Ramey Base MTB Trails

GENERAL INFORMATION		SPECIFIC INFORMATION - MTB / ATB
ENTRANCE FEE	FREE - PUBLIC TERRAIN	TYPE	S I N G L E T R A C K + D I R T R O A D	NOT USED IN COMPETITIONS (yet)
PARKING	BUSINESS CLOSE BY	NAME	RAMEY, HOLE 8	Sligtly MARKED
BUSINESS HOURS	N / A	DISTANCE	SHORT (CIRCUIT)	3.5 miles pure S-Track
CITY	AGUADILLA	TECHNICAL KNWOLEDGE REQUIRED	HIGH	MORE DIFICULT 8 / 10
ADDRESS	PUNTA BORINQUEN BEACH	AEROBIC LEVEL	EXCELENT	8 / 10
PHONE #	N / A	HEIGHT GAIN	FROM 10	TO 70 METERS
SIZE	6.8 ACRES (single track)	WATER NEEDS	HIGH HUMIDITY
TEMPERATURES	76° - 84° F	THORNS?	THORNS, A POSIBILITY
FOREST TYPE	WET FOREST	RISKS	FALLS
WHAT TO SEE?	BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE, BOWLING, ICE SKATING	COURSE SPEED	MAINLY SLOW (SINGLE TRACK)
WEB SITE	N / A	EXTRA FEATURES	DOWN HILL SWITCH BACKS	LOTS OF ROOTS DITCH, DIRT ROAD
FAMILY FUN	YES	SATELITE PHOTO	WEATHER
		* * * NEW ** *!!!!! New 3D Map of the Trail

HOW TO GET TO RAMEY BASE?

* * * NEW * * *   How to Get There! (Google Maps)! * * * NEW * * *   To the MAP

     From Mayagüez: Drive to Aguadilla by road #2, then take road 107 (Borinquen), this will take you straight to Ramey. The entrance to Gate 1 is approximately 2.8 miles from last exit and Ramey Mail Station (* in the map). Once in the Base, continue on the Borinquen Avenue. You should pass the two white RADAR Domes (at your left) and the Landing strip (at your right). In total you will pass two road exits at your right. After the second exit (at your right), you will find in less than 100 meters Ramey Mail Station, also at your right. At first sight the parking space will look small, but you will see that this is not the case!

     From Arecibo: Drive on road #2 until you reach Aguadilla. Then exit to road 110 North (at your right). This exit is approximately 8 minutes after Isabella Mall. It is located after the 4th traffic light from the one in front of this mall. Road 110N will take you to Gate 5 (6.2 miles). This road will make a "T" intersection with Wing Road, turn left here. You should take then the first intersection to the right (Guard Road). Once in that street you should see at your left the Coast Guard Station. This road also ends in a "T", turn left (don’t worry we are almost there!). This road will find Ing. Orlando Alarcón Avenue. You will find in this road the Airport Terminal (left) and the Bowling Alley (right). This road will also end in a "T", but this time is with Borinquen Avenue (in the map you are in the "A"). You should see the Golf Course in front of you. Here turn right, in less than 200 meters you will find The Ramey Base Mail Station.

    If you find this last route too complicated, and have enough time, you can ignore the Gate 5 and enter by Gate 1. But this new route is 2 miles longer, and has another 8 traffic lights.  Continue on road #2, until you find and enter road 107.   From here, follow the directions to the people who are coming from Mayagüez.

WHERE TO PARK?:
The safest place is in the parking lot behind the Ramey Mail Station (at the right side of the *). This parking lot may be part of the Tennis courts and should fit more than 100 vehicles. If you arrive after the Mail station business hours, you can park close to the main road. If you can't, this place is a little lonely. I still haven’t heard of problems in the place, but always take the appropriated precautions ... don't leave valuables visible, lock well your car, etc ...

HOW TO FIND THE ENTRANCE TO THE SINGLETRACK?:
Start in the parking lot, and travel south on road that you came in (107) take the second exit to the right, which is marked by a letter B in the map. This road will enter the Golf course and will take you to the Punta Borinquen beach. The entrance to the single track is marked ... "Entrada" in the map (see also the photo at the bottom). This is a paved road for Golf carts, and is marked by a light gray line in the map. This cart road is at your left, and it’s just before the hill that descends to the beach. A red line marks the route that you have to take to enter the single track. Take the cart road. At the end you will note a fence made by white concrete posts, about 4 feet high. All the posts are connected by a small white tube, but two ... the entrance. Go between them! Once inside, the trail will slowly descend. You will find the main entrance to the single track at your right, less than 30 meters from the concrete posts. Just be careful because you will be welcome by a generous downhill.

The main downhill is too eroded and dangerous, i.e. just for exoerts. The people from aguadilla added a new entrance with a killer dowhill. At least I can ride half of it, the other half is too much, perhaps whe I grow up ;-). Just when you find the famous white posts, turn inmediatelly to your wright (toward the sea). you will find the trail, it is like 25 meter from the entrance to your left.. just hang on! (march 17, 07)

SINGLETRACK DESCRIPTION:
     This trail requires lots of skills and physical effort. This route rests on the side of a cliff that creates a wind shadow, because of that the area has no much wind flow. This trail is covered by tall trees, so there is no need for sun tan lotion. But again... there is no much wind flowing, and this place is very humid, you will sweat like.... well ... a lot!   If you are relatively new to this thing called MTB, just take it easy, and you will really enjoy this trail.

     This single track is short (3 miles), but sloooow. Your speed will depend of a combination of your fitness and technical skills. Usually we do a couple of circuits (me) and tree (others) in about one hour and a half. I had met people that do five turns. I don't know how much time takes them to do that, but for sure is a lot less time than I.

    In general terms 60% of the trail is a little wider than my handlebar. Is very easy to get tangled with vegetation if you go too fast with not too much control. This could happen in areas that have several close zigzags. You can also find a very generous twisting down hill, several short but step climbs and lots and lots of roots (5" to 6" the taller ones). At the end, you have to climb a long hill, not too step, but full of rocks and roots. This single track requires a lot of concentration and is excellent to improve or develop technical skills.

NOTE 1:
    Important: once you are in, the single track has very few detours, because of that is difficult to get lost. But if you have to wonder were the route goes, stop an have a good look around, you find the right trail!

NOTE 2:
   In the point C in the map, the route ends in a very narrow dirt road (marked red in it), usually there is an arrow that shows the way, if you can't find it ... just turn left! After 10 to 20 meters in this road you will find at your left the other entrance to the single track.

NOTE 3:
   You can combine the single track with the double track marked in the map so you can make a larger run! Even though the view in the double track is nice, the single track is addictive!

FAMILY:
     There is much to see in this zone! Close to the Golf course there is a Bowling Alley (just in front of the Airport terminal building), Punta Borinquen Beach, The ruins of an Old Spanish Light House (destroyed by a tidal wave) and Wilderness Surfing Beach. Close by are the Jobos Beach (Isabela) and Crash Boat (Las Playuelas, Aguadilla). A little farther from the Base is the Las Cascadas Aquatic Park, an Skating Rink, and several mall's. If you want to get rid of your family for several hours without any regret, those are good alternatives!

     The double track (marked in red) is not too technical, and can be ridden by all members of your family. Not too much people use this route, better ride with a large group! I just one to add that this place is too deserted, and you can feel unsecure!