Multiple equestrian trails will be used. This means there WILL be SAND! Possibly lots of sand, not to mention some bushwacking. There will be sections of the trail where there won't be much trail if any at all.
Many of the equestrian trails are not very maintained meaning that there will be tall grass, possible poison ivy, poison oak, and briars. There are a few small creek crossing but nothing crazy. You'll be lucky if your whole shoe is ever submerged in water. (that's if you don't jump in the lake for relief)
Elevation change will be minimal. Probably comparable to a race like Rocky Raccoon.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
We'll be starting the run at the end of Road "Trail 4" just off Murrell Park Rd.
We'll go up Trail 4 Road and turn left onto the second entrance to the Northshroe Trail. You'll continue for a few miles until you come to the intersection that will take you to the MADD Shelter. Continue straight on the Northshore Trail.
You'll follow the trail another 3-4 miles until you come to a bridge. You'll turn RIGHT and continue on the Northshore Trail.
After a few miles you'll merge back with the two-way section of the Northshore Trail. Just stay to the RIGHT here and DON'T turn left. Continue on the Northshore Trail.
In a mile or two you'll reach the Twin Coves Park Rd. TURN RIGHT onto the road and run a 100 yards or so. You'll see the trail dip down into the trees on your LEFT. Continue on the Northshore Trail.
After another mile or so you'll come back to the Twin Coves Park Rd. The trail continues just across the road. Turn left onto the road then immediately turn right to continue on the Northshore Trail.
In another mile or so you'll come back to the Twin Coves Park Rd. Here you'll turn RIGHT and go a 1/4 mile or so down to Wichita Trail Rd. TURN LEFT on Wichita Trail Rd. STAY ON THE SHOULDER, don't run in the road. In about a mile the road will take a 90 degree turn to the right. Continue on Wichita Trail Rd.
Next you'll turn LEFT in a 1/2 mile or so on Cardinal Dr.
IMPORTANT! In a 1/4 mile or so you'll go LEFT onto the Rocky Point Equestrian Trail! There will be ribbons here. KEEP AN EYE OUT! This is a small trail.
Once on the trail continue straight. When you come to an intersection continue straight. DON'T turn left. Continue straight on the trail. DO NOT take any side trails.
IMPORTANT! The trail will continue down towards the lake, then it will turn to the right and make a big U-Turn type thing. In 30-50 feet you'll see a trail to the left. TURN LEFT here. DON'T continue straight. If you do continue straight you'll come to a paved road. If you get to a paved road turn around and go down the trail you missed. This intersection WILL be flagged.
Continue on the trail. Occasionally here you will see trails heading off to the right. DO NOT take these. They're paths up to the lake houses. Just continue on the trail. Any major turns will be flagged.
Soon you'll come to a VERY sandy section of the trail. Just continue straight through the sand behind the lake houses. This section is less than a mile or so.
In a mile or so after the sand section you'll come to an intersection. TURN LEFT here and then you'll have another immediate RIGHT. This will be flagged!
The trail will continue next to the lake. Occasionally you may see a side trail. I WILL have the area flagged as best as possible. If you do end up taking on of these trails they should almost always put you back on the main trail.
Soon you'll come up next to a creek, continue on the trail through a beautiful heavily wooded area. In a half mile or so the trail will take a hard LEFT up a rocky climb. In a half mile from here you'll come out at the HIGH ROAD Trailhead.
When you reach the High Road Trailhead turn LEFT onto the pavement. You'll continue down high road for about a mile. There's a significant downhill here. At the end of high road you'll come to a cul-de-sac. You'll go straight through the cul-de-sac onto the CrossTimbers Equestrian Trail. The trail will descent straight down towards the lake.
Here you'll find a water drop placed in the trees on the RIGHT. There will also be water here on the way back.
When you reach the lake TURN RIGHT onto the CrossTimbers Equestrian Trail. Continue on the trail for a mile or two. When you cross a small bridge be sure to turn LEFT at the intersection. In about 50-100 yards the trail will continue across a small opening. Be sure to go straight.
You'll continue behind some lake houses and the trail will turn left. In a half mile or so the trail will turn RIGHT. GO RIGHT, not left.
Continue on the trail for 2-3 more miles. Soon you'll come to the other end of the CrossTimbers trail head. Here you'll join up with the Knob Hill Mountain Bike Trail. When you cross the grass road take the trail option on the LEFT and continue on the Knob Hill Trail.
The Knob Hill Trail is a well maintained mountain bike trail and is easy to navigate. There will probably not be any course markings here. (If you're unfamiliar with the trail I recommend checking it out before race day) If ever in doubt here take the TRAIL MORE TRAVELLED!
In a mile or so you'll come to a rough jeep road. TURN LEFT here and in about 50 yards you'll cross a cement bridge. About 50 yards after the bridge you'll continue LEFT on the Knob Hills Trail.
In the next few miles you'll cross a low wetland area. It's possible there will be some very wet areas here. CONTINUE STRAIGHT through them. As you get closer to the Knob Hills far end trailhead you'll see some more side trails. All these trails will take you back to the main trail. Again, if in doubt, TAKE THE TRAIL MORE TRAVELLED.
In awhile you'll come to a large gravel road. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ACROSS!Soon you'll reach the far end trail head at highway 377. Here I'll have a book stashed in a baggie up against a HUGE powerline pole.
