Has this trail lived up to its name?
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
- Today I'm back in Carver Park riding the Monarch trails. This trail system has been received with mixed results. It is clearly popular but not with all riders. The trails here are probably just what I would expect from Three Rivers Parks.
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“Crack a cold one” 😂👌🏻
I had to borrow that one.
Only made it out to Monarch once, but I recall it was fun. Agree on passing up Grimm's Grind, but the rest was fun.
I think no one can defend Grimm's Grind. As I edited the video, it looked fun. I think Grimm takes a lot of the joy out and if you ride raptor ridge last, you really ride the worst stuff last.
from the st paul side of the metro, this was one where I thought "yeah, I'll get out here once a year", but I haven't actually done that.
It's a tough sell when you drive that far. There is really no signature feature or section of trail making it worth the drive.
I happen to love flow and I'm intrigued. But from your video it does look very simple. Kind of place to warm up.
It has nothing that stands out to me. It's a nice ride but nothing special.
I was just thinking. I don't remember if you ever did a video on Rockfords lake Rebecca bike park ? Thanks for sharing this with us.
I have done a Lake Rebecca video a while back.
Yeah, nail it. I thought this was better than the other Three Rivers (none of the four I've been to this year... yet!) parks but only due to Ravine and Paradise. Very fun area but the others were not so much. Raptor was a disappointment, well that field downhill is about all its got. I've only heard a few say they did not like it, but that was first year. Id agree its defiantly gotten better... except some of the signs. If I go to a three rivers this year its this or Elm Crake.
I think this trail could use some of the love Elm Creek has gotten.
@@BrianVaughn Yes I agree again. Great spot and great potential!!
Monarch is a once a season trip. Wish it was closer and in my regular rotation. I appreciate the honest review. Good vid!
Thanks Michael. I still found some fun sections but I'd probably ride it a lot different if it was my regular trail. Grim's Grind would never see my tracks.
Just rode here the other day. It’s definitely gotten faster and is more enjoyable vs the first time I rode here. Some decent flow in sections and if you’re lucky you can see the Osprey in its nest out in the prairie overlooking the lake.
It is faster in sections. Didn't see any wildlife when I was there.
Hey Brian! I'm about two miles away from this trail it's my "home" track. I rode Murphy today and was a lot more fun. The second half of ravine rush is my favorite but agree it has nothing on Murphy or Leb.
Yeah, I just feel like the trails are missing something. Glad you enjoyed Murphy.
It's funny, you call Grimm's Grind boring and I find it, just like the prairie stuff at Elm Creek, a blast to ride. Those trails are a blast to ride at speed and they have really good fun flow to them.
I agree the black stuff is not black, on any bike. I can shred my hardtail just as much as I do my full suspension bike.
Monarch's trails are poorly rated, but they are some of the best trails in the metro right now. The speed and flow of those trails is awesome. They did an excellent job of using the terrain and maximizing it.
And you prefer an eBike to climb a big steep hill? Really? Sorry man, bit this is mountain biking, not a lift access downhill bike park...😉
That jump at the bottom of the big hill is downright dangerous. It's just a dumb kicker that will cause less experienced riders to endo. Bigger is safer and I know there are plans to vastly improve that whole section.
I was saying, I could lap that section on an ebike. You can have Grimm's Grind, I'm not going back there again. The prairie section at Elm Creek has more flavor and interest to it. I wish Monarch had a trail crew more like Elm Creek. The entire system could use their flare for adding features.
Like I said, some people will love this trail but many people do not. Is that the best use of the terrain? Maybe.
I like Monarch and rode it regularly when I lived 4 miles away, but it's not in my top 3 favorite Twin Cities trails. I give it 3.0 stars out of 5 if I was rating only twin cities trails. Now that I moved 35 miles from Monarch and only 2 miles from Murphy and 6 miles from Leb, I rode Murphy this morning which is for sure in my top 3 twin cities trails. Great job on this video.
This is one of those trails when I look back at the edit, it looks fun and I had a good ride. It's a fine trail but doesn't have anything that stands out and makes you want to get back there.
@@BrianVaughn When I rode Mammoth in Chaska on a regular basis cuz the trailhead was in my back yard, I couldn't wait for Monarch to open. When Monarch opened, I saw the same riders from Mammoth. Not many people from the East Metro are up for that drive - and if they do ride it once, they likely won't be back too often. Mammoth is a lot better if ya know the trail, and completely confusing if ya don't.
@@MTB_Rider_96 mammoth is better, another Chaska native!
I'm over on the west side of town every few weeks, for a few days at a time. I find that Monarch is good at scratching the itch of riding, but probably isn't worth the time to cross the cities for. I do really like the climbing, and find most of it to be fun, if a tiny bit bland, especially on the flat areas. I'd liken it to Carver Lake Park - it's fun if you're in the area but probably isn't worth the drive out once you've gotten above that entry to intermediate level.
I think Carver Lake is a good comparison. SOme people really love that trail but it's nothing special. I'd like a reward for the climb but unfortunately I think it's a bit of a reverse at Monarch. You pay for the fun spots early with a climb.
Love it or hate it, it's nice that there's an option for those in the western burbs. Personally I felt the climbs weren't really worth the payoff.
More trail is nice, good trail is better.
Climbing is part of Mountain Biking. It always has been. There are plans to rework all the Paradise stuff and make the features better and more advanced. Not sure when that will happen, but once that is done it should all be worth it.
I'm glad they plan to revamp that area. The climb before the drops is not fun and not worth the features after. There has to be a reward for a climb and or people won't ride it.
Monarch is not worth the time or the gas it takes to get there
Yeah, you're driving past a lot better places to ride coming from the east side of town.