494 west to Hwy 5, Hwy 5 west to county road 41, County road 41 south to Pioneer Trail in Chaska.  At the intersection of 41 and Pioneer Trail you will see a large Target Store on the east side of 41.   Take Pioneer Trail west.  You will see Jonathan Elementary school on your right.  Turn right just after you pass the school then hang another immediate right onto a gravel road (McKnight Park).   This road will lead up to a parking lot (you can see the back of the school from here).   You can get to the trail from this parking lot.   The address of the school is 110300 Pioneer Trail West, Chaska MN 55318.

You can also reach a few sections of trail from Oak Ridge Drive just north of Pioneer Trail.   Oak Ridge Drive dead ends where two of the better sections of trail can be reached.

Just like with The Farm, it is suggested that you first ride Mammoth with someone who has been there before.  This is not a trail you want to try on your own - you will miss a large portion of the trail and/or get twisted around on yourself.  The picture to the left shows how finding your way onto the trail is not even always clear.  It was taken just north of the parking lot (mentioned above).  Ride along the paved trail until you see this entrance.   

The story is that this is a replacement trail for The Farm, which eventually will be split in half by a new highway.  Nobody seems to know how old the trails are, but it is obvious when you ride there that they do not see a lot of traffic.  This seems to be changing now that The Farm is basically gone.   (Rumor has it that The Farm may be back as part of Mammoth once construction is completed in that area!)

 

The trail is not as challenging as The Farm, although you get the sense they are siblings.  It felt more like adventure riding than trail riding most of the time as you cross roads, fields, and even railroad tracks.  (see right) 

The trail itself is an even larger mess of mis-direction than The Farm.  There are no clear markings, so if you do not ride with someone who has been there, you will likely miss much of the trail and/or get turned around and find yourself repeating trails.  (The new map available below may help.)  Parts of the trail appear to be loops, while others seem to require riding in both directions.   Many parts of the trail were nothing but gravel roads.  No doubt as the trail matures this will change and the trail system will start to mature.  Trying to find good trail to ride became somewhat frustrating at times, so seek out someone who knows the trail system or be prepared to wander around a little lost, perhaps even missing many sections of trail.

The trail had some interesting challenges.  One trail that some call the Washing Machine Trail (because you actually ride over an old washing machine) was particularly fun to ride.  The tight twisty switchbacks among large trees is a Farm Crew signature.  Log piles don't often appear where they would be easiest to ride, which adds some challenge and enjoyment as you negotiate turns, low hanging limbs and log crossings all at the same time.

Kudos to the "Farm Crew" for building yet another great metro area trail.  While not necessarily built with IMBA "sustainable" trail methodology, that seems to be part of the charm of the Chaska trails.   Rake-and-ride or just ride-and-ride seems to be the key to much of the trail system.  While a few sections could benefit by proper bench cut, much of the trail seems to work just fine using their methods, especially considering the low traffic these trails see compared to other metro trails.  This is mountain biking in its raw form without the sterile parts necessary in other areas where land manager relations are of up-most importance.  It has a real neighborhood trail feel too it.

The trail has some great views.  You ride around a couple lakes virtually untouched by man.  It is nice to see a lake that is not full of construction.  For how long though?  Just like (now closed) The Farm, this trail changes at a moments notice.  One minute you are riding tight twisty trail and the next you are out in a grassy field.  The flow is somewhat interrupted by how the overall system is put together, but again that is not necessarily a bad thing.  Those that love good scenery while riding will really enjoy this trail.

This trail is becoming just as fun as (now closed) The Farm.  The author of this review has only been through the trail a few times, and it seems to be ever evolving and improving.   There is no doubt that Mammoth Trail has become another local favorite.  It is good to see that riding in Chaska will not die with The Farm.