Going to houston and deciding which trail to ride.

From some research i've narrowed it down to two, Memorial Park or Jack Brooks Park.


Which one is better/why? Single-track/long-climbs/Fast/Rolling etc.

If you can give any details it would be great.

thanks

I can only speak for the Memorial Trails, as I've yet to check out Jack Brooks. There are some detailed reviews in the trail review section (look under Houston). The Memorial bike trails are also referred to as "Ho Chi Minh", which is actually a section of the trails.

I consider myself a beginner, and I think the trails are challenging enough for me, but will also give the intermediate and expert riders a good run for their money, depending on the section of the trail and the rate of speed they're going. The whole area is maze-like, but interconnected, except for the "Green" section, which many consider is the advanced level area. They've also repoened a section called the "Triangle", but I haven't been there yet.

Expect mostly singletrack, many rollercoaster-type sections, some nice tight corners, and a few trials-type obstacles scattered here and there. Unfortunately, many of the extreme sections were closed off due to rider negligence/carelessness and erosion. But if the Triangle was reopened, then maybe we'll see a chance that other sections will be as well in the near future.

One major drawback is that the trails are closed during rainy weather, and as of late, it's been about a month since they were last open.

Check out this website for some pics:

http://www.lx.net/schizo/Houston.html

and the GHORBA site for another map and more info:

http://www.ghorba.org/trails.htm

You can also check out Terry Hershey Park, aka the "Anthills" (they never close).

Ride triangle if you can (could be closed). 2-3mi of nice roller-coaster. Perfect for SS.

Ride triangle if you can (could be closed). 2-3mi of nice roller-coaster. Perfect for SS.

Thanks for the replies.. Think MP will be closed this saturday.... ?

Thanks for the replies.. Think MP will be closed this saturday.... ?

I just checked the weather forecast, and there is a chance of T-storms tomorrow. Depending on how hard it rains, the trails won't dry up enough for riding. On the bright side, Thurs through Sun will be rain free, with Sunday at a warmer 78 degrees. Cross your fingers, maybe Sat or Sun will be dry enough for GHORBA to open MP.

You can call the Memorial hotline to find out if the trails are open on the day of:

713-437-6588

You'll get a recording stating if MP trails are currently open or closed.

I just checked the weather forecast, and there is a chance of T-storms tomorrow. Depending on how hard it rains, the trails won't dry up enough for riding. On the bright side, Thurs through Sun will be rain free, with Sunday at a warmer 78 degrees. Cross your fingers, maybe Sat or Sun will be dry enough for GHORBA to open MP.

You can call the Memorial hotline to find out if the trails are open on the day of:

713-437-6588

You'll get a recording stating if MP trails are currently open or closed.


great , thanks

The trails at memorial dont have anything too tricky or steep, but if it has rained within the past weeks jack brooks will be way to wet and nasty.

if you want, it will have some muddy parts, but not much. Fun place for SS too.

The trails at memorial dont have anything too tricky or steep, but if it has rained within the past weeks jack brooks will be way to wet and nasty.

I agree. JBP will be too muddy until, oh... 2006! It takes forever to dry out, but we are slowly raising it one trail at a time to elevate it so it can be ridden sooner after rains.

JBP has more technically challenging single track, but I have to admit, I still have plenty of fun in Memorial Park. The Triangle dries out quicker than the main trails and though limited, it has some great rolling sections. To make Memorial more challenging, all you have to do is ride it much faster. Forget it on the weekends though... too crowded!

JBP has some cool teeter-totters in The Playground, and the off-camber rooty climbs make for a solid workout. You really have to know the line to get up a few climbs. I like both places for different reasons.

I agree. JBP will be too muddy until, oh... 2006! It takes forever to dry out, but we are slowly raising it one trail at a time to elevate it so it can be ridden sooner after rains.

JBP has more technically challenging single track, but I have to admit, I still have plenty of fun in Memorial Park. The Triangle dries out quicker than the main trails and though limited, it has some great rolling sections. To make Memorial more challenging, all you have to do is ride it much faster. Forget it on the weekends though... too crowded!

JBP has some cool teeter-totters in The Playground, and the off-camber rooty climbs make for a solid workout. You really have to know the line to get up a few climbs. I like both places for different reasons.

It has not rained since Monday so there is a chance Memorial will be open or at least rideable.

The Triangle is open but not marked with any trail signs so you have to know how to find it. It also dries quicker than the other trails simply because it does not get as much traffic yet. Its also the most fun trail at Memorial IMO. To get to it, go to the north side of Memorial, go west and cross the railroad tracks. Take a right just after crossing the tracks and the trail head is about 100yds on your left at the foot of the electrical tower.

If Memorial is closed, you can also ride the Ant Hills. (I actually like the Ant Hills better than Memorial park.. They are faster and have more verticle terrain (it that is really a word in Houston). Buffalo Bayou has been very high the past month and some of the lower trails have been under water, however the section from Willcrest to Kirkwood has been ride able on the higher trails. Its not much mileage, but if you ride it twice its a decent ride. You can also hop over to the paved side and pick the trails back up at Dairy Ashford. It the bayous back down, ride from Willcrest to Eldgide and back. (There trail continues east of Willcrest as well with some dirt jumps and a little bit of single track.