NEO Trail Club

Hi all, I am new to trail running and have been checking out the YUT-C. I am learning the trails through Mill Creek park, the hard way!!! Fell a few times and have been lost a lot. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where the monkey trails are. I've heard of them but don't have any idea where they are located. I'm wondering if it could be between the lily pond and the gardens. I haven't ran any of those trails yet. I haven't figured out how to connect all the trails yet. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Follow the wooden walkway from Lanterman's Mill towards Lake Glacier. Keep on the trail close to the water until it forces you onto the road. Go straight across the road, up the hill and that will start one end of the monkey hills. You'll get spit out into a field at the top where there is another parking area. Go behind the rest room and the trail picks up again. I usually run them from the other direction but I can't think how to describe. Best bet is to get someone to run them with you. If I'm not too wrecked from the Buckeye Trail Saturday I could probably show you early Sunday.

Todd

Todd, Thanks for the reply! I think I know where you are talking about. Is it the hill between where the you get dumped out onto the road and the steel bridge. I usually come out of where you get dumped out onto the road from the wooden steps trail and go through the little field/picnic area, go through the little parking area by the steel bridge and keep following the stream. I have noticed, going the other way, that there is a trail leading up the hill on the left heading toward the wooden walkway/steps area. Is the trail up that hill? Thanks for offering to show me on Sunday, but you're probably going to be a little sore!!! Good Luck in the race. I would love to do that one but it seems to sell out really quick. I couldn't get in.
Thanks,
Howard

Link to map here.
http://www.neotrail.org/yutc50Kcoursemap.html

The Monkey Hills are kind of between the Suspension Bridge and the boardwalk section on the east side of the park, but the north end is in the middle of nowhere on the trail.
The south end of the Monkey Trails is on the east side of the road where the north end of the boardwalk section dumps you out on the road.

Would be away easier to show, but will try and describe coming from the north.
Start on the east side of Lake Cohasset, heading south, on the trail that is next to the lake.
You will approach an intersection (Pot Smoker's Corner), if you go right it will take you to the Suspension Bridge Parking Lot.
If you go left it will wind up to the old ski hill almost heading due east, then wind back around to the south and then south west.
Stay left on trail as you wind through the brush and trees.
You will come to a T intersection that comes in from the left and goes up by some old logs and a little wooden bridge over a stone lined creek.
There is a pretty big tree down, then the trail heads across the hill on a slant and goes up.

Really tough to describe it, but very easy to find if you know where to look.

Good Luck.

Howard,
Sounds like between Slim's directions and mine and your description of the area you've got a pretty good idea of where they are. A couple of times through and you'll have it down. Good luck and see you on the trails sometime.

Todd

Thanks guys, I think I can figure it out. I'm going to try my luck tomorrow morning. I would much rather be running the BT50K but it just wasn't meant to be. I am going to run the YUT-C though! Do you guys have running groups or something that you do on a regular basis?

Hey Howard,

There are no regular group trail runs at MCP that I am aware of, but we all try and post when we are down there to share the trail.

If you are going to be there tomorrow, throw out the time and place and see who shows up.

Since YUTC is coming up, hopefully we will get some course familiarization runs in soon.

Keep watching the forum and hopfully you can meet up with someone and see more of the park.

Howard,

Did you get this figured out.

Slim and I ran thru the park this morning and did not see any lost looking trail runners.

Actually we did not see anyone.

Bob

Bob,
I think I did figure it out. Thanks. I may have looked a little lost at first though! Are you guys running the YUT-C? I'm going to give it a shot. I'm running the muddy paws saturday, it should be fun.

Howard

Hey Howard, I will be at YUTC this year again.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Want to keep my streak of attending every one intact.