Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Nathan Reigner, the state’s director of outdoor recreation, hopped on a bike at the Trails at Jakes Rocks earlier this month when the trail system was recognized as Trail of the Year. Hundreds of riders will descend on the trail system this weekend for the annual Jakes Rocks Trail Fest.

The Trails at Jakes Rocks have already been celebrated as the Trail of the Year.

Now they’re the central focus of a festival.

The annual Jakes Rocks Trail Fest starts in earnest today and will run through Sunday afternoon.

It might be branded as a mountain bike festival but there’s plenty going on for those of us who don’t ride.

“We have a little over 250 pre-registered,” Savannah Casey, director of operations with the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, said, calling that “par for the course.”

The WCCBI coordinates Trail Fest.

“We get a couple hundred more throughout the weekend,” she said.

The event brings a busy weekend to the Reservoir.

The festivities started Thursday with an event at Docksiders in the evening and Casey said the campgrounds along the reservoir are “full.”

The festival itself starts at 9 a.m. today, Saturday, and Sunday. It’ll wrap up around 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sunday around 2 p.m.

It’ll be centered at Kinzua Beach.

“The Trails at Jakes Rocks are open year round regardless of weather,” Casey said, noting that in addition to mountain bikers, people hike, run and boulder on the trail system. “Trail Fest is just a highlight of all the assets it has to offer for the weekend.”

There will be organized rides and bike vendors but also food trucks and live, local music including Kallie Williams & Company on Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday will include Jarrod Eggleston from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kenny Anderson from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Echoes on Water at 6 p.m.

There will be several ways to get around the trail system this weekend.

Work on Longhouse Scenic Drive will be paused and the road will be completely open for Trail Fest.

Shuttles will also ferry riders from Kinzua Beach to Kinzua Point, Dewdrop, Elijah and the Bent Run pulloff, all places where the trail system can be accessed.

“We are one of the very few organized mountain bike festivals that shuttle,” Casey said. “Having shuttles is a luxury.”

And riders seem to notice.

Casey said riders are registered for the weekend from as far away as California with many coming from the Toronto area as well as the Rochester area.

“We get a lot of people from all over,” she said. “Mostly the campgrounds get booked out.”

Many will disperse camp on the ANF or venture into town to hotels.

Given the increased traffic, many of the trails will be one way for this weekend.

“We couldn’t have an event like this without volunteers and community support,” Casey stressed. “There’s music. There’s food. Something for everybody and all ages.”