Living in Lees Summit we have been to Perry Lake and Deepwater - looking for a new place. Read about Fingers Lake on the Mo State Park web site. Only about a 2 hour drive from here, but before going need some reviews. Are the trails more dirt bike or atv designed. Really muddy or can sport quads get around ok? Heavy traffic on the trails, ect. I know this may seem like a just go and find out question. THe reason I ask is my wife is new to riding - been to Deepwater twice and she can chose her path and still have plenty of places to ride in her skill level. She rides a Recon. I'm tiring to get her seat time at new places with out getting her in a mess before she is ready. thank Jame

 

The last time I was there the trails were rough and rutted up and there was a mud hole every 10 feet. I went with my wife and she has little riding experience,she did ok but I had to get off and help her through alot of rutts.If you have a 4x4 then I say go if not then I would stick with Deepwater. I will not be going bacl to Fingerslake unless they fix some of the trails. But this is just my opinion.

 

Thanks I was afraid of that. I ride a 300ex and she has a recon. Neither of us like riding through deep mud or water. Perry Lake was the same way, might have been better if 3" of rain had not fallen the week before. You would think a State Park that charges a fee (though very little) would try to keep the trails nice enough to encourage more riders. Might just go to deepwater again. If I can get a some time to plan might take a three day weekend and go to St. Joe SP or Chadwick in the future. Hopefully the 291 area they are planning will be nice enough for less experienced riders and non-mud lovers to enjoy a day of riding.

 

I went to St Joe for the first time this year, and it is a really nice park. Nice clean camping area,the trail are wide and fun to ride some steep hills but there was allways a way around. They also have a large flat sand riding area. St Joe is a must for everyone.

 

Don't get your hopes up too much on the 291 riding area. Last weeks examiner had an article about it. It doesn't look too promising. I was really hoping it would open. I hate driving so far to ride. I have never been to St. Joe but if you look at their site it looks great. We have been to Chadwick once. It was awesome. It has some really technical trails that will abuse your ride. We went to Keystone State Park in Oklahoma and loved it also. I am wanting someplace closer to home though as I have to take care of 4 quads. It gets a little tiring. I'm thinking of selling my 03 Rancher and the wife's 02 Lakota and getting a Rhino for us adults. Jeff

 

Just back from Chadwick today. Been two times this year. Nothing beats being able to camp where you ride. There are plenty of trails for beginners, make sure to get a map. I ride my 250r there with no problems. A friend of mine said they had a small bulldozer at finger lakes to maintain the trails. I don't know if this is true never benn there.

 

Were can I get a map at?? Thanks

 

Jamie, you can get a map at the store there in Chadwick where you buy your permits or you can contact the Forest Service in AVA and they will send you a map.


Finger Lakes needs help, I ask that you pitch end and help them. They have started a group called FLORA and they are trying to improve what is there and make more trails. They are not a super active group on the message boards but they have monthly work sessions and are working on grants. The park is on a tight budget and they don't have much man power to keep the park in shape. But I will say that Debbie (Park Superintendant) is trying really hard to make a difference. My wife and I are spending a week of our vacation there in June working on the trails.

You don't get paid for helping, but you do get free riding coupons to come back and ride at a later time so you do get something for helping. At the first meeting they had with FLORA almost 25 members showed up, but on work days hardly anyone shows up. We have to get out and support this park or it will be taken away from us.

 

The 291 area is dead!!!! Casinos are going in and the city does not think they can keep the area open long enough to secure the grant $$$ from the state.
Fingers is a place to go for very experienced riders...... you can go around most stuff but it will take some skill.

 

Finger Lakes is great for the family. My wife is new to the sport and rides a Bruin350 4x4 and enjoys Finger Lakes. My boys, 9 & 11, share a Sportsman 90 and can navigate the trails fairly easy. We tend to stay on the main trails with they ride with us. There are a lot of hills for them to get up and down. Not to mention the ridges are very dangerous for them. If it is raining or just rained then go home. The clay base is slicker than snot. Even for my Kodiak 400.

There is a good mix of trails for atv & bikes. I don't feel that there are a lot of mud holes or ruts. We usually encounter 2 or 3. Nothing like Deep Water where you hit one every 10 feet and mud bog it just to get to the North side.

We love the fact that we can ride in & out of our campsite.

As for 291 in Sugar Creek. Forget it. My nephew who rides his DRZ-125L with us is best friends with the Mayor's grandson. And Mayor Salva said that idea is on the outs and looking for the casino again. They feel that there is a casion permit floating around since Sam's Town closed. We'll see.

I would like to some more information from FLORA about their trail maintenance days.