A narrow, dirt hiking trail winding up a steep slope through a forest, surrounded by lush green vegetation and tall trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a natural, serene atmosphere. North Overlook mountain bike trail.
See all photos (8)
×
User
Today
 
  |   Rate it:

Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 8 mi (12.9 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +13/ -10 ft
Total: 12 riders
 

Mountain Biking North Overlook

*****   Add a review
#14 of 98 mountain bike trails in Iowa
#2,130 in the world

First section is between the parking lot and main (Volksweg) Trail. This is fun to take downhill entering off the trailhead close to the lot. The main trail network weaves in and out of a doubletrack loop. Easy to go down a poorly maintained trail, but the main singletrack trails are pretty-well maintained. I'll try to GPS in the trails in the near future.

First added by Packnasty on May 20, 2013. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • 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.
Getting there
From Red Rock dam driving NE, park in first lot on right after dam. Enter off of main paved trailhead on North side of lot. First section is 50 feet from lot on right, main section is at the bottom of the paved trailhead... on the east side of the Volksweg Trail.


North Overlook Trail map

Add to or improve this map // Share this map on your website

Local Info

Club Sponsor

-

Local Bike Shop

Trail checkins

bhedrick1 (Sep 30, 2017)
What's this?

Upcoming Events

None.
Add one

Trail conditions

Tacky (Apr 9, 2019)
login to update

Camping & Lodging

Coming soon!

North Overlook videos

Add a video
Pella Iowa Mountain Biking | North…
 
 
 
These videos have been shared by members of the Singletracks community. Report inappropriate content here.

More trail photos




Mountain Bike Trails Near Pella, Iowa

Add a review

Rating
 
Difficulty
 
Review

Reviews

  • Brad Utterback
    *****

    Great trail system. I have been out there 6 times and I am getting familiar with most of the singletrack routes. The area is in excellent shape!

    Reply | Thank
  • AB Coleman
    *****

    What a great find! The people who maintain this trail system deserve a round of applause. The narrowness and the tight turns of trails make for a wild ride. It was a blast, I'm definitely coming back.

    Reply | Thank
  • bhedrick1
    *****

    I have rode this trail for around 10 years and over the last two it has been getting better and better. It has good flow, climbing, and a couple good roller coasters.

    Reply | Thank
  • misterlebowski
    *****

    The photo of the trail system helped us locate the trailhead by the parking lot. It could probably use a better trail head marker. We stayed on the trail by the parking lot and the loop by the main highway. Both trails were in good shape and were fun to ride. The trail by the parking lot had some good elevation change and, for the most part, flowed really well. The end of the trail has more pedaling than any other part - but it is neat how the architects tried to incorporate some more off-road trail instead of going straight up the paved road. I would definitely stop again if I'm in the area.

    Reply | Thank
  • misterlebowski
    *****

    We stayed on the trail near the parking lot and the loop near the highway/camping.

    Reply | Thank
  • dgw2jr
    *****

    Awesome old school true single track! Can't wait to ride it in autumn.

    Reply | Thank
  • Packnasty
    ****

    My home trail. Have done my best to trim out the main trails this spring, as this had really gotten overgrown last summer. I think it should be in good condition this year as a result, but you're bound to spend at least 10 minutes post-ride picking off those tiny burrs. Most of the trail network is probably intermediate-class, but there's a few challenging sections... yet nothing too scary. Just a number of good dips that are a blast to hit hard.

    The primary trails weave in and out of the doubletrack loop, so each of these sections will have to be hit individually. There are a number of trails off the doubletrack loop that people have tried to develop that will dead end. If you find yourself on a questionable trail, I'm willing to bet you've strayed from the main network. You'll just have to go exploring for yourself. I'm gonna try and GPS the trail in the near future and post. Will do my best.

    This trail has real potential, and will hopefully become great in the near future. The Army Corps has ID'd improving this trail as a priority project in their Red Rock Master Plan (see http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Portals/48/docs/Recreation/ODR/121121-A-NN408-007.pdf), which should be carried out over the next year or two. Also included in this plan was the development of another section of Army Corps land on the opposite side of the dam. If it's half as nice as Iowa's other Army Corps trail, Sugar Bottom, we'll be in for a treat.

    Reply | Thank

Rider questions