Alston Tract, Upper Hillsborough WMA & Crystal Springs - Mixed Surfaces Ride

Name: Alston Tract, Upper Hillsborough WMA & Crystal Springs - Mixed Surfaces Ride
Start: 2024-05-25T08:00:00-04:00
Location: Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract

Schedule

Sat May 25 2024 at 08:00 am

UTC-04:00

Location

Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract | Zephyrhills, FL

Meet at 42144 Deems Rd., Zephyrhills. Main trailhead for Alston Tract which is the center of the route. Join the club on this appx 30 - 35 mile mixed surfaces ride. Gravel bikes or MTBs…. Split decision. It will be hard to decide which bike would be best for this ride! The first portion (Alston & Upper Hillsborough) are more mtb friendly (100% off road and rugged in sections). The latter portion (Crystal Springs rural roads) is more gravel bike friendly. Is there a perfect bike for this ride? Let’s see what everyone shows up with and then decide. The ride will be party pace with stops as needed. Since we’re using Alston as a central trailhead, riders can decide on completing one or both segments (we’ll be passing the trailhead again after the 1st section). I’ve been exploring these properties since the late 1990s around the same time the Alston Family transferred their land to SWFWMD (appx 3,000 ac) which expanded the size of the Hillsborough River Greenway since that merged the property with Upper Hillsborough WMA adjoining to the north. The first part of the route will consist of hard-pack dirt roads, double-track, smaller forest trails, and will cross the upper Hillsborough River twice - once via a small footbridge, and the 2nd time via a gravel bottom ride through near the railroad. The 2nd part of the route (after we pass the trailhead) will lead through backroads into the town of Crystal Springs (appx 80% unpaved hardpack dirt, and 20% pavement). For safety, bring a tail flasher for use on Crystal Springs roadways. Not much sand on the route but there could be some mud depending on conditions leading up to the ride date. Bring plenty of hydration, snacks/ lunch, sun screen, bug spray, tools, at least 2 tubes and/or tubeless repair kit. Ride guide Rob DeGraaf is a Senior Environmental Scientist and past Author of Fat Tire Favorites, Guide to West-Central (and South Florida) Florida Off-Road Bicycling books, and a past director of the Florida Off-Road Bicycling Association (FORBA). Please post any questions under this ride Event or send me a DM.