Burlingame North

I returned on Friday morning to check out the trails in the north section. I parked in the north lot and rode the small but gnarly and hilly section just south of the road. It is hard to tell from the ride maps below but these trails are tough! Lots of sharp switchbacks, slick rock, frequent ups and downs and a huge array of rocky terrain challenges dot the woods throughout this entire section. Despite my best intentions, much to my frustration, I went around in circles and repeated a few sections. Everything is really tight thru here. I was quickly exhausted. :-(

I finally got on the trail that sweeps northeast (part 2) - it was a long gradual uphill. The bonus was on the return back - I hardly had to pedal - gravity just took over for me :-)

I rode back to the car and decided to cool out by riding north on the jeep trail out of the parking lot but there were bugs constantly swarming around my face so I made it a short excursion (part 3).

Part 1

Part 2 Elevation

A Couple of Terrain Features

This is an amazing slick rock section that curves around behind the rock

For the daring freerider only
(I walked it!)

At the end of "part 2", the trail continues on the left

As mentioned, I was tiring quickly (the hot weather didn't help), so I decided on a whim to drive north to Coventry and ride the dirt section of the rail trail there. That was great! 

See Summit Trestle Trail Post  >

Burlingame, Rhode Island

The main NEMBA website gave erroneous directions to the starting point. I drove as indicated to the campsite but was told to go to the picnic area instead if I was there to mountain bike. Fortunately it was a short drive to the picnic area and the lady at the gate even gave me a couple of trail maps to assist in my ride.

I opted to take the yellow loop clockwise. Some of this yellow loop trail is blazed blue as well. Its a little strange as the loop consists of  a dirt road, single track, paved roads thru the campsite and riding on the street.

The Loop (Yellow and Blue Blazed)

The tougher rocky and rooty section is in the north and there are lot of other trails up in that section as well. (see Open Street Map link at the end of this post)

Section (Type of trail)

1 - Dirt Road out of Parking lot
2 - Single track (easy but nice and narrow)
Cut thru Campsite (paved)
3 - Flat with occasional rock but lots of boardwalks)
4 - Very Rocky
5 - Good Flow
You have to ride on the road for a bit
6 - This is the toughest section Watch Out!
7- Climbing but great stretches to bomb, etc.
8 - Yep its downhill but this is the road - Not single track :-(

The Ride

On the dirt road by the lake 

Singletrack finally (section 2)

Thru the marsh...

Lots of boardwalks on section 3

Turning north...

This stretch was very rocky (section 4)

Fun stretch

"section 5" was fun - much of it you could bomb fast

This was the turn off at the road that begins section 6. Parts of this trail was pretty gnarly. Rock gardens, unexpected sudden descents and ascents, mucho granite outcroppings all around. Tough going for sure...

Right at the turn off the road 

It's starting to get a lot tougher 

The next section (#7) gets a little easier. Although there is a lot of steady climbing, there is more flow and you are often rewarded with slick rock areas.

Ah... about 2/3rds of the way on section #7 there's the perfect natural rock berm. Sweet! 

Slick rock - nice!

There are more trails to explore  - not only in the north but in the south as well. If time permits while I am here this week. I will try to return and check out the other trails...

Further Info

• Burlingame Trails (open street map)
• Rhode Island NEMBA - Burlingame