To get there from Temple, take I-35 to the University Parks Drive exit in Waco. It's one of the last Waco exits. When you finally see the exit sign, get out of the fast lane (I know how you drive :)) and over to the far right - the ramp goes off quickly. Go west (left at the stop light) and follow the road all the way into the park. You'll go through a couple of stop lights and a stop sign next to the bridge. Buzzard Billy's is on the left - you can't possibly miss the old sherriff's car sitting out front. Haven't been in there, but I'm dying to check it out. :)
The river is on your right as you proceed through the stop sign intersection and enter the park. You'll pass the entrance to the zoo on the left. Go under a road above you and turn right into the park instead of curving all the way around to the left and up to the stoplight. I usually park either in the first parking area (Redwood Shelter), or the second, by the steps. Or, you can park at Lover's Leap, which, as the name might suggest, is at the top of the park. This is where the Outback Blowout races start. To get up there, just follow the signs on the main road through the park.
Ok, update time, dear readers. :) Right now, my "last updated" date reads "21 December"! As of the 8th of August (it's raining), I've got a lot better trail description for ya'll.
Even though the race started up at Lover's Leap, I still prefer to start at the bottom, which is a climber's start. If you prefer starting out downhill, I'd suggest Lover's Leap. :) But this is my web page, and I like to start at the bottom, so that's where this will start. To pick up the trail at Lover's Leap, go there now, then make your way back up here.
I park at Redwood Shelter, right inside the park entrance. From there, I spin up the paved road toward the rest of the park. Right before the road curves to the left, up and out of sight, there are some caution arrow signs. Right before the very first one, there is a trail that goes down to the trail beside the river. Start your ride by taking the plunge! Continue on into the trees.
This trail follows the river for a coupla-few (?) miles. Except for an easy hump or two, it's almost completely flat. Great for taking the kids on, but also great for hiking, so be aware of your surroundings and resist the urge to try your wings. This is where I always encounter the most people.
Within a mile, I think, there is a trail that shoots up to the left, away from the river. It's not marked - none of the trails are (an aside: something I've noticed, coming from California, where most of the trails ARE marked, most of the trails here don't seem to be marked. The only ones I've seen are at Rocky Hill Ranch.). This trail climbs up through the trees toward the park road, which you actually ride beside for a bike length or so before heading back into the woods. The trail is wide... with an erosion ditch down the middle, actually making for two singletracks - one on either side. For the most part, whichever trail you choose is personal preference, although the most-used trail is apparent. There are some "water bars" across the trail at various points. The trail goes to the far side of them, making it fairly easy to get over them. The trail is smooth, though a gradual climb.
You'll hit a patch of rocks just before turning onto a trail to the left - again, the most-used line is readily apparent, to the left. Up to the left, then you'll see the pavement ahead of you. You're only visible for a moment before you become part of the shadowy and mysterious woods again. There is a trail to the left (it's fairly noticeable), which is just a shortcut to where the longer loop winds around. I've taken it coming back, but going this direction, the trail will naturally lead you straight past it. Twist through the trees and catch your breath from the climb as you shift down and prepare for some welcome downhill! It rolls gently but fast until you curve left and find yourself looking down at a rocky stretch that curves right at the bottom. This will (slow you down) continue to lead you around to the right... and right up into a semi-technical climb! Be prepared for it by shifting up a couple of notches. Grunt over the last little rock and continue to twist through the trees. The trail flattens out, enabling you to catch your breath. :)
Pretty soon, you'll find yourself riding along the left side of a pipe, half in the ground. Pretty soon after you notice the pipe, you'll notice an intersection of 3 trails: straight ahead (don't cross the pipe), slightly right, straight ahead (cross the pipe), and right (cross the pipe). The *easiest* option is to cross the pipe and stay straight. I still haven't figured out the cross the pipe and turn right option. Somehow, it figure-8s... I never managed to figure out the 8... I kept coming back out the way I just described to you. I like the straight ahead-don't cross the pipe option. :) The trail curves a couple of times before curving down over rocks into a steep drop between trees. I've walked it, I've ridden it (mostly), and yes, I've endoed it. O:) Only once - the endo - thank goodness. You're going to be cautious, going down over the rocks into the bottom of the gully... and in your small ring, middle in the back - unless you're pretty strong, or you get some speed up. I can say with probably 90% certainty that most of you won't make it up the steep climb the first time. :) This isn't meant discouragingly! In fact, after reading this, I hope you're ready for it, and charge up that hill like Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders! However, I think I've only made it once or twice... and I know it's coming!
