All Season Seven Events - Odyssey Deep Creek
Odyssey at Deep Creek
Sept 21, 2024
Watch the recap of the 2022 Deep Creek Adventure Weekend
Deep Creek Lake State Park
Swanton, MD
Location Information
Race operations and the infield will be located at:
Deep Creek Lake State Park
898 State Park Rd.
Swanton, MD 21561
Park opens at 7:30AM
Directions
Parking
All visitors must pay a state park park entrance fee of $3 per vehicle at the event ($5 for out of state).
Carpooling is suggested.
Our amazing parking volunteer crew will guide you into the event and get you safely to parking or a managed drop-off area.
Click The Image Above To Learn More About Home Teams
In Case of Emergency
Contact the Chief Course Marshal to reach onsite emergency medical services. Course marshals, and league core staff have radios to assist in communication.
At all other times, call 911.
Important Contacts
Event Director
Adam Lewandowski
703-447-6311
Chief Course Marshal
Gabe Cisneros
210-834-9295
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are the backbone of our league and they not only make our events possible, they make them great.
Home Teams For This Race Are:
Garrett County Composite
Monocacy Composite High
Monocacy Composite Middle
Linganore Mountain Bike Team
Race Plate Pickup and Programs
Saturday September 21, 2024, available 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Race plates will be available for pickup or replacement at registration on Saturday. These chip timing number plates will be used for the entire season, please do not lose them. There will not be day-of league registration for this weekend.
DO NOT LOSE YOUR RACE PLATE.
Replacement plates are $20 at the registration tent. DO NOT leave it on your bike on the bike rack - IT WILL BLOW AWAY.
ALL riders on course during an event weekend are required to have a MICL Race Plate, including all adults.
GRiT Program
Marylands GRiT ambassadors invite all parents and spectators to come and join us at the GRiT Cheer Station! Pom-poms, cowbells, noisemakers and more will be available for you to use to cheer on racers as they complete their laps. Help the GRiT ambassadors pump up the volume and make every student athlete feel like a gold medal Olympian! Stay tuned for GRiT programming at this event - details will be found here!
Event Schedule
Saturday
7:30 AM
Park/Pit Zone Opens
9:00 AM
First Riders Depart for Wave 1
11:20 AM
Last Group Starts in Wave 1
12:00 PM
First Riders Depart for Wave 2
2:20 PM
Last Group Starts in Wave 2
5 :00 PM
End of riding program
Sunday
No MICL programming, ride your bike have fun.
Nearby Trails to Ride
Many of these trails are remote and challenging. Be sure to ride responsibly, check local weather (it can change very quickly in the mountains), be aware of possible wildlife encounters (know the bear rules!), file a ride plan with someone and ride with at least one buddy. These rides are not part of the MICL event. To have a team ride covered by NICA insurance, coaches must follow all NICA practices including having an EAP and riding within ratios.
Cherry Creek Loop - Popular singletrack located on the other end of Deep Creek Lake State Park that passes through multiple ecosystems from lake-level to near the top of Meadow Mountain. These trails are rocky, remote, and challenging. Convenient parking is located at the Cherry Creek parking lot.
Here is an EAP for the State Park trails and here is a map of the area
Broadford Park - New 3-mile trail system purpose built for NICA practices. Built in partnership with the Garrett County Composite Coyotes. Suitable for riders of all ages and levels of experience. Especially beginner friendly riding, and an idyllic park setting for a picnic.
Here is an EAP for Broadford Park and here is a map of the area
Fork Run - Gray Trail out and Red Trail back or out and back on the Red Trail are the most popular biking loops. Moderate/difficult trails and regarded as some of the top riding in the region.
Herrington Manor - Newest purpose built mountain bike trails in the Deep Creek Lake area. Several more miles of trail are planned for this future destination riding spot. - this update just in from local Garrett Coyotes coach - “The new single track trails by Herrington Manor State Park are 90% open and they are amazing!!!!! Super flowy with softer gradual climbs, super fun downs, and very little rocks!!! The only trail not open is the new section off of the Yellow Trail which is short and steep anyways. They are actually in the Garrett State Forest.....so the Herrington State Park maps on the website do not show them. The new trails are blazed ORANGE on the trees....but on the map they are pink!”
Here is the new Herrington map and HERE is an EAP for those trails (Thank you Coyotes team!!)
See you on the trails!
Looking for waves and start times?
