Rozarks - Mountain Bike Trail

Rozarks is a great in-city intermediate-level trail that more experienced riders can explore mid-week for a short but fairly exciting ride. Despite being in the city, it consists of a singletrack surface that takes you through the woods and across some of the neighborhoods in the area. The original 2.3-mile trail was made by the Rosedale Development Association to reduce the chances of childhood obesity in the area. However, it has since been expanded and is now a place that we very much enjoy exploring on our bikes.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Rozarks trail is a network of interconnected running, hiking, and biking trails with multiple entry and exit points. However, there are two main trailheads. One is on Park Drive off Booth Street, facing the Rosedale Memorial Arch. The other is on St. Minnie Street, Off Lake Avenue.

The trail connects Mount Marty and Fisher Parks and was originally intended to have over 12 miles of singletrack. It’s still short of that goal but should provide plenty of excitement for intermediate-level riders and advanced riders looking for a more relaxed ride than they’re used to.

If you’ve been to Swope Park, the trails here are fairly similar, with black dirt and rocks in and around the trail. Plenty of elevation changes due to the trail weaving downside a cliffside in some sections keep you on your toes. Furthermore, there may be a root or two that you have to go over as you look out for tree branches above.

On our ride there, we noticed that you have to be on the lookout for signs; otherwise, you might miss them and find yourself exiting prematurely. There’s also a pump track near the trailhead for those who start on Park Drive.

Depending on the day, there may be plenty of cobwebs on the trail, so if you’re squeamish or afraid of spiders, watch out for that. You also share the singletrack with leashed dogs, hikers, and runners, so you might want to have good brakes in case you need to come to a near-abrupt stop.

If you’re there later in the day, you might get to see a spectacular sunset. However, for some, it’s not as good an experience since there’s plenty of road noise and even some trash in various spots on the trail.

Additional Trail Features

• Extra fees; The trail is free to use for all, with no extra fees charged at any point.
• Obstacles; There are plenty of obstacles in the form of roots and rocks on the singletrack.
• Shuttles; Being in the city, you might be able to find some public transportation once you’re out of the trail. However, there are no shuttles within the trail network.

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views

The sunset view from the Rozarks can be amazing if not for the city noise around you. That said, you can always play the sounds of nature on your earphones for a more tranquil experience.

Recommendations/precautions

•       The trail runs through a fairly sketchy part of the city, so be careful.