This past week I went to MS to visit family and get away from the computer a while. I took Friday off to go ride the trail that got me into mtn biking 14+ years ago. I have not ridden this trail in at least 11 years, so I thought going back to it will help gain some perspective.

Clear Springs Recreation Area (http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/mississippi/homochitto/recreation/clearsprings/), located in southwest MS in the Homochitto National Forest, arose out of Roosevelt's New Deal and the CCC. The lake itself if spring-fed, and the area around the lake is full of camping and hiking opportunities.

http://lh5.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cpFAZX2I/AAAAAAAACNI/FWgRMCMA5Bc/s800/IMG_6232.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cjlAZX0I/AAAAAAAACM4/AUaYWFx46bg/s800/IMG_6226.JPG

From the above pavilion:
http://lh3.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cmlAZX1I/AAAAAAAACNA/K1Ai7wygKSA/s800/IMG_6227.JPG

Not sure if they still do it or not, but when I was growing up different churches would do Easter sunrise service at the small amphitheater:
http://lh3.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cslAZX3I/AAAAAAAACNQ/WaLho9vNtsg/s800/IMG_6234.JPG

On to the trail.
http://lh5.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cwFAZX4I/AAAAAAAACNY/Xei4pVseKaM/s400/IMG_6236.JPG

Kiosk with trail maps.
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-cxVAZX5I/AAAAAAAACNg/s__CzDdu260/s800/IMG_6237.JPG

Bike wash at trailhead.
http://lh5.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-c1FAZX6I/AAAAAAAACNo/gHcOntPZ59M/s800/IMG_6238.JPG
http://lh3.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-c4lAZX7I/AAAAAAAACNw/VohtFvk-s-M/s800/IMG_6239.JPG

The trail system is made up of 3 trails. Tally's, which is the main loop, Mill Branch, and Richardson Creek. Tally's is the original trail. The other 2 were added after 1996 (I think). I talked to one of the shops in Jackson and I was told that the Richardson Creek trail was way overgrown, so I skipped that and did Tally's and Mill Branch. Keep in mind that this place is in the middle of nowhere. When you are out riding you hear nothing but nature, the wind thru the trees, the birds, the streams. Very nice.

Going clockwise on Tally's, this is the first tech climb you hit. Surprisingly, this hill looks the same as did 14 years ago:
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-c8VAZX8I/AAAAAAAACN4/-CFqU0DSQBg/s800/IMG_6241.JPG

Erosion control:
http://lh5.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dCFAZX9I/AAAAAAAACOE/b8jjtoQQ3A8/s800/IMG_6245.JPG

Unfortunately, it appears that this trail system isn't getting much use. I don't think my tires hit actual dirt much at all. Trail was covered in leaves/pine straw.
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dJVAZX_I/AAAAAAAACOU/IL7nBtJLS8M/s800/IMG_6248.JPG

There are lots of bridges that have been built to get over wet/steep areas. A lot of these were built using labor from a local prison work crew.
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dFVAZX-I/AAAAAAAACOM/20goDGvVww8/s800/IMG_6247.JPG

Pine straw covered trail (trail goes thru center of pic:
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dNVAZYAI/AAAAAAAACOc/-Grfff891IA/s800/IMG_6251.JPG

For several months after Katrina hit, most of the trails were closed. There are still lots of trees down on the trail. Here's some of the damage.
http://lh4.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dV1AZYCI/AAAAAAAACOs/L_pKxcFP8js/s800/IMG_6258.JPG

Tally's was definitely built with the STFU/STFD method, as evident in the next 2 pics. Looking down this gully, the trail started at the top right and dropped down and across. I stopped halfway down and took the first pic looking back up the trail and the second pic looking down. Here's the first dip (note the stone pavers):
http://lh4.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dZ1AZYDI/AAAAAAAACO0/pKGx-l8xACI/s800/IMG_6259.JPG

After the little dip the trail carved to the right and shot you down to this little bridge:
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-ddVAZYEI/AAAAAAAACO8/9DE5K2--8fM/s800/IMG_6260.JPG

The pavers in the pic above have been used throughout the trail to bridge over wet areas. I thought I had gotten some pics, but apparently not. There are several areas of the trail that cross over places that are always wet due to underground springs. The paver's were quite effective in keeping things solid under the tires.

Most of the southern part of the trail runs thru pine forest:
http://lh6.google.com/jeff.gandy/R6-dhVAZYFI/AAAAAAAACPI/hSZIV0IS3nA/s800/IMG_6261.JPG

All in all, it was a good ride. I wished the trail was getting more use. In the mid 90's, the parking lot was full on weekends. Sign of the times I guess.

