Rincón Light House MTB Trails

GENERAL INFORMATION		SPECIFIC INFORMATION - MTB / ATB
ENTRANCE FEE	FREE	TYPE	XC S I N G L E T R A C K	COMPETTTION Medalla Light Dirt Challenge
PARKING	FREE	NAME	RINCÓN LIGHT HOUSE	MARKED
BUSINESS HOURS	N / A	DISTANCE	SHORT-MEDIUM	aprox. 6 km
CITY	RINCÓN, P.R.	TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED	MEDIUM-HIGH	MORE DIFICULT 8 / 10
ADDRESS	Bario Punta, Road 413	AEROBIC LEVEL	EXCELENT	8 / 10
PHONE #	N / A	HEIGHT GAIN	FROM 5 TO	55 METERS
SIZE	28.5 ACRES (Aprox.)	WATER NEEDS	HIGH HUMIDITY
TEMPERATURES	N / A	THORNS?	LOW BUT NOT IMPOSIBLE
FOREST TYPE	Humid	RISKS	DEHYDRATION	EQUESTRIANS
WHAT TO SEE?	BEACH, SURFERS, LIGHT HOUSE, WHALES	COURSE SPEED	PARTS FAST, PARTS SLOW
WEB SITE	N / A	EXTRA FEATURES	IS AN UCI TRAIL	3+ DOWN HILLS
FAMILY FUN	BEACH, LIGHT HOUSE, FAMILIY TRAIL	SATELITE PHOTO	WEATHER

SPEED INDEX: (Sluggish ) ( in Between ) (Slow ) ( Parts Slow, Parts Fast ) (Fast )(Veeerry Fast )

WATER INDEX:

CAMEL = 1 BOTTLE 20 onz (If you are one of the ones that use lots of water, please adjust the amount acordingly)

THORN INDEX:

0 THORNS = LOW PROBABILITY: You get a flat by an act of God, or by using tubes fully covered by old patches!
5 THORNS = HIGH PROBABILITY: You better take patches, extra tubes, slime or liner like Mr Tuffy!

HOW TO GET THERE? RINCÓN

        Map of How to Get There!   * * * NEW * * *        Rincón

    From Aguadilla: If you are traveling from San Juan by Road #2. Go toward the town of Aguadilla, enter the exit to Road 111 (Aguadilla-Moca). At the end of this exit, turn toward the town (Left). At the first Traffic Light, exit to road 115 towards Aguada (turn left). Road 115 will take you to that town; here take the Marina Street (I guess you don’t have a choice). This street will pass behind the town. Turn left when you find road 441, then right (Road 115).  Don't take road 441 just ignore it! Continue on 115 for about 4 miles and exit to road "Carretas", which is at your right. You will climb a mountain and from there you will see the Light House and the Reactor Dome. At the end of the mountain (2.19 miles), you will find road 413, here turn left.
     If you missed road "Carretas", you can continue on this road because it will take you to the town of Rincón. Just at the town entrance you will find road 413, here turn right. This road will take you strait (in Puerto Rico, strait is a figure of speech) to the Light House. The Light House is 2 miles from the town.

     From Aguadilla Second Option: This route is more direct than the previous one. If you are traveling from San Juan by Road #2, you have to skip Aguadilla, and in Aguada exit to Road 417 (right). When you find a Traffic light, just after it, take the first road to your left (Avenida Nativo Alers). If you are passing besides a Cemetery... well.., do an U turn because you had just missed it. This road will end in a " T " with Road 115. Here turn left. Continue on Road 115 for about 4 miles and take a road named "Carretas", at your right. You will climb a mountain and from there you will see the Light House and the Reactor Dome. At the end of the mountain (2.19 miles), you will find road 413, turn left.

From Mayagüez: If you are traveling on Road #2. Take the second exit to Road 402 on the town of Añasco (at your left). This will end in road 115; which will take you directly to the town of Rincón. At the time of writing (June, 2005) the Town Plaza had been under reconstruction and the streets ways had been temporary changed. You should try to find Road 413; it is at the north part of the town. The Light House is 2 miles from there. Ask any body in the town streets for directions, there is a 70% chance that they speak English, speak some English or know somebody who can!

	GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This trail is very technical. It has two high-difficulty down hills and two smaller of intermediate level (see photo at the end). This is a relatively small route (6 Km), but is 95 % single track. During the competitions (Union Cicliste Internationale) they do 5 turns, depending on the category. This route is marked, even though ... I’m still got lost. Most of the route is very fast, except for a very long climb that ends in the hardest downhill. If you don’t want to break any record, this trail is very, very fun, but very technical. Enjoyed better when dry!

	SINGLETRACK: The trail starts at the parking lot at the right of the Light House (Check the * in the map, also the photos at the end). This part of the trail descends slowly and encounters the fence of the Nuclear Reactor (point 1). As you can see in the map, you have to border the reactor fence (1, 2, 3), and find the gravel road (3). Should be alert because in less than 100 meters you will find the entrance to the single track (4). Is to the right, is not marked and easy to miss. In this section of the trail you have to climb a small step angle hill, of about 75º of inclination. You could notice the marks of the bicycle tires on it (when it is in use!). This part has technical challenges; lots of hills to climb, lots of descends and switch backs (4, 5). {The part of the trail marked by numbers 4 and 5 are a loose estimate of the route, is not the real trajectory} In the site marked by number 6 you start to climb a very step and long hill (height gain; 20 to 55 meters). In number 7, you will find a 70º downhill, just be kind enough and don't bang the trees with your head! Between 8, 9 and 10 is a close single track, but fun (less that 3 feet wide){sorry, this part doesn’t show in aerial photographs and had to be very badly guessed). There is also a very fast dirt road that descends from points 11 to 12 (see page banner). Then the trail cuts to the left and enters a single track that ends in point 13. From points 13 to 14 there is a close single track (guessed too because this part is very new). From point 14 you can see the parking lot. Rest, drink, eat and think ... LETS DO IT AGAIN!

IMPORTANT:
   You should be careful, because parts of this trails are shared by equestrians. I had found them close to the zone marked "unpaved" in the map. Close to the points 2, 3, 4, 5 y 6, but they should not be limited to them.   Luckily the horses I had encountered had ignored completely the bicycles, but this could not always be the case.   The danger is that if we spook the horse it might throw the rider, kick the cyclist or even worse, kick the bike!

FAMILY:
     The family could enjoy the facilities and views from the Light House mini complex. From this point you could watch Humpback Whales between late January and late march. To the right of the Light House you could find Domes, a famous surfing beach.
     Also you could ride with the family in a short but safe route that will border the coastline. This route starts in the parking lot, following the road to the North, towards the Reactor Dome. At the end of the paved road take the gravel road at your left. This route will extend close to a mile from the parking lot. At the end of it, you will also find a small paved road that you can use to add more distance to the route.