What happen to Mercer?

[Ez-E]

My buddy and I went riding at Mercer yesterday for the first time in a few years. I remember it use to be ok. It is more flat but was still not a bad ride. Most of the trails led to dead ends or the trails were just filled in. I don't remember this at all, and use be able to go around the lake.

 

[southernerinnj]

Not exactly sure what you mean? I am aware of only 1 dead-end trail (which is dead end because it runs through a muddy bog) at Mercer. The trails that go around the lake and by the golf course are illegal trails. You can link up with the West parking lot to get to the other side of the lake and ride the blue trail over there.

Where did you run into dead end trails?

 

[Ez-E]

Few places behind tennis courts, as well as over near the dam. My buddy and I just felt like we had to keep turning around. I just don't remember the park being like the way it was yesterday.

 

[southernerinnj]

Ok couple things about the trails you mention:

The Dam: If you climb the "Dam" hill at the top take a right about 100 ft on the right is a downhill that takes you back into the woods.

Behind the tennis courts you come out of the woods in a couple places onto the walkway if come out and look there are more cut in's back into the woods. It just takes a little looking and knowing the park.

If you need a guide sometime let me know.

 

[stb222]

mercer has not changed much in the past few years minus the illegal trail around the lake. Possibly a case of not remembering?

 

[Matt_]

The two dead ends we hit behind the tennis courts were kind of annoying. We're talking about riding and the trail just stops and we had to turn around. The other dead end we hit was in that "mud bog" area so that entire trail was a nightmare anyway. We had no problems finding our way back into the woods when we ended up on the paths, I remember all of those entrances.

The only other section I was disappointed with was that you couldn't cross the log and come out the other side of the dam anymore.... I used to love the ride back there.

Top it off with eric face planting off one of the man-made obstacles and it was a pretty rough day

 

[Ez-E]

At least we got a ride in and Im partially ok. I def broke my nose and have a minor concusion. Thank goodness for my helmet!!

 

[Mick714]

Dead end trail

I know the trail your talking about behind the tennis courts. It looks like someone was trying to find a way to reconnect the red trail. It looks well ridden and then just stops. The water level around the lake has risen in the past several years and try as we might there is just no way to reconnect that section of trail down to the creek like it used to.
It has obviously been a while since you have ridden down on the other side of the dam That log has been gone for at least 4 years maybe more.

Those stunts are on fish and game dept land if they were in MCP they would have been removed by the parks dept. It's only a matter of time before someone gets really hurt and sues the fish and game dept. (aka the state) Once that happens there won't be any riding on that land at all.

It took Smart 2 years to get approval to mark and maintain the existing trails

It will take about 5 minutes for some inexperienced rider to break his or her neck and put an end to riding over there forever
I hope your friend is ok but this is an example of what can happen when people build stunts on trails that are ridden by people who don't often do stunts.

Mick