Photo from the Trails at Jakes Rocks Facebook page Hundreds of mountain bike riders are expected to descend on the Trails at Jakes Rocks this weekend for the 2023 edition of Trail Fest. The event will kick off Friday and run through Sunday.

It’s going to be a busy weekend at Jakes Rocks.

The 2023 edition of the Jakes Rocks Trail Fest is set for this weekend, Friday through Sunday, at Kinzua Beach and the Trails at Jakes Rocks parking lot

Food, drinks, music and rides – lots and lots of rides.

“Most of the activity vendor-wise is going to be at the beach,” John Papalia, director of chamber operations with the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry said.

That’s not surprising given the limited parking at the trailhead so to overcome that challenge,

And there’s a few shuttle stops to get riders where they’re looking to go.

Shuttles will start Friday at 10 a.m. at Kinzua Beach and run through 6 p.m. and ferry riders to the trailhead as well as Elijah and Dewdrop at points throughout the weekend, as well.

WCCBI Administrative Assistant Savannah Casey wanted to thank the sponsors for the shuttles – Warren NAPA, Miracle Mountain Ranch, the Warren County Visitors Bureau and Jojo’s Automotive repair.

Papalia said there will be some food on the trailhead side.

Vendors planning to attend for all or part of the weekend will include Happy Camper Snack Shack, White Cane Coffee, Tabouli, Dad’s Food Truck and Brick Oven Pizza and Catering.

The flow of traffic on the trails will be different than normal specifically for the event and maps will be available at the registration tent.

Music will come to Kinzua Beach Saturday with Alyssa Wismar kicking things off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by Kallie Williams and Fred & the Kukes from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Backlog from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

That leaves the riding – the Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association is organizing a series of group rides all of which are free and set for Saturday, each touching off at 10:30 a.m.

That includes a beginner ride, a beginner ladies only ride, an open exploration 15-mile ride for intermediate and advanced riders and a ladies only exploration ride.

A beginner ride clinic is scheduled for 3 p.m.

While the rides are free, there is a registration cost for the event, which aims to cover the cost of the shuttle service.

Casey said a “heat map” shows that registered riders are coming from an area encompassing Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland, Washington D.C. and up to Toronto.

“(We) talked to a couple west coast guys,” she said, that are “going to get a group to come up from Pittsburgh.

Casey said the number of riders has “steadily grown over the years.”

There were 750 riders in the 2022 edition and they “expect to get that again. Hopefully, the weather stays (good).”

As of Wednesday, the forecast looks good – party to mostly sunny each day with the highs into the 70s.

“It should be a fun weekend,” Papalia added.