FEATURE STORY

Trail R iders

Bighead Creek Mountain Bike Trail kicks of f Kilgore Trails Project

BY LUCAS STROUGH | lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com PHOTOS BY LUCAS STROUGH

In just the last few years, it’s gotten much easier to run, walk and ride right here in Kilgore.

Creekside Trail, a 2.58-mile path ideal for walking, jogging and biking, was completed in October 2020. The day marking its completion also highlighted the official opening of the Bighead Creek Mountain Bike Trail just on the other side of Dudley Road from the Creekside Trail parking lot and trailhead.

According to City Manager Josh Selleck, a mountain biker himself who says the construction of the trail answered a growing local demand, the new bike track is being as well-received as the first phase of the Kilgore Trails Project.

“The response has been great. The trail gets ridden yearround and has dozens of riders on it each day. With each new feature that we add, we see riders flock to Kilgore to check out the improvements and try their hand at learning a new skill. The inaugural Creekside Sprint Race was held in May and drew over 50 riders and 150 spectators from as far as Dallas. Plans for this year's race are coming together and will be announced soon,” Selleck said.

As the biking trail is an amenity designed for community use and community enjoyment, its roots are found in the ideas of Kilgoreites who wanted to enjoy a favorite outdoor activity close to home.

“The idea for the trail came from several Kilgore residents who were avid mountain bikers who were tired of driving to Longview and Tyler to ride their trails,” Selleck said.

“Previously, there was an attempt to build a bike trail on city property near the intersection of the loop and 349 but it was never completed. This project was spearheaded by a core group of volunteers who have put thousands of hours into clearing, building and maintaining the four-mile long trail and the numerous manmade features on it.”

The core team of volunteers, Selleck said, is made up of five adults and two kids. However, he added, the list of volunteers who have helped with the project is in excess of 50 individuals from both Kilgore and Longview.

“The success of this project is a result of the proximity and

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1,3. The "whale tail," completed at the end of 2021, allows riders to catch air and build speed, adding excitement and a dynamic ride experience to the Bighead Creek Mountain Bike Trail. 2. Riders navigate the trail at Bighead Creek Mountain Bike Trail's inaugural Creekside Trail Race. (Courtesy Image from Bighead Creek MTB Trail Facebook.) 4. Bumps and dips allow riders to build up momentum and speed as they navigate advanced trail features, such as the "whale tail," which was completed near the end of 2021.

shared amenities such as access, parking and restrooms with the walking trail as well as support from our sponsors: Leath Pest Control, East Texas Lumber and Global Graphics.”

While the Bighead Creek mountain bike trail answers a need for cyclists and mountain bikers in the area, it’s really a boon for the entire community, according to Selleck.

“We have heard from local mountain bikers for several years about the desire to have trails locally. But it's not just bikers that use the trail. We frequently find runners, walkers and even families, with photographers in tow, enjoying the incredible scenery and remoteness of the trail.”

Planning, designing and constructing the bike trail was a lengthy process with its beginnings in the creation of Creekside Trail, the first phase of the Kilgore Trails Project. From there, it took more specialized planning and design to create and then connect the Bighead Creek trail to Creekside Trail.

“At the beginning, it simply took the blessing of the city council and tools and labor from a small core group of volunteers,” Selleck said.

“Then, other community members started to get involved. A Facebook page was created to alert volunteers about dates and times of work days and sponsors started to offer money or in-kind donations.”

While Creekside Trail is designed for strolling, jogging and dog-walking, the mountain bike trail required more specialized features ideal for adventurous mountain-bikers, including “berms, drops, skinnies and jumps.”

“Each of these features were built to allow riders to progress their riding skills over time, and even the most advanced features have bypass lines that allow riders of all skill levels to enjoy the trail,” he said. “Berms” are banked portions of the trail that allow riders to manage a turn with greater traction and control. “Skinnies” are narrow portions of the trail typically made of wood which require focus and balance to navigate.

Completion of the main trail has made way for construction of more advanced features such as the see-saw, the wall ride and the “whale tail,” which opened just in time for Christmas this year. Plans for further additions to the trail are now in the works, and construction is anticipated to begin soon.

“Additionally, the city council has approved the construction of a pump-track (a special bike track with berms and rolling bumps allowing riders to build momentum with a minimum of pedaling) on land located between the Dudley Road Trailhead and the dog park,” Selleck said. “The pump-track will actually include two separate tracks — one for riders of all abilities and ages and another with much more advanced features for older riders and to allow riders to progress in their skill level. Much of this work will begin this spring with a series of volunteer build days.”