Markham Park

Markham Park is a trail system designed for mountain bike enthusiasts. It is a mountain bike park, so there are lots of like-minded folks to meet and chat to about the one thing you’re all there to do, get stoked on mountain biking.

The trails were constructed through the limestone aggregate left behind by the dredging machinery in an area that was formerly a rock quarry. This “whole loop” traverses practically every trail in the park. The terrain varies from conventional singletrack to rock gardens, fast-flowing berms, and steep technical ascents and descents. There is a pump track and a freeride/dirt jump area for people who want to fly.

Beginner trails travel through shady areas teeming with nature, challenging lower skill levels with softly winding turns. 

In addition to these typical riding paths, a number of broader and more gradual adaptation tracks built for off-road hand-cranked cycles have been added.

Make your way across the pump track from the parking area to the start of the Warm Up Loop. This intermediate path, as the name suggests, prepares riders for the more difficult trails to come – there’s also an Advanced Option that forks off near the start and then crosses over the trail. You’ll soon emerge from the trees and return to the pump track.

Turn right and then left to find Deep Dark Forest, a twisting singletrack with many roots. Turn left on Rock Garden just before it ends for some tricky rock work and a couple drops you could continue on Deep Dark Forest as a bypass if inclined. The start of Armadillo is directly across from the rugged exit of Rock Garden and features some small climbs followed by fast and flowing berms.

Then, across the meadow, take a left to follow the advanced ridgeline of Iguana Ridge, which includes an optional descent. The ridge immediately dips onto the Fishing Hole Loop, which is ideal for a leisurely pedal near the lake. Next take the Iguana Ridge Return, which leads into the Red Back Trail.

The Red Back Trail begins with a skinny and continues with quick, winding climbs and punchy descents. Continue pedaling forward to reach the Supercross Connector West via the Traverse Trail. Next turn right onto Area 51 for some great drops and massive berms before connecting to the optional Pipeline wooden bridge.

The bridge connects to Area 51, which connects to Supercross. Take the optional detour onto Las Olas to rejoin Supercross shortly before it terminates across from Outback. Midway through Outback, turn left onto Upback for some more difficulties that will lead you to the Whale Trail  – you can bypass these harder options by staying on Outback and then making a right on the access road to the narrow clearing.

Pass the narrow clearing and look for the beginning of the Gunrange Trail on the right. This twisting course traverses the park’s northern end and includes some steep g-outs and boisterous action. It eventually exits near to where it began, and riders can pedal back across the clearing to pick up the beginning of Boomerang.

Boomerang will take up very little of your time because the following right goes to the Outback Return and then the optional Outback Return Extended. The extension connects to Turtle Slide after feeding back onto Outback Return. Then, rake the right split for Double Cross, followed by the next split for Crime Scene for some steep, tricky climbs and descents. For good measure, throw in the optional Jet Ski Hill before briefly following the finish of Route 66 Part 1 down to the Twisted Trail.

Twisted Trail comes to an end at the bottom of Semper Fi, and at the next crossing, turn right towards Lost Ring. Continue down Déjà Vu, then turn left onto Bermuda Triangle to weave through the trees to Ruben Loop, then back down Déjà Vu.

After that is the difficult Yo Mama, which leads to Alligator Alley and Blacksnake for some ramps and drops (look for the Alligator Bypass on the right if you want an easier option. The raucous trail and features descend to the Alligator Exit. Take a right just before the road into the Route 66 Connector.

Another right starts the pedaling along Route 66 Part 1’s tight and curvy singletrack. Overall, this is a fairly straightforward portion, but the corridor can be tight at times, and there are a few roots to contend with. Take a left just before the route comes back to Jet Ski Hill from earlier to begin Route 66 Part 2.

Route 66 Part 2 includes some rollovers, punchy g-outs, and skinnies/ramps. In short, expect to have a nice time on the final route of the entire circuit. When you emerge from the trees, turn right and then left to return to the park entrance through the main access road.