O, and perspective gained. Climbs here that used to seem long are not so much anymore. But fast is still fast, and mountain biking is still fun.

motionbased (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/invitation/dashboard.mb?episodePk.pkValue=4952064)

I'm thinking that guy at the shop fed you a line. Richardsons is the best trail and gets the most use. It's a better layout than Talley's, not so much straight up and down.

I'm thinking that guy at the shop fed you a line. Richardsons is the best trail and gets the most use. It's a better layout than Talley's, not so much straight up and down.

Yeah, may have been confused on which trail he was talking about.

I started riding about 14 years ago as well - This was one of my very first road-trip trails to hit. Clear Springs set the standard for what I compared all other MTB trails to for many years. Back then I only think there was 1 big ~11 mile loop, but it was a beast for a newbie on a 35lb hardtail.

Matter of fact it was still a beast for me on a 25lb hardtail. I haven't been there in probably 4-5 years now. Sounds like I may need to get a day trip planned.

Clear Springs is great. I love that place. Thanks for the photos. I'd rather ride Richardson and Mill Branch over Talleys any day. Did you ride your bike down from the trailhead to the bathrooms? I got over 40 mph on my knobbies coming down the hill.

not sure if i'm getting confused or not. is this the system in the homochitto near bude? i used to drive there from h'burg a couple two three times per year to ride - always solo since not many cats in h'burg were riding in 92-94 that i knew. i used to love that place and hope to get back one day. wasn't there a 12 or 24hr race there last year?

hell, it doesn't even get cold in ms - you boys better get out there and ride this place before it gets closed for no use or opened to orvs are something crazy...

jeff, glad to see you got home...

Yep - that's it - on Hwy 84 near Meadville/Bude exit.

I've always wanted to ride Clear Springs, but never have had the chance to do so.

Maybe someday!

hey think1up-

Thanks for posting this report and photos. For me too, this was one of the first 'real' mtb trails I rode way back in the early to mid 90s. I haven't ridden there since maybe 96 or 97. I'd love to go back and ride it again, just for old times sake. It'd be interesting to compare it to my current hometown riding in WV.

Agree with what another poster said... the parking lots used to be full of riders' cars on nice days. There was almost always someone to ride with out there. We used to get nice sized groups to head up there from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area several times a year.

Thanks again. I enjoyed the pics.

hey think1up-

Thanks for posting this report and photos. For me too, this was one of the first 'real' mtb trails I rode way back in the early to mid 90s. I haven't ridden there since maybe 96 or 97. I'd love to go back and ride it again, just for old times sake. It'd be interesting to compare it to my current hometown riding in WV.

Agree with what another poster said... the parking lots used to be full of riders' cars on nice days. There was almost always someone to ride with out there. We used to get nice sized groups to head up there from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area several times a year.

Thanks again. I enjoyed the pics.

i was having a hard time remembering when the lots were full though i was riding about the same time as others have mentioned: 92-96ish, give or take. then i remembered why - i used to drive up during the week and ride and usually had the whole place to myself. i think there was only one loop back then, somewhere around 10mi long or so.

and i can remember getting so stoked one time knowing i was getting closer and closer to the trails i must have been in the zone... i got popped for like...80 in a 45/55 or something. &@#&@^#&$@#. took out some aggression on the old marin rocky ridge on that day...haha...

I to rode Clear Springs in the mid 90's untill 2003. It's still one of my favorites.
The newest section is Richardson creek trail, and it's well worth the ride.
Clear Springs also has one of the best camping areas, I love it there.

I rode clear springs once back in 97 or 98, and I was awesome. We camped for 1 night and tried to ride for 2 days, the first day was great, but the 2nd day we got rained out. But it was awesome! From what I remember it was very flowy. I live in Central Florida now, but hopefully moving to Mobile this year, I will certainly be back to camp/ride that place as soon as I get back.

Can someone reference me to some sort of directions or a physical address that I can use to find the Clear Springs Recreational Area? The Forrest Service website seems to be down.
Thanks

RK

I see you're from Laffy -I'm up in Monroe, so this should be easy - I take that back - google earth says one route, and Google Maps takes another. Here's the Google Maps version:

Clear Springs directions. (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=lafayette,+LA&daddr=31.4403902962,-90.9759222205+(%22clear+springs+park%22)&ie=UTF8&v=2.2&cv=4.2.0205.5730&hl=en&z=9)

Not sure if it's faster for you to go over to 55 and head north to 98, and come in the other direction - your call there.