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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 31 mi (49.9 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +869/ -765 ft
Total: 26 riders
Mountain Biking Lbl North/south Trail
#27 of 108 mountain bike trails in Kentucky
The northern portion of the North/South Trail in Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is a 31-mile section that is open to mountain biking and connects the North Welcome Station with the Golden Pond Visitors Center. The point-to-point trail traverses ridge tops, bottomlands, and the shores of Kentucky Lake. Visitors can use this trail in conjunction with LBL's legal roads to make a series of shorter loops if desired. The trail also connects to the Canal Loop Trail which can make your ride even longer.
First added by kevprides on Apr 18, 2009. Last updated Apr 30, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
If you're coming from Nashville visiting attractions at the central and north end of LBL, try this: Take I-24 West into Kentucky to the Cadiz/Hopkinsville exit, Exit 65. Take US Hwy. 68/80 West (left) past Cadiz and across the Lake Barkley Bridge. You are now in Land Between the Lakes. Approximately 4 miles into LBL there will be a median in the road and several signs, one directing you to the LBL Visitor Center, The Trace, etc. Turn left on this road, go to The Trace. Signs will direct you to various LBL facilities.
If you're visiting facilities in the south end of LBL, try this: Take I-24 West to US Hwy 79 (Exit 4). Take 79 south go 2 miles to Hwy 374 (to avoid traffic) turn right and travel 10 miles to the end of 374, then turn right back onto Hwy 79. Travel 24 miles on Hwy 79 to Dover. Stay on Hwy 79 for 3 more miles to the LBL Southern Entrance (watch for a large brown sign directing you to turn right for LBL - careful it is easy to miss) Turn right, this road becomes the Trace which is the main road through LBL. Turn right on this road, in about 4-5 miles it turn into The Trace. You will arrive at the South Welcome Station on the right.
Good trail with short but challenging climbs/descents. Nice long trail that intersects with several double track back roads.
| ThankWe love this trail. Its convenient to camp at hillman ferry and jump on the trail. Lots of climbing. Beautiful views of the lake. We hit this about 6 times a year.
| ThankWe started at the Golden Pond Visitor center and rode approximately 32 miles to the North Welcome Station. We then followed the East side of the Canal Loop to Woodlands Trace bridge. We exited the trail onto the Trace, crossed the canal bridge and rode to our hotel in Grand Rivers (only 1.3mi of road from trail to hotel) for a total of 41 mi. This resulted in a moving time of 4:30 and total of 5:42 with photo stops. The trail was well marked and easy to follow. There was one detour which used a mile or two of gravel road, but it was well marked too. I would not consider the trail difficult if only ridden a short distance. The length is what makes it difficult. The avg time listed on singletracks.com says 2 hours. That seems a bit low. 3.5~6hrs for the North/South Trail by itself would be more the AVERAGE range in my opinion. Overall, the trail was great if you like long distance remote trail. It was gravely terrain with some roots. A few climbs were steep, long, and rough, but most were good. We never had to walk our bikes. The hills only felt tough because of the long overall distance of the trail. There are many bridges that are well built. Maintenance of the whole trail was superb. No overgrowth and only a couple of trees across the trail. More bicycle traffic to push the loose rocks off would make this trail awesome.
| Thankbest bike shop on earth.....
| ThankStarted at the north welcome station and only rode about 6 miles to the Hillman Ferry campground road before turning back. It was pretty well maintained and marked. I was feeling my age on some of the climbs being spoilt to Florida mt. biking and not riding here for over 10 years. Over all still a nice trail to ride but would suggest hitting the Canal Loop trail the first day to get you warmed up for this one. Maybe next time I can make it a little futher.
| Thanka little washed out this time of year. I rode north from Golden Pond visitor center. There are still a few downed trees still on the trail also.
| Thank