These trails were created by the motocross group and are bumpy, narrow, curvy, and sometimes sandy in places (best after a goodrain!). Gulf power has started cracking-down on the moto-cross folks. Since then, less motorcycle traffic has helped these trails to be much more fun as they are becoming less sandy. Take the trail and enjoy the long down hill journey, because the upcoming long uphill battle seems endless. Eventually you will make it back to a dirt road near the parking area. Go across the road and the trail will continue mostly downhill to the power lines at 10 Mile Road. Once there, hang a left and go up this massive hill -- follow the power-lines and when you reach the top of the second hill, look for another trail entrance to your left. The trail starts again at a mound of dirt (if you make to Pate Road, you have gone too far). This trail will bring you back to the parking area. The end of the trail is marked by a small bridge with a tree stump nailed to a tree. Upon exiting the trail, go to the left and the parking area is at the top of the hill. The trail is free. The loop is about 45 min fast---1.5 hours at a slow pace. Other links: Maps to this trail, and others in the Pensacola area can be found at: http://www.students.uwf.edu/lsg1/mountain.htm
XC riders take the XC entrance (the right fork on the fire road near the gate), looping around & exiting onto the fire road just past The Hip.
FR riders usually take the FR entrance (the left fork off the fire road just passed the XC entrance), starting on The Spooky Trail, rolling through The Hip, Section 8, A51 & over to The Playground.
Trails are owned by University if North Florida. I started off going backward but eventually figured it out and the trails flowed nicely with steady climbs and fun descents. Some technical trails and there were some more advanced trails but I was going the wrong direction so was not able to really navigate properly. Recommend. And would do it again.
| ThankAfter riding the UWF trails I decided to try the Games Loop trails which are just across the road...and was I glad I did.
| ThankIt started not so well when I was told find the trail to the Left after you go under the big gray gate. This counter clockwise ride was poorly marked and I soon found " game " area and enjoyed a short flowing trail section with smaller jumps and berms. One part was very nice with several smaller sized dirt berms leading up to two large berms ...that section was a total blast!!! After exploring around the pit area I decided to leave. As I was about to exit the Games Loop, I found the proper beginning to the various trail loops. The real trail head for the Games Loop is a few hundred feet up the dirt road that the big gate is on. I loved these trails...more flowing than at UWF with a higher average pace, ( more my style anyway). After a lap I played a little at the poorly marked game area then ended my fun day at The Games Loop and UWF. I will return to enjoy these trails again.
Great part of the UWF Bike Trails which total 22.5 miles of mostly single track riding. Very beginner friendly trail and a blast to ride backwards at night.
| ThankI really enjoyed this trail. I will be back.
| ThankNot a bad trail for begginner to starting intermediate.
| ThankAs a beginner, I found this trail to be relatively easy. Lots of pedaling on the front side, the back half -donkey kong and paperboy- had a few hills and roots. Overall a great trail.
| Thank5 Stars for the creativity and fun factor in a typical Florida forested area. This place was a blast after the UWF full loop. Crossed Pate Rd from the sand parking lot and loved every bit of this trail. Go Pro died though, so I'm going back again. Definitely worth trying out and kudos and respect to the people who put time into keeping this trail up. Coming from the MidWest, this place was definitely worth the ride!
Obstacles like the photos show and then some. You can drop down hills with pedaling speed and rip into a berm, then shoot up and down ladder bridges even getting air off some. Love the drop off the banked ladder bridge, fun to throw the bike around. Again, thanks so much to those who made this happen! Your work is greatly appreciated by many!
There are places where you end up the wrong way due to lack of markers, but I just kept hitting the obstacles, so I didn't care all that much. Would be helpful though.
Difficulty Rating is based off air bridges and sand. Photos added. Enjoy!
| ThankVery fun trail. Great for beginners and experienced riders. Some of the trail markers are hard to follow and it's easy to find yourself riding the wrong way.
| ThankFreaking outstanding! It has any thing you want from an mtb perspective with great trails, jump course, and a great old clay pit loaded drops and jumps. I am very grateful to Porch.org for all the work they have done
| ThankThis review is on the least difficult section of trail. After scouting this I took my wife, who had never before been on a mountain bike trail, and she really enjoyed it. She is not the outdoorsy type but this was flat enough to make it manageable. If you know someone who is considering the sport but is fearful, this is a great place to start. There are some really interesting sections around the sand pit for the more advanced rider. Do watch the loose sand. I came off a high banked turn and chose a bad line and the loose sand took me down. If your going to attempt any of those fun spots you should probably walk it before you ride it. Wish I had... but whats a vacation without a trip to the ER right.
| ThankSee http://www.mtbepicrides.com/2014/02/games-loopuwf-pensacola-florida.html for links
If you are ever near Pensacola, and need to get in a ride, check these trails out. Don't let the No Trespassing signs throw you.
