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About England-Idlewild Trails
 Thank you for your interest and support of Boone County’s
first mountain bike park. The EI (England Idlewild) Mountain Bike Park is
located on 185 acres just north of Burlington, KY. This park is a beautiful
setting with a picturesque creek, mature woods and lots of interesting terrain.
The park consists of a ˝ mile Beginners Loop – wide single track with little
elevation change that follows the scenic creek and back to the bridge; a 2 mile
Intermediate loop –single track with interesting terrain, elevation changes,
tree underpasses, and tree and gully crossings - that follows the creek on the
opposite side from the Beginners loop; a 3 mile highly technical expert loop and
a 6 mile Advance loop. We have a new creek crossing and rock garden, and an
Instructional Obstacle Course that has an easy jump, log rolls, rock garden,
teeter totter, left and right switch backs and other obstacles designed for both
the novice and advance mountain biker to improve your mountain bike riding
skills. The park’s freeride section is off the 1st Loop of the Advance trail and
consists of two table top jumps, boardwalks, teeter totter, split log rides,
rock obstacles, and a unique 15 foot rock wall! Over twelve miles of mountain
bike trails! The park also has a 2 mile paved trail that runs around the
baseball fields.
The trails are intended and designed for both hiking and biking. The trails by
the creek are especially suited for a scenic hike or leisurely ride.
 Boone County Parks and Recreation has been very supportive and has funded the
supplies and materials for the trails including a 50 foot bridge over the main
creek, several other smaller bridges, and lots of signage. Boone County has kept
the trailhead/connector trail mowed. It is our responsibility to provide the
volunteers to build and maintain the trails and bridges.
Most of the trail work has been completed. A 4 foot wide, 50 foot bridge over
the main creek has been completed.
The paved walking/running/roller blading/biking loop that runs around the ball
fields is complete.
The one-half mile beginners loop is complete. It is the loop that starts to the
left just before the main bridge. This is our most popular trail and we hope to
expand it in the near future.
The two-mile plus intermediate loop is complete. It is the loop just across the
main bridge and we recommend you start by going left and doing the loop in a
clockwise direction.
The 3 mile technical is finished. Lots of tight switchbacks and challenging
downhills, short uphills, tree rides, gulley crossings, log jumps and two teeter
totters.
Loops 1, 2 and 3 of the Advance Trail are finished and open. Loop 4 is partially
open and still in rough condition. The Advance Trail is designed as a momentum
loop – lots of speed and with short downhills and uphills, banked turns, 6
bridges, several boardwalks and even an incline bridge!
 There are two kiosks - one at the trailhead and one just before the main bridge.
The kiosks have a picnic table and benches, a large map of the trails and small
maps for riders to take with them. The trails are easy to follow with lots of
trail signs and signs directing riders to the different loops.
I believe this park has the potential to be the best mountain bike trail system
in this area; easy access, good parking, scenic trails and loops targeted to the
skill levels and interests of the riders.
Many of you have volunteered to help with trail building and maintenance. We
can’t over emphasize the importance of your help. Boone County has provided
access to these trails because of the 150 plus volunteer base that has donated
their time and energy to build and maintain these trails. The trail building is
being coordinated by myself, Dave Zimmer, Larry Waters and Justin Theilman. Most
of the work on trails has now been finished. We will keep you informed on future
trail maintenance dates.
This is fun work and we encourage you to join us and get to know the mountain
bike community.
Any help will be useful – even if you are not the best at trail building we can
use help in clearing branches, limbs and rocks from the trails or carrying
supplies from the trailhead to the crews.
If you have access to tools please bring them. We can use chainsaws (the last
storm blew a tree over the Advance trail), spades or round pointed shovels,
mattocks or heavy duty hoes, pruning saws, lopping shears – but most important
is to bring yourself and your mountain bike friends with you.
Don’t forget to RIDE THE TRAILS!!! Riding keeps the trails in good shape
especially since these trails are designed to IMBA and US Forest Dept. standards
for sustainability. Never ride wet trails! Riding wet trails causes damage and
significantly increases trail maintenance for our volunteers.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on the trails.
Bill Renner
859-240-0385
EITrails@insightbb.com
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