Walden – MTB Trail

Length – 15 km

70% MTB single track
30% double track ski trail

Elevation – Easy section is flat, the rest is on the large hill, a few tough climbs and big drops,

Terrain – Open flat rock, smooth soil, wood chips, roots, boulders, main x- country ski paths tall grass with boardwalks to cross soggy sections

Skill – Beginners have a few flat easy loops and the x-ski trails, the rest is best for the Advanced rider

Traffic – Lite use with mountain bike riders and hikers. In winter Fatbikes and snowshoeing.

Trail Maps – Map board at trailhead , well-signed markers on trails

Facilities – Parking lot, outhouse

Highlights – Lookouts, open rock is technical fun,

Trail Pass – Free

Phone – None

Website – Walden Mountain Bike Club

Similar Trail – Laurentian  South March , Porcupine Ridge, Georgian

Local Clubs – Walden Mountain Bike Club , Sudbury Women’s Bike Group

Access – In the town of Naughton,  Hwy 55 turn off at St. Louis St., left down Denis Ave. to x-ski parking lot on left.

Open from early June to Oct 15th. Lower trails muddy after rain.

Visit Walden (formerly Naughton) for your fill of classic Northern Ontario mountain biking at its best. An even mix of difficulty and terrain keeps everyone happy. Wonderful, flat, open slabs of rock are the draw!

This spot in Naughton, 20 km west of Sudbury, is your typical dual-purpose sports area, home to Nordic skiers in the winter, MTB riders in the summer. As such, you have the usual interplay between the two sets/types of paths that’s seen at many MTB locations.

Wide Nordic winter routes circling the property, with singletrack loops cutting in and out from them, give you about 22 km to ride here. The narrow, sought-after MTB tracks make up 13 km of that, and they are a blast to take on.

Down at the base, west of the car lot, run all the easy beginner loops to warm you up for the climbs. Some of this lowland area can be soggy.

If you have had enough of level terrain, commence your ascent to the main large rocky hill by turning off onto the difficult Seven Up trail. Or continue on for a more moderate climb at any of the other forks going north a few minutes later.

Next, find the Long Road trail and you’ll be well on your way to all the good stuff. Depending on your skill and bike, there are many options to take. The club website has even listed six tours as route suggestions. Bonus!

Up by the top of this hill, the trees thin out and reveal bare, flat rock, which I find a joy to ride over. This gets interrupted by steep lines and rock drops.

There is some serious technical riding here that will test your skills and fear factor. In these parts when they say it’s a double black diamond run, they mean it! Honey Badger is one of these…

Read more of this review in my MTB guidebook with better topo maps and riding tips, plus 54 others. Available as an eBook or paperback.