At the top, I think there's a trail to the left - I've never been down it. I stay straight, and the trail curves around to the right before coming to another intersection of sorts. That's what makes it so confusing for 1st time riders out here - the number of intersections! I take the trail to the right, which curves around and makes a couple of other small dips and climbs (piece-o-cake after what you just went through - I promise) before coming back out to the main trail (the "cross the pipe and go straight" trail). Turn left there.
You'll make a curving right turn (don't go straight, to the paved road), and twist through the trees (in addition to this being a "climber's course", it also has plenty of fast, twisting sections through the trees). After a short time of this, you'll come to a telephone pole on the right side of the trail, and the road, which you'll cross - make sure nothing's coming! Cars, of course, have the right of way, and they have no way of knowing that you're about to come bursting out of the trees!
Cross the road and twist down the rocky trail. Follow it around as it curves left onto a loose-rock-type trail. I think you can also turn right here, and follow it down to the first trail to the right. The way I go (left) eventually comes out here, it's just a little longer loop. So if you go left, follow that until you see a little trail shoot off at an angle to the right. The trail will also continue on straight ahead. Stay right - another trail angles off to the left right after your initial right turn. Again, you'll twist through the trees (some sharper turns on this section) before crossing a trail and continuing straight. This is where you'd be if you'd turned right earlier, instead of my preferred left. This section has some up 'n downs to it, one of which will up your heart rate. :) There are two *ups*, then you'll cross a trail, and head downward at a gradual slope. You'll find some rocks and roots a little farther down this section of trail to up the "interesting" factor.
Speaking of factors, this is as good a place as any to mention that the likelihood of encountering "the big PO" is EXTREMELY HIGH here. Poison oak, poison ivy, whichever it is. Especially with all the rain we had this spring, and the vegetation growth - it's very close to the trails in several areas - there is an abundance of the stuff. Eeeeyuchblech. :P I'm well acquainted with the California variety, thank you, and the experience wasn't the best. Here, oddly enough, I've only had one incident with it - the race in April. When I pre-rode the course the Thursday before, I noticed that the place was thick with it, and wondered why it hadn't been cut back in preparation for the race. Didn't get any that day, but come race day... afterward, really... I ended up with some welts on my legs.
