Big South Fork Natl Recreation Area makes IMBA Epic Status ...

Long recognized as one of the South's premiere destinations for canoeing, hiking and horseback riding, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation just landed on the national radar screen as a great place to mountain bike.The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) recently named five trails in the Big South Fork as Epic Rides. This makes the Big South Fork the first national park unit in the U.S. to receive the elite designation.

The announcement was made at IMBA's World Summit held recently in Santa Fe, N.M. Joe Cross, president of the Big South Fork Mountain Bike Club, was there to receive the honor on behalf of the club and the National Park Service.

Cross said the IMBA recognition will greatly enhance the Big South Fork's reputation among mountain bikers both in the U.S and abroad.

"The Epic designation will draw hundreds of new users to the Big South Fork, many of whom use the IMBA designation as a bucket list of must-ride trails" Cross said.

Other Epic Rides named this year include the Warner Lake region in South Chilcotin, British Columbia, Canada; and the Bernina Express, in Graubunden, Switzerland.

The five Epic Ride mountain bike trails in the Big South Fork are Collier Ridge (approximately 5.5 miles of single-track); West Bandy (3 miles of single-track); Duncan Hollow (2.3 miles of single-track); Grand Gap Loop (6.4 miles, with a few technical sections); and the portion of the John Muir Trail from Grand Gap Loop to Station Camp (7.5 miles, mostly flat and smooth).

Source: http://forums.singletracks.com/viewtopic.php?t=9044&p=51728

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