If ever there was an under-acclaimed trail system, a network of trails that flies way, way below the radar, it is the Liberty Mountain Trail System in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Located in a 5,000 acre forest on the Liberty University campus, reports on the actual number of miles of trails vary. The official website claims 65 miles of single- and doubletrack (aka old fireroads), but there’s no telling when that was last updated. According to Ryan Claeys, there’s definitely over 50 miles of quality trail hidden away in the forest.
If anyone knows, it’s Ryan. Ryan is employed by Liberty University as a full-time “trail boss.” His job consists entirely of riding, maintaining, and building singletrack for the University. Despite having ridden here since the 90’s and having been employed as the trail boss for a year and a half, it can sometimes still take Ryan a second to get his bearings in the vast trail system.
Hold up. Stop and think about this for a second: Liberty Mountain employs a person full-time who’s dedicated solely to building and maintaining singletrack trails. How many trail systems in the United States can claim that? I’m not sure, but not many. Excluding ski resorts, there might be what, maybe a handful of trail systems with a full-time trail boss? This by itself sets these trails apart!
Ryan’s tireless work also makes for an incredibly dynamic trail system. New sections of trail and new wooden features go up seemingly overnight. When we were there, Ryan had just started work on a massive step-up to ladder drop–and by the time you read this it will have been long done.
The Trails
Infrastructure and monetary support aside, what are the trails like?
If you can, be sure to bring your all-mountain or freeride rig with you, as these trails are not for the faint of heart! Most of the trails deliver short, steep, punch-to-the-gut climbs to the top of a ridge and a balling, technical descent back down the other side. Each trail has its own unique feel, though. Some are filled with jumps and berms, others are much rockier, and many are scattered with well-built ladder bridges and drops.
This is a true paradise for riders with 6+ inches of front and rear suspension on their rigs. Wooden features and jumps are hidden all throughout this trail system, and when you round a corner in the trail you never know what you’ll come across. All of the features are well-built too–Ryan doesn’t cut any corners. His features are built to last.
Even if you aren’t running any rear suspension, these trail are still worth a visit. All of the major obstacles include bypasses and ride arounds, so you can turn these trails into a simply aerobically-challenging singletrack ride if you prefer.
Currently, there aren’t any beginner-friendly, flowy, IMBA-style singletrack trails out at Liberty. The only beginner trails are essentially old fireroads, but they do provide access to the beautiful forests and ridges for those interested in exploring. But after talking to Ryan about his vision for the place, he is definitely planning on building more flowy, XC-style trails in the future. Along with that, he’s also planning massive BMX-style dirt jumps and DH trails that are even more challenging! To play off the massive amount of trails, Ryan also wants to build trail-side campsites and fire rings, allowing for a mini bikepacking destination right above the town of Lynchburg. “We can have everything out here!” said Ryan.
Obstacles to Overcome
In addition to the lack of beginner-friendly singletrack, the other major obstacle to Liberty Mountain becoming a true destination trail system is the lack of trail mapping. While there is a trail map on the official university website, it is very inaccurate: some trails listed have never existed, some trails that say “TBA” for the length have been around for a decade, and none of the newer trails and reroutes that Ryan has built are included. Ryan has pushed for better trail mapping for some time, but the university bureaucracy has been tough to deal with.
In actual fact, not much more would really need to be done: almost all the individual trails out in the trail system are named and signed. All that remains is to create a comprehensive map and trailhead kiosks to help navigate through that maze of trail signs. Until that happens (and even after), venturing out into the maze of singletrack unguided will continue to be an adventure!
Final Thoughts
Whizzing by Liberty Mountain at 70 mph on the highway, or even parking your car in the lot below the Snowflex, you might have no idea that this web of miraculous, technical singletrack weaves through the trees surrounding you. The only clue is the odd narrow dirt trail or two heading off into the forest.
Ryan Claeys (as well as others) have been quietly building a technical mountain biking paradise in the forest on Liberty Mountain. While they don’t actively seek out praise and adoration for their hard work, singletrack is built for one purpose: to be ridden. And with over 50 miles of singletrack (and growing rapidly), Liberty Mountain isn’t about to be overcrowded anytime soon.
The word is out: Liberty Mountain has some of the best all-mountain riding anywhere. Start planning your trip today!
Your turn: Want to help create a usable trail map for Liberty Mountain? Upload your GPS data from Liberty here.
Many thanks to Ryan Claeys and Dan Lucas for showing me around!
35 Comments
May 24, 2013
I went to Candler Mt TH yesterday and it was closed for construction. The other, about 100 feet downhill, didn't look like ridden a lot neither. Since trail was very wet, I wasn't even looking for another TH, but want to come back next time and actually ride it.
Thanks for help in advance.
