Black Loop Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
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Riding AreaFountainhead
Springfield, Virginia -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyDouble Black Diamond (2 votes)
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Trail UsageBiking Only
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DirectionOne DirectionPopular direction shown
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Dogs AllowedYes
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TTFs on TrailA-Frame, Berm, Bridge, Drop, Jump, Log Ride, Rock Garden, Skinny
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Global Ranking#2872 in Mountain Biking
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Local Popularity85 in Mountain Biking
This is the hardest of the loops at Fountainhead. The trail is mostly more of a harder blue with several obstacles that really earn the black diamond rating. The start doesn't hold back with a hard rock climb from the blue trail. From there it eases off for a while. You'll have real fun flowy sections with short climbs and man-made rock gardens thrown in for good measure.
Later in the trail is when it starts to get real. I think it was around mile marker 6, that the drops start. While some of them are small and could be done by most intermediate riders, they get bigger as they go. I think the biggest is about a 6 foot vertical drop. So if you don't feel confident on medium/large drops, you'll want to scope them first. If you are comfortable, then most are pretty mellow, however one has a short landing that took me by surprise. So don't just bomb off them.
After the drop section there's a few more gnar parts, including one pretty rowdy rock garden. When you hit the little A-frame wooden features, you're coming up to it. Just know, it's going to get rocky and chunky.
The end of the trail has an easy and harder route, with the harder ending in a fun and wild decent with rocks and drops everywhere.
If you're an intermediate looking for some harder terrain, give this a go. You can easily go around the hard sections and the rest of the trail is pretty much a blue. Just keep in mind the full loop is around 12 miles.
Local Trail Association
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trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Black Loop mountain bike trail trail
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Altitude change-3 ft
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Altitude min123 ft
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Altitude max266 ft
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Altitude start127 ft
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Altitude end124 ft
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Grade-0.009%
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Grade max-26.584%
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Grade min26.226%
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Distance climb3 miles
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Distance down3 miles
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Distance flat3,221 ft
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Avg time01:25:02
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Avg reverse time01:21:15
- view trail stats
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
- Access Road/Trail
- White
- Green
- Blue
- Black
- Double Black Diamond
Trail Report Status
- Clear / Green
- Minor Issue / Yellow
- Significant Issue / Amber
- Closed
- Land Owner Overlay
- Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
- BLM (public)
- USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
- State land
- Indigenous
- Military
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
- Map Markers
Trail Head
Photo
Directory Listing
Riding Area
TTF
Parking
Viewpoint
Information
Warning
Directions
Sight
Restrooms
eBike Charging Point
Water Fountain/Source
Gate
Trail Sign
Table or Bench
Ladder
Stairs
Bridge
Boardwalk
Camping
Cabin
Lodge
Bear Cache
Dock
Ranger Station
Summit
Other
Black Loop Trail Reports
Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 186 rides
- 12 miles avg distance
All
- 813 rides
Photos
Routes with this trail
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+ 0

Nearby Trails
- Skills Area 827 ft
- Connector 1,204 ft
- Loop 2 Technical 1,709 ft
- Black Loop Finish Bypass 1,900 ft
- Blue Loop 2,890 ft
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- By brenthillier
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