For jumps, berms and rollers, try the mountain bike flow trail at Milton Reimers Ranch

Chris LeBlanc and Marion Burch ride some rollers on the Flow Trail at Milton Reimers Ranch on Dec. 26, 2020. Pam LeBlanc photo

If you like your mountain bike riding tricked up with berms, gaps, jumps and pump rollers, try the new Flow Trail at Milton Reimers Ranch Park in Western Travis County.

I headed to the park this morning, and warmed up on the beginner’s mountain bike trail before heading to the 2.6-mile Flow Trail, which opened in May.

If you’ve never been to Reimers, and you’re looking for a park with trails for a mixture of skill levels, check it out. The park’s 18 miles of trails are divided into green, blue and black, for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. There’s also a short wooden pump track, which is great for testing your skills.

The park is also known for world-class rock climbing, white bass fishing along the Pedernales River, and pleasant hiking.

Chris LeBlanc reads the sign at the start of the Flow Trail at Reimers Ranch. Pam LeBlanc photo

But about that Flow Trail. From the parking area, follow the signs up the gradual slope. (We missed the turnoff; follow the pink flagging.) You’ll eventually reach the entrance area, which is marked by some (confusing) signage.

The top of the trail is at 1,052 feet; the bottom is just under 900 feet. In between you’ll zing around curved berms, swing through pump rollers, and launch yourself over jumps as you swoop down the hill – or not. The course is designed so there’s an easy work-around at each major obstacle.

Want to know how it feels to ride it? Watch this.

The same builders who designed the trails at Spider Mountain Bike Park near Burnet (the only lift-served mountain bike park in Texas) machine built this trail. It’s the first of several planned downhill runs.

Chris LeBlanc picks his way down a ledgey section of the new Flow Trail at Reimers Ranch. Pam LeBlanc photo

The trails are only open when they’re dry, so check before you make the drive if it’s rained recently. The park closes when it fills to capacity. We arrived at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, but the lot was almost full when we left and the park closed shortly thereafter.

Horseback riding and hiking is also allowed at Reimers Ranch, but the Flow Trail is open only to cyclists, who must ride it in clockwise direction.

And pro tip: Since Austin moved into Stage 5 Covid restrictions this week, it’s now FREE to get into the park. Staffers aren’t handling cash. (I wish they’d have a drop box for folks who want to leave money; I’d like to support the parks, but this makes it difficult.)

Bring a mask and practice proper social distancing. Picnic tables and drinking fountains are closed. No off-leash pets are allowed.

The park, which is open from 7 a.m. to twilight daily, is located at 23610 Hamilton Pool Road. To get there from Austin, take Highway 71 west through Bee Cave and turn left onto Hamilton Pool Road. Go 12 miles to the park entrance on your right. For more information, call 512-264-1923.

Chris LeBlanc rides past a windmill at Milton Reimers Ranch Park. Pam LeBlanc photo