Follow GPS directions for Windy Ridge Park, 1115 Prospect Road, Mt. Airy.
Proceed slowly to parking as the entrance road is narrow with limited visibility.
Please respect the rules, the trails, and other users.
Please refer to the status above to determine if the trails should be used. If you are picking up mud on your shoes or tires, you are causing damage to the volunteer maintained trails.
A small number of trails are designated for bicycle use only (aka "jump lines"). These are very clearly marked with signage. Please respect the signage. This is extremely important for the safety of all users!
No motorized vehicles are permitted other than Class 1 E-bikes per the town of Mt. Airy.
Please do not leave your trash, including bags of dog waste! (See "Don't Be This Guy.") Our dedicated volunteers aren't your janitors and need to spend their time building and maintaining the trails for everyone to enjoy.
These trails are 100% maintained by a very small volunteer crew. Please consider volunteering and/or donating.
New visitors should always "Pre-Ride, Re-Ride, Free-Ride" the jump lines.
Anyone can learn to jump well, but always follow a slow and steady progression.
The Windy Ridge jump lines were designed such that riders of all levels can continually progress and improve. The beginner jump lines above the parking lot are a great place to start, as well as the jumps on Toe Beans & Teefs (near the IDLH trailhead).
Do not stop or stand on the jump lines! If your bike has a mechanical issue on a jump line, please move off the trail for safety.
This trail still has some work to be fully completed, though a portion is open.
There will eventually be a trailhead at the east end of the parking lot, and will be an ideal starting point.
Legend has it that a retired US Postal truck will one day be incorporated somewhere into the trail, hence the name Pony Express.
Our relatively small number of awesome volunteers logged well over 700 work hours at Windy Ridge in 2024 alone, so please bear with us. Until then, enjoy the section that is completed (volunteering would be great, too)!
×
Winnie's Walk
0.4 mi.
Winnie's Walk was one of the first trails completed in early days of Windy Ridge Trails.
Winnie is the feline member of the Windy Ridge trail crew. She was probably the first to frequently travel this trail, testing out her human's hard work. She did approve, and allowed the use of her name.
You will see her image when the trail status is yellow.
Winnie's Walk can be traveled in either direction. The optimal direction for mountain bikes is out, using Diesel Weasel to return in a counter-clockwise loop.
×
Toe Beans & Teefs
1 mi.
The name honors all awesome dogs and cats, especially Windy Ridge's own Stanley the French Bulldog. By far the most diminutive of his canine housemates, he inspired a trail name
with his relentless optimism and indomitable spirit. Trail status is always conveyed by a four legged member of the Windy Ridge trail crew. You will see him when it's green.
Toe Beans & Teefs connects Winnie's Walk to Diesel Weasel for a roughly 2.3 mile loop
A portion also serves as the return climb for jump lines Twisty Britches, BLEVE, and IDLH. The climbing portion is very gradual and gentle, optimal for a day of jump line laps.
Slower climbing riders and users are not obliged to yield to anyone approaching from behind, though passing is possible on some of the switchback turns. As always, be courteous and communicate.
If you're not sure what Toe Beans or Teefs are, an informational video is provided below. Warning: the song may get stuck in your head.
×
Diesel Weasel
0.9 mi.
Diesel Weasel is the nickname for Dixie, the official trail work dog of Windy Ridge. She may be small, but keeps powering incessantly all day like a diesel - making the rounds and checking
everyone's work. If you've been to a trail work day, you've most likely met Diesel Weasel. With all her accumulated volunteer hours, Dixie is who you will see when trail status is red.
Like all multi-use trails here, Diesel Weasel can be traveled in either direction. For mountain bikers, it's more optimized as a return trail (counter-clockwise loop).
×
It's A Shame About Jay
1.1 mi.
No, Jay did not suffer some unfortunate fate at Windy Ridge. The name is a nod to "It's a Shame About Ray" by the Lemonheads, in tribute to a close mountain biking friend of the Windy Ridge MORE liaisons.
Jay moved away some years ago, now living near the renowned Kingdom Trails. Experiencing those trails on a visit to Jay's new home was their inspiration for the Windy Ridge Trails we know today. While it is a shame about Jay,
these trails may not be here if it wasn't for him!
×
Legacy
2.3 mi.
Legacy is, well, a legacy trail that predates all of the current trails at Windy Ridge.
×
Zah Zah Zaaaah
Difficulty:
Named in honor of trail liaison Patrick's mother. Typically a very reserved woman, she would occassionally encounter something with enough of an air of flair that it evoked a "Zah Zah Zaaaah." Feel free to use her phrase when you witness any steez at Windy Ridge!
This is a perfect trail to begin learning both jumping and cornering. This is a recommended spot to start your jump progression, and is also a good warm-up for experienced riders.
×
EpiBERMis
Difficulty:
This is the Windy Ridge trail to begin "scratching the surface" of your mountain bike skills progression. The perfect progression from beginner through advanced rider would actually involve no crashes or falls. No one's perfect, but luckily epidermis regenerates!
Berms and cornering skills are closely related to jumping skills, so EpiBermis is a great trail to start with.
×
Twisty Britches
Difficulty:
One lap down Twisty Britches and the name will become self explantory, lots of awesome berms courtesy of Greenstone Trailcraft.
It is rated blue primarily due to the sizes of the jumps and speeds required in comparison to BLEVE and IDLH, but a must-ride on your visit.
It's a great (and fun) trail for progressing both jumping and cornering skills.
×
IDLH
Difficulty:
Acronym: Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
If you already read the description of BLEVE, you know the relationship between firefighting acronyms and Windy Ridge Trails.
This trail is more of an immediate danger to being bored on your bike. It has some of the biggest jumps and highest speeds of the Windy Ridge jump lines.
As with everything at Windy Ridge, IDLH is completely roll-able. As always, "Pre-Ride, Re-Ride, Free-Ride." First time visitors especially are urged to roll through it first before
sending it.
Rolling into the trailhead at trail speed in a tall gear does help on IDLH. Most riders will need a few pedal strokes to clear the second jump, especially with a stronger northerly wind in your face.
Most riders will also need to scrub a little speed for the last jump, a step down leading to the merge area.
×
BLEVE
Difficulty:
Acronym: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Pronounced: 'ble-vē
With two dedicated career firefighters on the Windy Ridge trail crew, it's no surprise that some cool firefighting terms like BLEVE became trail names.
Contrary to the (understandable) first impression, it's not pronounced like a variation of the Orioles "B'lieve Hon."
BLEVE has a great mix of berms and tabletop jumps, maybe the best overall line at WRT for progression. Advanced riders can easily clear everything while working on style and tricks, while newer riders
can safely top land the tables as they progress. A relatively slow roll-in at the trailhead is all that's needed. Most riders do need some pedal strokes to clear the step down
after the last right hand berm. For first time visitors, it's recommended to roll the step down on your pre-ride.
