| count | avg | score | |
| this | 28 | 4.75 | 0 |
| subs | 0 | NAN | 0 |
| total | 28 | 4.75 | 4657 |
| listed | 24 | 0 | 2494 |
| articles | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 7151 | 0 | |
Level: Intermediate
Length: 5 mi (8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +161/189 ft
Total: 12 riders
Mountain Biking Memorial Park Trails
#12 of 94 mountain bike trails in Iowa
#1,772 in the world
The trail system has excellent signage marking the one-way green (easier way), blue (difficult) and black (most difficult) trails. The trail system allows you to follow the green trail loop throughout the park. Along this trail you will have the option to add distance and difficulty by taking one of the many blue or black trails. Once you finish each of the blue or black trail sections, you'll end up right back on the green trail close to where you detoured. This trail has a lot of technical features with many tight switchbacks and short steep climbs. There are a lot of miles of trail creatively packed into the mostly wooded area.
First added by czuithoff on Nov 28, 2016. Last updated Apr 21, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: yes
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
There are two parking lots off of Elm St. Park in the lot further north for access to the trailhead that is located south of parking lot and near the park bathrooms.
I ride this trail a lot and it has had a lot of upkeep this year. My average time for all the loops runs around 47 minutes riding fairly quick. Lots of punchy climbs and plenty of berms and turns making for a flowy trail for the confined area it is placed in.
| ThankI love this trail! It has a lot of great features and is always well maintained. Now that the weather is nice I hope to ride almost every day. I highly recommend local residents check it out... and it is definitely worth the trip for out-of-towners.
| ThankVery nice job on the trails. Always wish it could be bigger for how nicely it was maintained. Wish it had more tech.
| ThankI take in this trail every time I come back for a visit. The recent addition of the berms and rollers has improved the flow and thrill of this treasure of a trail and is a huge asset to the city of Ottumwa.
| ThankVisiting my wife's family and brought the fat bike. Had a great time on the trail. Awesome use of the land and terrain available. Had a nice chat with Jim, who was doing trail maintenance. Thanks to all who make it possible.
| ThankI am really excited about all of the changes that have been made to the trails over the past few months. I am thankful to have trails that are this amazing right here in Ottumwa. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next!
| ThankWe drove from Cedar Rapids, to camp at Lake Rathbun. On our way we rode Memorial Park Trail Saturday, July 1st 2017. It was very dry, dusty and had lots of debris on the trail which took some of the fun out of the ride. We never saw another rider. The trail is well built with some fun little sections but it has too many tight turns where you can't carry your downhill speed into the uphill climbs. Excellent job packing 5 miles of trail into a tiny area, but that is the problem. No speed or fun flowy runs. I have ridden almost everywhere in Iowa and this is not the #1 trail in Iowa. On the way back home July 4th we stopped and rode it again. Still no riders. Still dry with lots of twigs on the trail. Rode it quicker but still grumbling about the 180 degree turns at the bottom of hills just to climb back up again. It is well marked and I like the 1 way direction. (CCW) Would probably ride it again if going that way, but would never drive 2 hrs to ride it.
| ThankSingletrack mountain biking in SE Iowa! I was surprised to this ride pop-up on Singletracks. First - big props to those that have created/maintained the trails here. Second - the trails are fairly well marked and easy to follow. Unfortunately, its a very compressed space and, although the trails are laid out to maximize the fun, the result is a nice little roll through the woods - but don't expect anything longer than 10 yards before you slow to crawl around a tree, a tight turn, etc. All "green" trails - although the "more difficult trails" are marked - they seem to be generally a tight turn followed by a "steep" climb (of about 10 yards). All-in-all a nice little singletrack excursion, but you'd have to do 3 or more "laps" to make this a "ride" with nothing technical other than an occassional root.
| ThankThis trail is awesome. The folks that maintain it and care for it are second to none. This is the trail that got me into mountain biking.
| ThankI'm a Colorado local and I rarely write reviews. However, when driving through Ottumwa one day, I was looking to loosen up the jets and found this gem of a trail and had to chime in. Listen up mountain bikers: this trail will WORK you! Jammin' jumps, dabbn' dips and whoopee on the whooptedoos. Get ready to smile ear to ear, you won't be disappointed.
| ThankRode this trail while visiting from germany! Best trail ever!
| ThankIs this trail currently icy? I want to take the trip and come ride but don't want to drive to find an icy trail
| ThankWorld class trail design in the birthplace of Iowa mountain biking. Great features, well maintained, and well marked.
| ThankLove this set of trails. Great layout with a wide range of difficulty for every type of rider.
| ThankGreat trails, exceptionally well layed out, a hidden treasure. Extensive system, compactly constructed over a large area offering challenges for riders of all skill levels.
| ThankWell maintained single track trail. Usable entire year. Great elevation gain and loss in a 4-5 mile stretch. Great addition to the community.
| ThankFavorite trail in Iowa - nice inclines and paths for riders of all skill levels!
| ThankA well designed group of trails for all levels of mountain bikers. A huge asset for the community and those that visit.
| Thank
| ThankGreat trail! Green, blue, and black trails for intermediate to advanced riders.
| Thank