This is the California-recommended remedy for the big PO... Take a COLD SHOWER! I know this goes against the grain of every red-blooded Texan of you out there, but there IS a reason. I've heard a doctor say, "PO doesn't spread." Bull... dookie! You and I and every other whoever around who has ever come into contact with the stuff knows it sure spreads. How else would you come into contact with it on your leg, scratch it before you knew better, rub your eyes... and end up with tell-tale redness and welts on your eyelids? Been there, done that. :P This is due to the oils the plant releases when it comes into contact with your skin. Warm water (that delightfully steamy warm shower you take after your ride which is as much part of the mtn biking ritual as actually riding) opens your pores, thus enabling the oils to spread... or something like that. Cold water won't open your pores and spread the oils. In addition, if you can find it (I've had luck just using the post-ride cold shower), exchange your regular soap with "Naptha" soap for a shower or two, as an extra precaution. You can also use "tecnu" cleanser after your shower (or before, but I prefer to use it on clean skin). There's also something else I heard of after leaving California... and I don't remember what it's called... but it's a pre-ride precaution to getting "bit" by the big PO. Remember, abstinence is best, but when you just can't avoid it, use these suggestions to avoid the effects. ;)
Okay, that was an unscheduled pause in your regular programming. Where was I? You'll follow this trail as it curves around (lots of twisty)... then you'll go down over some water bars, past a trail to the left... and merge left-ish into a trail that's coming from your right. Take this through a tunnel-like section through the trees until you get to a rock wall (or you can continue the short distance to the "T" at the river trail). Take a left, down, before the rock wall, across the flat, grey blocks, and head toward the 2 o'clock position, up toward the paved road, and the clearing/parking area. Once on the road, you'll see a brown bathroom building to your left. Stay on the right (river) side of the wooden pilings, going toward the bathroom. Behind the bathroom, to the left, you'll see a trail go up into the trees. Yes, you read correctly. That was "up." :) This is a technical little bugger of a climb. Not all that steep, but there are some rock 'steps', again a la Austin, and if you don't pause for a breather in the middle, your heart rate will soar by the time you grind up the last little grunt into the sunshine and meadow. Now you're looking for a trail at the far edge of the meadow, so either stay in the grass, or get up on the edge of the paved road. There are some picnic pavilions to your left. When you get to the gravel road, go across it to the trail in the trees. Take the right split, past the end of the log. You'll go over another log in a curve. It will come out at another trail that you'll go right on... until it comes out again at the road, past the wooden pilings that prevent motored vehicles from entering the trail. Cross the road and instead of following the trail straight ahead, take the trail to the right. You're headed for THE funnest part of the trail. :) Don't like climbing? Had enough already (don't worry, there's plenty more to come)? This is your saving grace. "The Colorado Trail"... we call it the "Colorado Snake" for the way it snakes its way back and forth and up and down the sides of the gully-trail leading down to the road. Even the most timid rider can't help but fall in love with this section of trail. It's semi-technical and rocky at the top, then the trail makes a short curve to the right and *whoosh*! Let go of the brakes (esp. the front!), get your butt back, go aero - don't forget to grin - and swoop up and down those curves! You can wait til the end to give thanks to the patron saints of mtn biking (and whoever built this trail). ;)
**Be aware that the end of this section of trail comes up suddenly and quickly on the paved road!** AND, the fact that there is now a guard rail there now!**
Make an immediate left turn as you come up out of the trail (you have no choice now, unless you can hop that guard rail), and follow the rail to the trash can, where you can get around it (it's been shortened slightly now). Shoot straight toward the low stone wall, and zip through the gap. This is another plunge, reminiscent of the one at the very beginning. You're feeling good, feeling cocky, the saints of mtn biking are riding at your shoulder... and just then, there's a tree across the trail, around the corner. No problem, head up the hump (well-traveled) to the upper left of the tree and continue on your cocky way - are you still grinning? You should be. :)
Now we come to "the Three Sisters" I heard it called. I don't remember what the left-most 'sister' is called... but the one straight ahead is "Slip 'N Slide" (you'll be coming down it), and the one to the right is simply called the "baseball trail" - betcha can't guess why. We'll get back to that, because we'll be climbing it in a minute.