League Director’s Note
Welcome to the Odyssey at Deep Creek
This event has evolved into something all its own. This is the one where you get extra quality trail time with your coaches and teammates on tech trails unlike anything else we ride in MICL events. This is the one that sees the MOST people camping and coming home with epic or unbelievable camp stories. This is the one where you might see a bear.
Deep Creek is meant as a sort of “Hey, you did the first race, now catch your breath as a rider and as a team and enjoy some exceptional trails together” The vibe is fun and laid back and the riding is supreme on our course, and in many other nearby areas, which we’ve highlighted above and encourage you to check out with your team or with friends.
Sincerely,
Maryland League Leadership Team
Course Information
Description
Teams begin this adventure at the shore of Deep Creek Lake, right at the beach, like previous years (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it).
The route climbs up and away from the water’s edge to get onto the trails, then begins an uphill trend that lasts for more than a mile. None of it is steep, so settle in to a comfortable gear and pedal the hill away while you chat with your teammates. This is a big climb, but it is all manageable at a comfortable pace, and it is so worth it! Once at the top, you will pick up the Indian Turnip trail and enjoy traveling eastbound on it, pausing to take in the occasional vista or session one of the large rock sections.
Riders will have the option of taking on a timed section which will be clearly identified, both beginning and end (does not carry any league points, this is for bragging rights only). The route has the same amazing finish as last year, and riders will be treated to a rewarding view of Deep Creek Lake as they pop out from the woods and onto singletrack along the lake shore.
Course Map
Deep Creek Lake Amenities
Camping/Lodging
Camping at Deep Creek State Park
Additional Nearby Camping Options
Harrington Manor State Park (12 miles from event)
New Germany State Park (14 miles from event)
Swallow Falls State Park (10 miles from event)
Savage River State Forest (12 miles from event)
Food Trucks
Restrooms
There will be portable restrooms on site. There are park buildings with bathrooms that will be open. It is important that MICL participants keep the park restrooms clean and free of trash. This is a pack in/pack out event like all MICL events. Please help us keep in good standing with the park.
PETS
This is a pet-friendly park. Please keep pets leashed at all times and plan to clean up after your pet.
Dining at the Event
We will have Sophie’s Serendipity on site with us again this year!
Dining in the Deep Creek Lake Area
MoonShadow - Locally sourced, made from scratch food and beverage.
Brenda’s Pizzeria - Home of the 26” Abbondanza pizza.
The Vagabond Taproom - Delicious American food and a great selection of local and regional craft beer.
The Casselman Inn - Bakery and cafe with homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, pies and cookies baked fresh daily.
Deep Creek Donuts - Choose from over 20 coatings and toppings to create the perfect custom donut.
Copper Kettle Popcorn - Sweet treats. Best of the best in all things popcorn, fudge, and candies.
Local Bike Shops
Suggested Hikes
Swallow Falls - Scenic 1.5 mile Canyon Loop Trail with handicap access featuring rock outcroppings, wild rhododendron and mountain laurel along the trail. One of the most beautiful hikes close by.
Fork Run - Great for intermediate to expert bikers and hikers looking for 3+ mile loops with elevation changes and switchbacks. Shorter loops near the parking lot are great for those who do not wish to commit to the longer Red and Gray trails.
Other Things To Do
Pontoon Boat Tours - Gain an entirely new perspective of the lake and surrounding area on a 1-hour guided tour aboard a 26’ partial covered 13 passenger pontoon boat.
Paddleboard and SUP rentals - Kayak and SUP rentals are available to launch directly across the street from High Mountain Sports.
The Rock Maze - This is local legend, don’t miss it!
Important Notes & Rules
Vehicles are not allowed in the team pit and infield areas any time.
No Smoking in the team pit or infield areas.
Leave No Trace event - plan to pack out all your own trash - there will not be trash receptacles provided.
No inappropriate language allowed in the team pit and infield areas.
Any conflicts and/or disputes with any race official or volunteer shall not be dealt with in the team pit area.
Any violation of these rules may result in a team penalty and/or expulsion from the team pit and infield area.
No gasoline generators and no open fires inside the team pit area, please.
Portable grills are permitted but there must be a fire extinguisher within 20’ of the grill, or there are park grills available, bring your own charcoal.
Keep dogs on leashes at all times and clean up after your dogs.
Review our Refund and Weather Policy.
All racing will be governed by the NICA Rulebook and MICL policies.