Poto: Morton-Taylor Trails

[SANTA_CRUZ]

Nope, I cannot take credit for the Maple trail, but I am waiting to get approval from the township to continue work to expand it and make it even better. So far they are dragging their feet, but I'm thinking that I'll get it. I have no idea who is doing the bandit work, but I'll bet they aren't in the MMBA. This is the first I've heard about the Snake Leg trail, where exactly is it ?

I would have to agree that the people that live near these various little walking paths are doing the work, but it
makes it a touchy situation when mountain bikers or hikers use it and wander onto private property without knowing.
I have not been doing any leaf raking or blowing, so maybe it's Rich, he usually starts doing that this time of the year.
I do have access to a kicka-s-s leaf blower though that makes easy work of this particular job.

SC

[Steve_Balogh]

Snake-Leg is east of the Maple close by, south side of the main path. If you travel east from Maple it's easier to see the sign.

[Jay22]

Oh, Nice Mukluk btw.

Thanks, no Mukluk (2007 Wildfire, DeSalvo vintage). If that's all bandit that guy put a lot of work into it, that's no hack job. All the wood work is clean, well designed and well fastened with woodscrews. The Snake Leg ought to be safe for the neighbors, it's all on the other side of the river.

I'm thinking residents on both sides of that path in that area are doing their own thing. Several months ago I discovered the trail on the otherside of the path and I probably did ride on someone's property. Being right off the bridge I'm sure they'll get more "visitors".

Oops! It still looks sweet!

@ Santa Cruz; Yeah, that snake leg has got to be brand new. If you are coming from sheldon road, you will pass it before you hit maple trail. Its on your left. I was doing my normal run, which I come out of lucky dawg at the sheldon bridge and hit the main path to canton center, then back and pick up lucky dawg again. On the way back, I noticed the Snake leg section. It has a little sign posted on a tree and has two ferring strips with orange ribbon tied to it. Whoever made it wants people to ride it. I saw it and turned around to ride it. It has a nice little bridge in it, and you can tell its pretty new. The trail isnt quite rode in yet and there are pieces of deadfall marking parts of the trail. Its a short run and is more technical in nature. It comes close to personal property but doesn't enter it.

BTW, Once you get approval for more trail let me know. Ill be out there bright and early with some tools!

[ibisman]

Ok, I went looking for the 2 trails (snake leg, and maple), just west of Sheldon rd. Snake leg is new and not marked with arrows but could be something, Maple is really nice though as someone put alot of work into it by doing a pretty long bench cut up the side of a hill to the left as you enter the trail and there is a nice jump coming down the hill. there are arrows and a wood ramp, so someone has done alot. Thanks who ever you are! From the parking lot doing all the loops and the others across Sheldon Rd. I got 7 miles, so I went around the other stuff a couple times and got in 11 miles total.

[Jay22]

Ok, I went looking for the 2 trails (snake leg, and maple), just west of Sheldon rd. Snake leg is new and not marked with arrows but could be something, Maple is really nice though as someone put alot of work into it by doing a pretty long bench cut up the side of a hill to the left as you enter the trail and there is a nice jump coming down the hill. there are arrows and a wood ramp, so someone has done alot. Thanks who ever you are! From the parking lot doing all the loops and the others across Sheldon Rd. I got 7 miles, so I went around the other stuff a couple times and got in 11 miles total.

It did have signs a few days ago. Somebody keeps ripping signs down. Some are missing from the main trails again. I say we paint the trail names on the trees. I'd love to see them take that down. Haha!

Anyway, I was out there today and I ran into Rich. He is the one that cleared the leaves from the trails with a rake. They are in GREAT shape right now, especially with all of the leaves off of the trail. It just looks cool back there and is a really great ride. I rode the west loop about 4 times because of that reason alone.

Rich was also breaking up some bricks to put down in lucky dawg after the new bridge over a mudhole. That guy rocks. He is always back there working.

[jwhitey]

I'm kind of excited to ride MT after reading that the leaves have been blown off the trail. That makes a huge difference. I'd like to check out the new sections too.
Anyone going to be there in the morning about 9:00 or earlier?

[SANTA_CRUZ]

I was out there this afternoon and what a gorgeous day for a trail/road ride. I rode to the trail from the house, did all the loops riding Crooked Vulture (someone ripped the sign down) and the East loop twice before heading down the 275 bike path to Sweet bikes and then back again into the nasty, but warm wind. I kept passing a guy riding at the same time I was on an older Gary Fisher. The parking lot was full with people out hiking and walking their doggies on this beautiful day.

So glad that I got out for a 30 mile ride on such a nice day and throughly enjoyed the late fall sunshine. Getting ideas on
what to do this winter for trail improvements as well, so look forward to some cool stuff for next season !
Rich, thank you so much for raking the trail, makes it SO much easier to follow this time of the year.

Happy Trails !
SC

[mmrobertson69]

Nice. Spent the weekend in bed with a cold. Mebbe next weekend.

[Jay22]

Yeah, I was out there today as well. Went riding then took the family up later on for a hike. The next few days are supposed to be over 60. Ill be out there as long as possible getting those last few rides in.

[jwhitey]

I was there sat. morning and the trail was great. A little slimy in spots due to the frost but not many. Great work removing the leaves, makes a huge difference.
I was hoping to find the trails west of Sheldon rd but it looks like you have to make a trek through a field and I didn't see any obvious signs of traffic going anywhere.
How do you access the additional trails to the west?

[ibisman]

When you get to the start of Lucky dawg, turn right and go across Sheldon road...follow the gravel foot path over the bridge and look for the first trail on the left, snake tail...farther west is the other trail Maple.

[jwhitey]

Thanks and congrats to Ham Hock. Did you go up?

[ibisman]

No I had to work...I've got a new job and its really messing up my riding....I'm going with Bob this morning to the tree farm for a couple laps and then maybe wed to Morton/Taylor.

[jwhitey]

Came out of retirement eh? What are you doing?

To clarify, Lucky Dog is the north west section where there is a spur or 2 that lead out to a field? There is a 4 way intersection at one point. Coming from the south that's where if you go left you end up in the field (saw some deer in the tall grass there), if you go straight you end up out on the gravel path and a left here puts you out in the same field again. If you go right at the 4 way intersection you end up back on the trail you came in on. I'll assume to find the snake and maple trails you take the trail that leads to the gravel path and go left towards the field and Sheldon rd.?

[Jay22]

Came out of retirement eh? What are you doing?

To clarify, Lucky Dog is the north west section where there is a spur or 2 that lead out to a field? There is a 4 way intersection at one point. Coming from the south that's where if you go left you end up in the field (saw some deer in the tall grass there), if you go straight you end up out on the gravel path and a left here puts you out in the same field again. If you go right at the 4 way intersection you end up back on the trail you came in on. I'll assume to find the snake and maple trails you take the trail that leads to the gravel path and go left towards the field and Sheldon rd.?

Say Wha?

I know what your talking about coming out into a field and riding that trail back,but which field? This happens in two trails.


Anyway, If you are on the main gravel path headed towards sheldon road, then you are going in the right direction. Where the Lucky Dawg trail splits at the sheldon road bridge, (Bridge right before Sheldon road) is another way to get there. Anyway, you have to take the gravel path past Sheldon road. Continue and keep your eyes peeled on the left (South) side of the gravel path. You will run into Snake Leg which is marked by a little sign which is hard to see coming from this direction, and also the end of the trail is marked with two orange ribbons. If you pass this and head over the next bridge, Immediately after you cross the bridge, Maple Trail is on the left. This trail has one entrance, whereas Snake leg has two.