By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Golden Belt Trail Alliance, a relatively new 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to building trails in Central Kansas, is hosting a Lake Barton Trail Family Night on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Brandon Steinert, coach of the Golden Belt Badgers Mountain Bike Team and secretary for the Alliance, said the trail is a good way to spend an evening outdoors.
"As a guy who definitely gets out on the trail and gets outside quite a bit, I can vouch for the mental-health boost you get from just being outside, moving, being in nature, and being away from technology - putting your phone away for a little while," he said. "When you're out on the trail, you really feel like you've escaped Central Kansas, even. It's very woodland-feeling. You feel like you're out in the forest."
The original Lake Barton trail loop makes up approximately two miles of riding. The small loops accompanying the trail can boost the ride to approximately six miles. Steinert said the Lake Barton trail is ideal for beginners.
"There's not a whole lot of what we would call 'technical' parts, which are hard, rocky stuff you'd have to climb up," he said. "There's not a whole lot of that on this trail. It's mostly swooping through the trees. It's a great place to learn how to ride a mountain bike on a trail."
Golden Belt Trail Alliance President Jake Morris said Family Night is designed to get more people onto the trail to enjoy the hard work that has been put into it.
"This is a great way to get acquainted with the trail alongside the folks who know it best, because they’ve helped build and maintain it for years,” he said.
The Golden Belt Badgers Mountain Bike Team was formed in late 2024, for riders in grades 6-12 who wish to pursue mountain biking as a sport.
“This trail is a huge asset for the Golden Belt Badgers,” said Team Director Neil Frizell. “It’s very similar to many of the trails where the kids will be racing, so it’s prime training ground.”
Coaches of the Golden Belt Badgers Mountain Bike Team will be present to provide guided rides and hikes through portions of the trail. Steinert said the team is preparing for the next season, which practices from January through March with races on five weekends in April and May.
“We’re really grateful for the hard work put in by the Golden Belt Trail Alliance to continually make substantial improvements and additions to this trail system,” he said. “I hope the community comes out to see what they’ve built and meet a few of the Badgers coaches in the process. We’re about to start recruiting for the next season so now is a great time to come learn what it’s all about."
To access the Lake Barton trails, take U.S. 281 Highway north out of Great Bend and turn left onto NW 60 Road just before the 4-H building. The trails are located on the north side of the road.
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