Description

On the southeastern corner of the wannabe metropolis of Tyler, Texas, a small square of swamp named "Lindsey Park" has been protected from the march of mankind's progress.

This small patch of greenery might not seem a likely place to find mountain bike trails, but they are indeed here.

In fact, Lindsey Park is the best spot to ride a mountain bike within an hour of the city of Tyler. Through this small patch of woods and water, the local trail builders have managed to wind a circuitous 14 miles of singletrack that climbs an astonishing 1,000+ vertical feet over its length.

It's hard to believe that there's this much climbing to be had in Tyler, but if you go up and down the same hill about five times, you might manage it! Most of the singletrack is a flat clay trail laced with roots from the pine trees.

Some root sections can be rough, but they are rarely challenging. Where the trail crosses the many sections of swamp, the builders have constructed fabulous wooden bridges, some of which feel like they are hundreds of feet long! They might not be quite that long in reality (I didn't get out my tape measure), but when you roll onto a bridge that winds through a tight stand of trees above standing water, and you can't even see the end of the planks...

it's a pretty cool experience, especially for such an unsuspecting little park in Texas. A few optional trails on the tallest hill in the park do provide an uptick in the technical difficulty from the "Easy" rating assigned here.

One optional downhill section features wooden berms, fast corners dug into a gulley, and a few entertaining wooden bridges.

And if you keep your eyes peeled, you'll even find a drop zone with a series of elevated wooden ledge drops that allow you to build up your skills and confidence for hucking your meat. All told, Lindsey Park is a surprising mountain biking gem in an unsuspecting location.

While it might not warrant a dedicated trip from afar, if you're passing through Tyler anyway, you should check this place out.