In the late 1990s and early 2000s, mountain biking was gaining a level of popularity that continues to expand today. To meet the needs of those cycling enthusiasts, old logging trails were converted in new mountain biking trails. The Wildcat Mountain Bicycle Trail was one example of this, promising riders plenty of adventure on straight downhill chutes, creeks and streams to cross and a secluded vibe away from the paved streets of the big city that only a place like the Ouachita National Forest could provide.
Unlike most fads, mountain biking didn’t fade away. Instead, the sport slowly outgrew these natural, rustic areas and morphed into something that caters to an audience in love with chunky gravel, high berms, plank ramps, smooth landings and in some cases, even elevated gondolas to whisk riders and their bikes into the sky, avoiding those grueling uphill climbs.
All of those improvements are good news for the cyclists, but what happened to the converted logging trails?
They’re still out there, of course, but with a declined level of maintenance, nature is slowly taking them back — at least from the bikers. Hikers (like me) are discovering the wide paths and broad turns. Ducking under a fallen tree branch at eye level on the trail is no problem when you’re walking on two feet.
(For a more detailed map, see compulsivehiker.com for a 1-page PDF.)