Take the left sister, whose name I can't remember. Believe me, several names will come to mind (probably none of them utterable in the presence of children) as you climb it. ;) As you start up it, thinking back to this web page, you won't think it's so bad. It doesn't even look intimidating. But this is my "gauge" trail - the one by which I gauge how well/much I've been riding. Halfway up and I'm sucking wind, wobbling my front wheel, and wanting badly to stop to catch my breath, and the gauge meter says I ain't been riding hard enough. Sucking wind, but ready, willing and able to continue riding to catch my breath into the next section of trail, and I figure I've been doing pretty well. ;)
You'll start the climb on the right, then cross over to the left side of the trail. Follow the line as it crosses center to the right again, and gets rocky before going up a little hump around a sapling tree, then back around into the trail and on up. That little hump past the tree is your clue that you're almost to "catch your breath" stage. Remember the last time you crossed the road, past the wooden pilings, and turned right right away? Well, this is the trail you'd have been on had you stayed straight. Surprise. :)
Don't go all the way to the road. :) Take the first trail to the right. By the way, this is all part of the race course. As such, there may still be ribbons up. Part of the course was new to me... but not this part. :) When I turned up that trail off of the river trail, I was rockin' hard. My trail, and I let John C. (my bike) fly. ;)
But back to the trail. I don't know what the deal is here... you'll wind around and pass a metal tower where the buzzards like to sit... just as you pass it, you'll make a sharp turn left - the rocks make it a little technical. Your switchback practice will come in handy. The "deal" is that it smells like the port-a-johns at this particular point... without the port-a-johns. :P So hold your nose.... then you'll curve back to the right and ride out of it. Weird.
What they cut out of the race is "the drop" you may remember from the first description. Take the trail to the left to get there (it comes out at the bottom of the sisters), or stay straight - look for the red sweatshirt someone hung in the tree to the right. This will take you down a steep, semi-curving downhill into a gully that you have to climb out of, also steep. Remember the first one I told you about ("don't cross the pipe")? This is a la that one, minus the tricky, intimidating rocks at the top. What it does have are flat blocks in the bottom. This was a mud hole during the race. You'll find the same grey blocks elsewhere in the course ahead. Same advice, be aware of the steep climb, and gear appropriately. I find this one easier, and incidentally, the only time I *wasn't* able to climb it was the race, when it was just slick mud up that side.
The trail goes straight, then you'll turn (at the second trail) right and head down to the 'intersection of sisters'... if you follow the race course. But I like to cram as much fun into my ride as possible, so, while I dutifully followed the course during the race, I never ride that way during a usual ride. :)
The non-climbers among you will curse me soundly while riding this section of the trail; if not right away (probably), then certainly a little later on, when the trail rises so steeply that unless your seat is "up your ass" and you're practically kissing your stem, your front wheel will come up and you won't make it. But, while you may curse me now... at the next race, after you've conquered this, and you pass Joe, Schmo and Bo on the climb, believe me, you'll thank me for introducing you to the steepest climb(s) at Cameron Park. ;)
Take a left. Hint: it goes UP. :) Having been a non-believer that I could climb any better than I already was, coming from California (if you can't climb out there, you can't ride), take it from me - you can ALWAYS be a better climber. Don't hate climbing, for crying out loud! Love it, and beat it at its own game... then it will cease to bugger you. Move as far up on your saddle as you think you should, then go forward another 2 inches. Trust me. :) Climbing is a longitudinal balancing act - if you've read Charles Kunffy's book on Dressage, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't even know what dressage is, don't fret. What I mean is balancing your weight from front to back over your bike. You have to get YOUR center of gravity over your BIKE'S center in order to climb efficiently. In the past, my strength had gotten me up most climbs. Pour the power to it, and I could climb just about anything... except really technical or really steep stuff. With my coach standing beside me on approach to the climb where I was forced to rethink my whole take on climbing, he literally moved me forward on my saddle until I was where I should be - up on my saddle, then another 2 inches forward - at least. Guess what? Damned if I didn't ride right up that hill. ;)
Okay, this isn't a lesson - back to the trail! When you've reached the point where you can relax and catch your breath (not only is this section fairly steep, it's also got enough rocks and erosion ditches in it to rate a technical call), look for the trail to make a sharp right turn. DOWNHILL! :) But like downhills the world over (so I assume), it's over much too quickly. You can get up some speed on this little section, but be aware that the trail curves sharply to the left (the faster you're going, the sharper it seems). Cockiness will send you into the bushes (like it almost did me once). You'll seem to cross a trail... or at least see one to your right just beyond the curve. You'll take this down on your way back... or, if you've had enough climbing (even if you have *for now*, you're still not done --> this is me, grinning wickedly >:)), you'd better bail out here. If you take this right (which you'll eventually take as a left coming back), you'll go down a sweet little run, swoop UP (let your momentum from the downhill carry you, then pedal hard to get up over the top) and between the trees and fly down to the intersection of the sisters.
