Wanted: Info on Loch Raven

[starcitymtb]

This probably belongs in the trail conditions section but I am heading to my cousins' house north of Towson (Glen Arm) and have heard about Loch Raven. Are conditions up there ridable and any help on where to go and is there a decent loop to ride? Thanks in advance.

[skijim668]

Youd probably be ok to ride Seminary .Start on the providence road side. The providence rd. half of the trail drains fairly well. The seminary half of the trail has some low lying areas (you can ride around most of them ).

Also if you ride on the Merriman loop it all drains relatively well . If frozen youll be fine anywhere.

I couldnt tell you first hand about the conditions but Ive ridden there for many years and know how they drain. I havent been back there in awhile. If interested in routes pm me. Tell me if you like tech., or not and how long youd like to ride for.

Seminary is fast fun cruising singletrack with not alot of serious tech. It gets into more small hills on the providence side. Merrymans is more tech xc. When I say tech nothing like gambrill but hilly ups and downs.Climbing with some fun dhs.

For the Seminary lopp park across from the John Deere shop on Providence Rd.(100 yds before you go into Loch Raven). From there ride down the road 100 yds into LR.Make your first left. That will send you down the hill to the fireroad.This fireroad goes all the way to Seminary rd.. The trails just meander back and forth off the fireroad with 70% being on the waterside of the road.Its hard to get lost as all the trails eventuallly dump you back out to that fireroad.

Jim

[starcitymtb]

Youd probably be ok to ride Seminary .Start on the providence road side. The providence rd. half of the trail drains fairly well. The seminary half of the trail has some low lying areas (you can ride around most of them ).

Jim

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep that in mind next time, if there is a next time.

I rode by the Seminary Road entrance yesterday and just decided not to ride. The guys in the bike shop near by were such a$$holes that I didn't want to ride and I wasn't able to get any info here before I left. Unbelievable.

I ask about riding at Loch Raven (because I'm visiting from Alexandria) and he wants to interrogate me. He looks outside then ask what I am riding. He starts into this 'well, you could go here' routine but never answers my question.

There is more to the convo that irritated the crap out of me but I just felt like I was invading on the local's turf. What is he the gatekeeper of Loch Raven? What's in the water up there that makes Marylanders so tense?

Disclaimer: I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed after thinking I lugged my bike all the way up there and back and it never left my roof.

[rmac]

Hey - pm me next time your headed to Towson. LR is a few minutes from my door & I'm down there most weekends. Seminary from the church stays wet for several days. The Providence side does drain better for the most part, but you need to know where to go to find the best singletrack. Merrymans drains really well for this area (further north up Dulaney Valley).
I rode this morning from above Providence & most of Seminary - trails were in good shape. (I avoided the section toward the church - it is the worst draining )

Bring your bike - I'll bring the balto attitude.

[skijim668]

It really is a fun place and is worth riding. It has some nice singletrack. A few years ago they almost stopped biking back at Loch Raven. Its had a weird vibe since .

[starcitymtb]

Bring your bike - I'll bring the balto attitude.

LOL. Nice. Here I am belly aching and you had my back the whole time. :)

I'll try and give you a heads up next time I'm up that way. I'll bet it's probably going to be in the spring though.

[starcitymtb]

It really is a fun place and is worth riding. It has some nice singletrack. A few years ago they almost stopped biking back at Loch Raven. Its had a weird vibe since .

Yeah, that is what I gathered after talking to a few folks today. Weird, so the county has some sort or 'ride but don't tell' approach. I'm planning on being back there in the spring. I heard that it is great cross country stuff. I'm looking forward to it.

[bills]

Yeah, that is what I gathered after talking to a few folks today. Weird, so the county has some sort or 'ride but don't tell' approach. I'm planning on being back there in the spring. I heard that it is great cross country stuff. I'm looking forward to it.

There's a reason why no one here talks about Loch Raven.
You need the secret code ;)

Only kidding, there are several people here who ride Loch Raven all the time. It's a great collection of trails and the ride can be as easy or hard as you like. I'm not sure what bike shop you went to but if you post a message here I am sure you'll get the information you need.

You asked about conditions... the seminary side gets really muddy so go when it's frozen or enter from providence because the trails on that side dry faster. Merrymans is also a good choice, those trails seem to drain the best

bill

[JCee]

Was it Performance by any chance? It's right there at the trail (almost).

[starcitymtb]

Was it Performance by any chance? It's right there at the trail (almost).

It wasn't Performance. It was on York Road. I think I'll wait to hook up with some of you folks from up North before I attempt to ride up there. I picked up on the 'I don't know you vibe' pretty quickly.

No biggie. I'm sure that I can a ride will come up soon. I'll be there. It's become a goal of mine for 2008. It sounds like it's worth it though.

Seminary is a few miles back towards town from my uncle's house. They live past the restaurant that keeps opening and closing off Loch Raven past the gun range.

[skijim668]

Also right before the gun range is the bridge on Dulaney Valley. That is the start and finish on the Merriman loop if you like more climbing with descents. You start on the restraunt side of the bridge go into the woods at the light.Follow the trails to Merriman mill. Hit the road across the bridge. The trail head is on the left past the bridge. Follow the trails to the south side of the bridge where you peddle to your car.

Go with someone who knows the trails or youll miss some nice sections.

Its all definitely worth riding. I like technical kinda of stuff and I still enjoy cruising the singletrack there. Its been awhile since Ive been there.

Jim