The Ruin Trail is generally ridden as a downhill. It is Lambert Park's funnest (most fun?) trail.

It is named after the ruins of a stone home that are still standing off to the left of the trail. The ruins are not easy to spot from the trail even though you pass within 20 feet of them. They are tucked back in some Gambel Oaks. They are easy to miss because you are focused on hitting or landing the next jump, and have little time for sightseeing.

Trail Description

The Ruin Trail is a short, fast downhill, littered with 12-14 stacked rock jumps that vary in height from 8 to 18 inches. Most of the jumps are nice with great run outs, but there are a couple that either feature a sharp lip that tends to kick the back wheel up and cause a nose down landing, or the run out is directed off the trail, and into the sage brush.

The ride is fun, though just too dang short. Other than the small jumps, there is no real technical challenge on the Ruin Trail.

Getting There

The top of the Ruin Trail starts at the intersection of 3 trails, Ruin, Poppy and Ziggy (both reviewed separately). The lower terminus of Ruin hits the Middle Trail. Most riders climb Poppy, and descend Ruin, but you can climb Ruin and descend Poppy if you are afraid of the jumps on Ruin.

When to Bike

The Ruin Trail is one of Lambert's year round reliable trails. This little trail has seen me through the deepest of winter by offering a fun 5 minute jaunt over the jumps to make me feel alive again.