Mountain biking is not something that typically comes to mind when one thinks of Tuscaloosa, but this area has shown that it has much to offer for bikers, ranging from easy to difficult.
Two local parks, Sokol Park and Lake Lurleen State Park, offer a variety of mountain bike trails for those wishing to expand their outdoor adventures.
Richard Russell, president of the West Alabama Mountain Biking Association, said the parks are continuously adding on more trails.
“We do all the mapping out there,” Russell said. “It started out pretty poorly, designed 20 years ago, but we’re constantly working on making them better.”
There are over 12 miles of winding trails at Sokol Park, featuring over 50 intersections, which Russell said is both the best and the worst part of the biking routes at Sokol.
“The intersections make it a little confusing out there, but they also mean you can do many variations and never do the same thing twice,” Russell said.
All of these intersections allow for the biking trails to be on a smaller parcel of land. Even if a biker gets lost along the way, one is never more than a mile away from the parking lot. Russell said that aspect allows people to feel more at ease with trying out a new riding place.
Additionally, Russell said the park and its trails have a historical value. The area used to hold portions of the Partlow Home for the Mentally Deficient.
Russell named a trail they recently finished “Della Raye” in remembrance of a former resident of Partlow.
“We like to name the trails after either something historical or after some kind of landmark,” Russell said. “We found remnants of an old dam out there and named a trail after it.”
The trails at Sokol Park range from easy to difficult. The trail named “Lagoon” is one that Russell said is a beginner trail, and one of the most difficult is aptly named “Death by Concrete.” With all the intersections, bikers can really make the trails as easy or difficult as they want.
Boasting more than 30 named trails, Sokol Park is gaining traction in the sport of mountain biking and attracting riders from all over the state.
After a period of 10 years without a race, the West Alabama Mountain Biking Association decided in 2011 to begin holding an annual race. The race, called “Revenge of the Black Warrior,” had a large turnout in both 2011 and 2012 and earned success. Russell said he hopes to continue the race and possibly add more races throughout the year.
“It’s a fun place to race,” Russell said. “It’s been called a rollercoaster ride because of all of its sudden ups and downs.”
West Alabama Biking Association also maintains the bike trails at Lake Lurleen State Park.
“That is a little bit different of a place out there,” Russell said. “There’s so much land that people can get out there and get stranded if they’re not careful.
Lake Lurleen State Park offers over 20 miles of biking trails, and Russell said the upkeep on those trails is left largely to WAMBA.
In both Sokol Park and Lake Lurleen State Park, Russell said WAMBA works closely with the Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Department to keep the trails running smoothly.
