Not ashamed to admit I utilized some of those ride-arounds on the larger rock rolls. A like of flow trails had nothing to do with it. A like of my clavicle remaining in one piece did affect my decision though.Most people like flow trails now.
Like Jim said, most people like flow trails these days. It's a little ironic in that Ditch-Orange and Earthworm are better versions of some of the Stephens downhills, but people don't want to ride the junk (not my opinion!) in between. You could easily loop Earthworm from the iron gate parking, but nobody seems to do that.I'll say it again its the best park of the 3 hands down. I don't get why stephens is always the rave when it can't hold a candle to tech and fun that mooch delivers.
Are we talking about this Earthworm? Never heard that name in all of the years I've been riding there.
Well for the folks who only ride flow trails, the joke's on them. Outside of DH parks (Creek/etc), the little jump trails in High Bridge, and places like Trexler, we don't seem to have them around here. But in all honesty I find those places to be very fun and don't have any problem admitting I like flow trails. Now if that is all there was I agree that would be pretty boring. I'd rather ride natural tech trails, but a little variety is fun, too.Like Jim said, most people like flow trails these days. It's a little ironic in that Ditch-Orange and Earthworm are better versions of some of the Stephens downhills, but people don't want to ride the junk (not my opinion!) in between. You could easily loop Earthworm from the iron gate parking, but nobody seems to do that.
I find those places to be very fun and don't have any problem admitting I like flow trails.
No offense at all. I appreciate everyone’s help and discussion on this site. I think we are making the same point. I absolutely love the variety we have here in NJ and the surrounding area. It’s my favorite place I’ve lived for MTB.Apologies if my comment came of as an insult to you or anyone else, which definitely was not intended. Most of my friends like riding flow trails. We are very fortunate to live within a short drive of a very large variety of trails here in North Jersey. There's really something for everybody. I was just stating what seems to me to be a pretty clear fact in terms of why Stephens is so popular now and North isn't.
Earthworm - it does start on Highlands, but you should quickly be making a left off that trail. Within 30 seconds or so.I parked at Earthworm this past Friday and tried to find my way around without a route. I started to climb Highlands where I encountered double-black diamond levels of mosquitoes, so I retreated to Stephens and decided to consult the wisdom of this thread.
The bark is worse than the bite. I think the fact that you can't see the descent on some of them until you get over a hump makes them worse than they seem. You can do a controlled walking pace type of descent. You can't fly down the long one as you have to turn at the end.
There are much steeper in that general area, but they're optional and you won't see them if you don't look. For example, after the bottom of Rollie where you get to the flat slick rock and the trail goes down a short rock ramp, look to the left.
I saw this one. The intimidating part to me is that it is two parts. If I couldn’t control my speed well enough in the first roller then that second one could get a little rowdy.That one looks pretty straightforward, but also terrifying. Also a big roller to the left of ditch/cardiac towards the top.
I've been eyeing this other one but haven't managed to bring myself to commit to it. Doesn't help that I'm usually climbing up that way from 517 and pretty tired by the time I get there 😂 Naturally it looks flat in the pictures.
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I saw this one. The intimidating part to me is that it is two parts. If I couldn’t control my speed well enough in the first roller then that second one could get a little rowdy.
Your concern isn't unfounded - I watched my buddy roll through the first with too much speed and then got bucked at the second part into the tree.Yes. I watched someone ride it and of course it always looks dead easy when someone else does it, but I have the same concern.
Tame but some off beaten goodness. Unfortunately it's a park that has no representation from jorba so by this time of the year it is well overgrown.So, how does Deer Park compare to Stephens and Allamuchy North?