But what you really want to do (be a man) is go straight on. :) It's flat. Until it starts climbing. O:) You'll make a couple of very slight twists in a short distance, then start gearing up - you'll probably want something close to granny. The trail will curve to the left - don't take the trail that veers off to the right - keep climbing! Well (wimp), you *can* take it... but it gets densely overgrown, and eventually just ends. Ok, so you followed doctor's orders and kept climbing (keep telling yourself, this is *good* for my heart...). I think this is the steepest climb in the place. It took me a few tries and getting mad to nail this one. :)
You'll reach the *top* (that's right, keep going), go down a little dip that's just there to give you the tiniest of breathers, then up the next little effort. This one isn't as bad, and it's not as long, so cheer up. :) It will take you into a narrow, rocky, twisty, cedar-lined, short section of trail that, as quickly as you went into it, you curve around and come out of it, back onto hardpack and oaks. There are a couple of sharp, fairly overgrown curves here... I don't think many people venture up here - aren't you glad you did? :)
One more, gradual, twisting climb, and you come out - into sunshine! Turn around here, or turn right a short way, then left at the green pole, or straight on, up (oops... you're probably tired of climbing by now, huh?) to the water tower, or left... I've never gone left. I've only gone to the water tower once - it meanders back into the trees, past an old foundation... over a fence... and dies. It may, if you want it to badly enough, come out back at the trail just before the steep climb. I turn right, then left at the green pole, and go up there to explore around. The trail leads you on back to a road - I have NO idea where it is. At some point up there, I turn around and go back down the way I came up, eventually ending up back down at the intersection of the sisters. :) Don't forget to turn left, instead of continuing past that trail.
This area was pretty wet with all the rain, so grey blocks were put in to give a solid base where you cross over what was once a creek. After you go over the blocks, turn left and go up the baseball trail. Another climber, but you knew that, didn't you. :) This one has "steps" near the top, a la Austin. Find your rhythm as you start the climb, and go to an easy gear - don't try to charge it. The line moves to the left side of the trail, then crosses over and up to the right as you go around the curve to the left. Stay right until you get to the top. The line will lure you toward the center of the rock steps - let it, then swing back to the right for a quick moment on dirt, then head back to the middle of the rock again, and climb right up the center of it. Momentum in bursts is important here because you won't have too much speed to help you. And remember to keep your weight forward on the nose of your saddle, to help lift your rear wheel over that rock. Easy, right?
Another breather. :) Take advantage of it, because just around the corner, turn left onto another trail. It twists through the trees, then makes a fairly sharp curve to the right. It's a fast section. :) You wanted to hear that. But, instead of continuing straight ahead, take the first trail to the left! Brand new for the race, I loved this part. It twists, it descends, it climbs, it's got a few wacky, off-camber turns on descents, it has one steep mother of a climb (you *can* go past it... it's actually a shortcut) that will have you so close to the nose of your saddle you'll be BEYOND it, and eventually it shoots you out at the edge of a meadow by the (guess what) baseball fields. :) That last little climb out is a bit tricky. Follow the trail along the edge of the meadow, as it goes back into the trees. You'll pass a trail on your right - that's where you would have come out had you missed this delightful new singletrack. You'll pass another trail on your right - that's where you'd come out had you continued straight up from climbing up the steps. Keep going - you're beside the ball fields now - and follow the trail as it curves around and hits the paved road. Look to about 2 o'clock as you come out of the trail, and that's Lover's Leap. The road will be coming up behind you (where you drove up from if you drove), and another road comes in from the left, by the ball fields. The road from behind continues on to Lover's Leap, and goes around a large field - I've seen little tykes in there playing tee-ball, and not-so-little guys in there... I'm not sure exactly what they were doing, but there were beer kegs involved. This was also the start of the race. The road goes around this large field. Past the bathrooms (a brown, concrete building, not port-a-johns) and the picnic pavilions, you'll see a low stone wall, several feet in front of a higher stone wall. Ever since my first ride up here with Cliff, it has been a tradition of mine (and you know we Aggies are big on tradition) to stop at this wall (Lover's Leap) and take a gander. You can see for a good, long distance from up there. You can also see down to the river. You can also, if you lean far enough, look straight down and see the trail you're going to be riding down in mere moments. :) Aren't you excited?? There have been times this year when I've done the look-over, and the trail was actually under water.
