Finally here, where do I go?

[truepatriot09]

So I finally made my move to Melrose and I want to hit the Fells to check out what my neighborhood trails are like. If I'm riding my bike from downtown Melrose, where should I go? I've seen all sorts of trail heads off of the road that heads into town, but I'm pretty sure those aren't legal mountain biking trails...though I'm sure they get poached regularly. Any Melrose natives with some tips out there?

Thanks!

[heckler]

Not from Melrose- I enter from the south. But...

The mtb loop is on the west side of 93 but there are tons of fireroads- which are all legal and often overgrown, on the east side. And there is no traffic, biker or walker on the east side either! I suggest you get on the bike and explore! You can get a map of course, which is nice but sort of cheating! :-)

Pretty sure NEMBA is running regular rides in there again this year out of the Flynn skating rink lot. Those would be a great way to get tour guides. and no, they do not strictly "do the loop".

[1adam12]

Here's the weekly ride info:
http://www.gbnemba.org/rides.html

[Pinecone]

I live in Melrose and bike from my house to the Fells all the time. Ive never had a problem with anyone in there. I dont see a lot of bikers in the Stoneham-Melrose section of the Fells. Its a good time though.... nice trails in there. The best place to enter the forest is off the Lynn Fells Parkway. Its pretty easy to get to all of the different sections of the Fells.

Here is the best entry point if you live in downtown Melrose:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=42.461642~-71.079462&style=h&lvl=18&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&sp=Point.r296mq92920m_Enter%20here____&encType=1

Ive biked around different sections of the Fells and never had any complaints from anyone. Let me know if you want more info on how to get to the trails on the other side of rt 93.