fastest way to make singletrack?
 

I was out exploring the acreage behind my house today on my trials bike, i'm assuming there's 5,000+ acres there (8 square miles at least according to google maps). it's a variety of scrub/trees/overgrown briars/some open sections/some marshes, and a bunch of ponds. should i just go back and walk out a few miles of trails with a machete? or is there a faster way? i thought if i just went back and rode every day a consistent path it would probably make a nice trail, but i can't get through many sections on anything but a trials bike as of now..i tried to follow deer trails where i could, but they all kinda deadend in briar patches where they sleep...

suggestions?

Rent a Gas Powered Brush Cutter.

yeah, i was hoping do a be a bit more covert.....

Now you're speaking my language. My best experience building trail involves a good set of hiking boots and a roll of loggers ribbon. Hang a nice long 12-18" strip of ribbon from trees or bushes where you can see it. I generally walk out in a direction that will be passable by a bike when the bushes are gone, or cut back. Once you hang your ribbon come back with loppers and a machete and get rid of the junk in your way. Then come on back with your bike and see if you can get through and run it in. It usually takes a good day to burn in a 1 mile chunk of trail. It is a ton of work, so you need friends to help if you want to make much headway. Having 8 square miles of turf to build trail on sounds like a great opportunity though!

machete or ditch/kaiser blade? i would think the long reach of the kaiser blade would help - i'm gonna route around anything more than 2" around or so. alot of the hillsides are super loose right now from all the detritus, and the trials bike is not good for burning in since it leaves almost no footprint. nice for stealth, but not good for leaving a trail..

you might take a look at one of those 12 inch folding saws too. good for taking down small branches and stuff.

I'm doing the same thing in our property in Roanoke rapids NC. 240 acres some farmed ,a mix of different size trees and super thick brush in some places.

were using machetes ,loppers , chainsaws , and I bought a Husqvarna brush cutter/clearing saw . Even at this its slow going ,mainly because I'm doing most of it alone , goes much faster with a couple people helping . One cut the big stuff ,someone follow to cut high branches & vines that seem to tie six trees together once you cut them , and another person to get the junk out the trail.

heres a video of what I bought

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2KzJRYbwho

You guys are spoilt for land:(

Step 1. Make a path while you are on your bike.
Step 2. Follow the path once again while you are on your bike.

I've put on enduro's , trail lay out is tiring work but lots of fun when your done.Loggers ribbon (pink) and a set of good lopers. Walk it trim it ride then trim again trust me you will think it is perfect walking but once on the bike it can get pretty tight.It does take a while took me 2 months working almost every night to lay out 25 miles of trail.It was very thick lots of trimming involved.Get miles of new trail laid out and we will come help you burn it in.:D