT 24th.

WE WILL BE CUTTING NEW trail on the OCT 24th, this new section will basically connect us up to the current start across from the dodge park bridge. It will head east and connect to the section of trail we built in July.

[blacksword]

Rode out Friday sept 24. Trail is probly in the best condition of the year, finally has dried up quite a bit.

The SE section is getting some riding, but not much. The first several hundred feet got cleared out by floods, so its hard to see the trail. Starts next to emergency marker 2, there is also a small pile of crushed gravel there. This is almost to the Edison power corridor parking area. Look for the yellow 'caution' tape to start, then follow the pink and then red tape on the trees.

Also placed a new trail post across from Dodge Park Bridge. Working on getting new posts together, as well as a map to put online for the new sections of trail.