May 29, 2013
If you are looking for a more XC experience head down lake trail from the snowplex parking lot then make your way over to a trail to far, deans list, etc. If you are looking for more downhill/all mountain experience then ride playground, psycho path and the other trails in that area. If you would like exact directions feel free to contact me. If there is no way to contact someone on this website then reply to this post and I will try and get in contact with you. I love these trails and would be more than happy to give you some info on them since they are a little difficult to navigate.
http://www.liberty.edu/media/7705/facilities/trails/trailmap_2012web.pdf
May 24, 2013
For next time, you could try pulling up the trail map on your phone via the mobile app and finding another spot to access it. Liberty Mountain is very expansive and looks like it hits or parallels a few different roads... but I definitely don't have enough experience there to really tell you where another good option is.
May 29, 2013
May 24, 2013
May 24, 2013
I guess, no one use it anymore because of Snowflex parking which is slightly uphill from Wingates Inn
May 24, 2013
May 24, 2013
Snowflex's website has a good map how to get there, while iPhone's map doesn't even show Monogram Rd off of Candlers Mt Rd.
thanks for info
Jan 27, 2013
I live in Michigan, originate from Cali. BMX style rider on a 29er. You are the man, who in their right mind could not love what you are blessed with in your yard. Planning my trip now. Camping would be the cat's meow, take with you what you bring rule ride's well.
Have fun,and thanks for what you help to build.
Nov 27, 2012
Nov 28, 2012
Yeah, There are so many options out there that you're never really far away from the car if you decide you want to head back. Riding with a GPS (or a smartphone w/GPS app) would probably be a good idea to help figure out which way is back though.
Nov 27, 2012
I also recall a good bit of the MTB action in "The Potential Inside" was filmed on the Liberty Mountain trails. Definitely on my ride wishlist.
Nov 27, 2012
Nov 29, 2012
Nov 29, 2012
And I do know that Underdog Bikes out of Roanoke is working on putting together a sponsored trailwork day up there.
Nov 29, 2012
Nov 29, 2012
Nov 30, 2012
Nov 30, 2012
Nov 27, 2012
I wonder if the University has kept it under the general public's radar by design, or if it is they don't know how to market it. I am sure they are leveraging the trails, as well as Snowflex, as a way to entice outdoor-minded students.
I also think some people outside of the University are apprehensive about the place because of the religious ties, but an awesome trail system is an awesome trail system, right?
Anyway, thanks for the info and pics. Sounds like you had a good time in VA. Looking forward to further reviews.
Nov 27, 2012
As for why it's not marketed more, I'm not sure. It sounds like currently there's a group of locals that rides there pretty regularly, but that there's just as many or more runners that use the trails due to the running team and kinesiology (?) program at the school. IMO, the riding scene here has the potential to get big... And fast!
May 5, 2013
Nov 29, 2012
Nov 28, 2012
-"almost all the individual trails out in the trail system are named and signed" less than 50% of the trails have signs and most new signs put up in the last year the letters are falling off.
-"All of the features are well-built too–Ryan doesn’t cut any corners. His features are built to last." His work may be improving but I guess he didn't show off the fallen over teeter tooter, the broken drop or his use of landscape timbers.
Many of the features have short landing or flat landing which really takes away from the fun. They need more thought into the flow between things and location. Also the trail system lacks progression you only have small 1foot tall natural things and 8ft tall road gap level features.
Overall the trails need to have more maintenance and work to keep trails clear and berm corners and switchbacks to add flow and less building of random features that less than 1% of riders will ride. Liberty could be one of the greatest trail systems in VA but not with the current direction it's going in.
Nov 28, 2012
Re: maintenance, just because there is one guy employed to work on these trails full-time doesn't remove the responsibility of locals who use and benefit from these trails on a regular basis to also help with the maintenance and up keep. After talking with Ryan, it sounds like that it has been a struggle to get community involvement and assistance. One guy can only do so much
Re: "Liberty could be one of the greatest trail systems in VA but not with the current direction it’s going in." Didn't you just say that perhaps I was shown some of the best trails and the best features? Well, I did ride a couple older trails but mostly we rode newer stuff and stuff that was still under construction. If the newer trails are the better trails, then doesn't it make sense that Liberty Mountain is indeed moving in the right direction? Your argument seems self defeating.
Dec 3, 2012
As far as the trails most old trails were not planned out that well either but its hard to change that but the new trails could be so much better.
Nov 27, 2012
Nov 27, 2012
Nov 27, 2012
Excellent write-up and awesome photos!
Nov 27, 2012
Nov 28, 2012
The best I could find. Strava has a few segments, but nothing showing any major portion of the trails. Looks quite expansive and fun. I may see about dragging some friends down that way from the DC area.
May 5, 2013
Here's a more updated map. I live here and ride it as often as one can with a 16 month old. Definitely worth the trip. Let me know if you have any questions about the trails.
Nov 28, 2012
"While there is a trail map on the official university website, it is very inaccurate: some trails listed have never existed, some trails that say “TBA” for the length have been around for a decade, and none of the newer trails and reroutes that Ryan has built are included."
However, I guess it's not a bad starting point.
Dec 1, 2012
Dec 1, 2012
Tons of great singletrack west of us in Ellijay (Pinhoti, Bear Creek, etc), further west in Dalton (Snake Creek Gap Pinhoti), and west and north (Five points trail system).
Send me a PM or an email when you plan on coming up, and maybe I can squeeze in a ride.