The sandy Trailhead parking lot is to the right, with it's entrance right before the first No Trespassing sign, this is the UWF side, the Games side is directly across from that entrance with a closed gate. It was not obvious, there were no TH parking signs. Nor were there trail markers pointing to the Games side, until you get past the gate. The directions from SingleTracks.com were spot on though.
The trails are marked well with really nicely carved and painted wooden posts. The posts are Supplemented with the original arrows and blazes. There are a lot of cross trails that lead into the pits and stunts on the Games Side. The UWF has less of that, but there is an unmarked turn, that probably goes to the 10 mile TH and once you get to the far end, you get a red arrow to turn you on to a power line or fire road for a short bit. But the wooded posts keep you on the the fun stuff for the most part, just don't overthink it, like I tend to do the first time out. Just don't turn unless there is something pointing you in that direction. The one exception is in the Bayou on the Whiskey trail. The trails old flow is the the left, but there is a right turn at a piece of orange tape. You don't want to miss the WTF section, more on that later. If you hit the Dogs trail, you just missed WTF!
Both sides handle water/rain very well. It is said that they are actually better after a good rain. The first time I rode these trails, was the day after a good couple days of rain. The Games side hardly had a wet spot on the single track. There were some big puddles on the fire road and the clay in the pits looked wet in places. The UWF side was similar, but the elevation change actually had runs that flowed the water to low spots, that still had standing water even two days after the rain. Both sides had a enough pine needles laid down to keep you on your toes! The UWF side seemed to roll faster the Games loop, that first ride after the previous days rain. The 2nd time, two days after rain, the Games loop rolled faster than the first time.
At about 11 miles, Orange marks the outer Games Loop, it is mostly easy, with some intermediate sections. Mainly big V-gulches, some with bridges at various heights, some at the top, some almost at the bottom. The Blue trail is about 6 miles with milder intermediate sections and the Pink trail is 3 miles of the easier single track. The XC trail loops around a pit like in Santos. This pit is mostly drop ins, dirt jumps and wooden stunts, including a one story tall start ramp, leading down to bridge like drop into a set of dirt and wood ramps jumps. The pit area seems to be in a constant state of evolution, with new features among the old, as well as discarded stunts scattered about. Unlike Santos that is constantly changing but always seems complete! I saw enough rotted bridges and stunts on old decommissioned trails (often right next to or criss crossing the active trails), that made me pay special attention every time I rode over any wood structure! All active bridges on the XC trails were solid though. I rode the XC trails mostly, but dabbled in the Twister section a bit. There was a center ridge with barely enough room for the the trail tread. Several drops fell from either side of the ridge. It was pretty cool. Outside the pit there are some mild climbs that fuel some of the twisty single track downward slants. The Games loop is a good warm up for the UWF trails across the street at the Trailhead.
The University of West Florida trails has four loops, Red, Blue, Green and White. The longest loop is all of Blue at about 12 miles. At over 1000 feet UWF has more than double the elevation change of the full Orange Games loop and more than you would expect in Florida. The trails seem to always be going up or down and rarely a straight section. Plenty of rooty stepped climbs and descents. One local wished it was cut with more flow, but I like the raw, rugged natural old school feel to much of the system. he also clued me in on the Whiskey/Tango/Foxtrot or WTF section. Very twisty with a couple good change up surprises, such as a flow into a short steep climb that fades away to the left and drops immediately into a 10 foot V-gulch, completely boarded. You'll want to do it again. Except for probably the most drastic change up on Foxtrot near the fence line. After a few short moderate to steep rooted climbs, you drop down say 10 feet into the bottom of a steep 15-20 foot wall, with a big cement block semi-protruding from the dirt, with a hard left at the top. I made it all 3 times that I did it and am not sure quite how, especially on the SS with a 34x19 gear. Keep your speed up and get around or over that cement block and you got it!
There are 2 mile(Yellow), 5 mile(Green), 9 mile(White) and 10.5mile(Red) options as well.
| ThankGood beginner & intermediate freeride areas inside the XC single tracl loop. Lots of short, speedy, slalom type lines throughout. Filled w/ berms & kickers. Clay pit area has a number of big drops & roll-ins, ranging from 8' to 28'. The only Gulf Coast freeride area w/in 200 miles around the city.
| ThankOverall a fun short cross country loop with exciting freeride areas nestled among thick oak & pine forest & clay pits. Adjacent to the UWF trails. A good 7 or so mile warm up before the main trail system across the street. * Review edited 4/3/2011
| ThankSince this previous review was written, more, better trails have appeared on both sides of Pate Rd. The main trail side has about 30 miles of regularly maintained single track, & the Games Loop side (bumpy trails) has about 5 miles of single track mixed with a growing number of freeride areas. Visit porc.org for more details.
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