This is where the race started, so where do you go from here? Head back toward the ball fields on the road. Turn right on that road you crossed a moment ago. Veer off the pavement onto the gravel and into the grass where it looks appropriate (open space between curbs). Then look down the meadow for the singletrack opening in the trees straight ahead of you. (There is another way to get down to the river trail, but it's steep, relatively dangerous, and the race course left it out. Hint: you passed it before you turned right on the pavement)
This trail, I'd never been on until the race. It's twisty (imagine that), and descends all the way to the creek which, dry now, was definitely flowing during the race - look for more grey blocks here. There are two Y's to look for fairly early in your descent. Go left at the first one (ignore the trail to the left of the first curve) - you'll know it's the one when you go around a corner, over some roots and into a "dip". At the top of the dip, take the right fork. Follow the slightly eroded trail to the bottom. There's a sharp switchback when you get to the bottom, to the right. Let off your front brake, steer your front tire around with your inside knee up (ahead), and let your rear wheel follow along behind. Then it's a fast run through the "bottoms". We nicknamed this section "Owl Shit Valley" during our pre-ride... for obvious reasons. :) Slicker 'n... you get the idea. More grey blocks. Wet here during the race, it has since completely dried out.
There are two humps as you come to the end of the valley and prepare for the short, steep climb out. A Trailblazer club member, videotaping at this particular spot, caught some absolutely *spectacular* spills, including one guy who thought he was in gymnastic mtn biking and somersaulted his bike (craziest thing... he stayed on the bike until the final crash!) - he broke his frame. Bummer. :( Another guy did a flying face plant... he stood up, thought he could continue, I guess... until he wobbled to the edge of the trail... and promptly sat down. :) How long have you been substituting beer for water in your Camelbak, buddy? No serious injuries, however!!
Right after the second hump, you'll cross a wooden bridge, and up a short but steep climb. This is where I dropped my competition in my 3rd and final beginner race. ;) I was in the lead, and another club member, also watching at that spot, said the girl behind me didn't make the climb. See, I told you you'd thank me for making you do all this climbing - IT PAYS OFF!
Head left at the top of the climb. You'll get a break here as you follow alongside the river, going up and over some short rock sections. Look for a trail to your right - you won't see it until you get to it, but there really isn't a good landmark to go by. You'll go immediately down, cross a (dry) creek, and immediately up a steep little climb. The trail bends around to the left, beside the park road. You're still climbing, but not as steeply. This might be one of the longest climbs in the park, as it winds up through a gorge through the trees, and snakes around to come out below a picnic area. As you come out of the thick trees, curve left - the trees will thin, you'll see the picnic area ahead and above you. Look to the right by the telephone pole for the trail you want to take. It will put you right back into the trees for a short way before bringing you out behind the picnic area. Cross the short open area and head for the opening in the trees - DOWNHILL! And a steep one at that. You'll slide - don't lock up your brakes - and be ready for the left turn at the bottom. You'll go over a couple of deep waterbars before the trail comes to a "T" - turn right, and you're back on the river trail. Take this all the way to where I started you ( Return to the beginning)- the trail goes up to the right.
Now, that wasn't so bad, was it? ;)
One more thing... memorize this, there will be a pop quiz. :)