Once you get your page out of the book, you'll turn around and repeat back to the starting area.
Hop back on the Knob Hills Trail and continue straight back the way you came.
In the next few miles you'll cross a low wetland area. It's possible there will be some very wet areas here. CONTINUE STRAIGHT through them. You'll continue to see some more side trails. All these trails will take you back to the main trail. Again, if in doubt, TAKE THE TRAIL MORE TRAVELLED.
In 4-5 miles you'll come back to that intersection near the cement bridge. STAY RIGHT and cross the cement bridge. In 100 yards or so you'll turn RIGHT back into the trees. Continue on the Knob Hills Trail.
In a mile or so you'll come back to the end of the Knob Hills Trail and cross the grass road again back to the CrossTimbers Equestrian Trail. Follow the trail for a few miles till you come to the next intersection. Here turn LEFT and continue on the trail.
This will take you back up behind the lake houses. In a mile or so the trail will curve to the left. 50 yards or so later you'll turn RIGHT and cross the small wooden bridge you crossed earlier.
Follow this trail all the way back to High Road. You'll have you're WATER DROP here. The same one you hit on the way out. Once back on High Road run the mile back to the Rocky Point Trailhead. TURN RIGHT back onto the Rocky Point Equestrian Trail and continue the way you came.
In a half mile or so you'll go back down the "rocky drop" to that creek you ran next to. TURN RIGHT and continue down the trail. The trail will be marked well here. Continue down the Rock Point Trail. You'll soon come out by the lake again. The trail will follow the lake for a little while. REMEMBER, if you see a side trail, don't take it. Follow the more travelled trail!
You'll come to another intersection where the trail will curve LEFT then RIGHT. Will be marked.
You'll follow the trail through the really sandy section again. Once through that the trail will get better and go back down near the lake. Follow the trail, and soon you'll come to a wooded section. It will suddenly open to a big field you crossed earlier. Cross the field then turn RIGHT when you come to a 'T". If you turn left you'll come to a paved road.
Follow the trail. You may see some side trails to your left. DON'T take them. In a half mile or so you'll see a trail turn right and cross a small creek. (may not have water in it) CONTINUE STRAIGHT.
In a 1/4 mile or so the trail will pop out back on Cardinal Dr. TURN RIGHT on to Cardinal dr and continue the few hundred yards to Wichita Trail Dr. TURN RIGHT onto Wichita Trail. In a 1/4 mile or so it will take a 90 degree turn to the left. Continue for a mile or so down Wichita Trail. When you cross the cement bridge turn RIGHT onto Twin Coves Park Rd.
In a 1/4 mile or so you'll join back with the Northshore Trail on your LEFT. Continue back on the Northshore Trail.
You'll follow the Northshore Trail for a mile or so until you come back to the Twin Coves Park Rd. You'll turn LEFT onto the road then take an immediate RIGHT back onto the Northshore Trail.
Follow the trail until you come back to the Twin Coves Park Rd and turn RIGHT onto the road. In about 100 yards you'll turn LEFT back onto the Northshore Trail. In about a mile or two you'll come to a split in the trail. STAY TO THE RIGHT here. Continue on the Northshore Trail.
In a few miles you'll come back to the wooden bridge with rails. Stay to the RIGHT. Continue on the Northshore Trail. In another mile or so you'll come out near the MADD Shelter. Stay to the right and continue on the Northshore Trail.
In a half mile or so you'll cross Murrell Park Rd. The Trail continues across the road. In another mile or two you'll come out on the Dirt road that we originally started the race on. Here you'll TURN RIGHT and you'll be at the starting area.
After refilling bottles and food, turn around and run back up the dirt road. You'll take the first RIGHT back onto the Northshore Trail. Continue on the Northshore trail for the next 3-5 miles. After crossing a small wooden bridge you'll come to another intersection. Continue STRAIGHT. DON'T turn left.
In a half mile or so you'll come to a large opening called the "Boyscout Camp". Stay to the right here and continue around the perimeter. The trail will pick up on the far side. Stay OFF the paved road if you see it.
Continue on the trail. In a few miles you'll see a sign for a left turn. TURN LEFT HERE instead of going straight. You'll see an ACOE sign that marks the trail. It will switchback a little.
Soon you'll come to the turnaround for the mountain bikes that ride the trail. STAY TO THE RIGHT here and go through the rock garden descent. You'll run next to the lake all the way to the gate at Rockledge Park. At the gate I'll have a book in a baggie and you'll tear out a page corresponding to your bib number. (AN EMERGENCY WATER SOURCE is the sink in the restrooms, these may or may not work!)
The book will be behind the cement restrooms after you come through the gate into the parking lot.
Now turn around and continue back down the lake shore. When you get back into the trees STAY TO THE RIGHT. You'll be on a different trail this time parallel to the trail you were just on.
You'll stay on the trail for the next 4-5 miles. You'll then come back to the large gravel road you crossed earlier. Look for the trail directly across from you. It will be the trail on the RIGHT, not the trail on the left. Continue on the Northshore Trail.
In a few miles you'll cross two small paved roads by the Murrel Park gate entrance. Continue on the Northshore Trail. (There's also a water fountain here that works during the summer)
The next unpaved road you cross will be the road we started on. TURN LEFT here and run down to the finish area.
Congratulations.
