Walker's top 10 trails (at this moment)

What happened to the famous Potowatami Trail in Pinckney, Michigan? 63 climbs in twenty (or so) miles.

A few of my favorites:

1. Doctor Park + Gunnison Spur of the Colorado Trail - Crested Butte, Colorado
Do it as a car shuttle and depart from the north end. Some hefty climbing at first, but the long and varied downhill to the river is a delight.

2. Trail 401 - Crested Butte
A cliche choice, but a great trail. Not quite as fun as #1, but spectacular scenery and flowers if you hit it at the right time of year.

3. Porcupine Rim - Moab
What Walker said. ... Include Upper Porcupine Rim for the most fun ride.

4. Monarch Crest - Salida, Colorado
Such spectacular views as you cruise along the top of the Continental Divide.

5. Bartlett Wash and Tusher Canyon - Moab
Slickrock playground riding at its best.

6. Gold Bar Rim / Golden Spike Jeep Trail - Moab
Combination of fun jeep track and spectacular rough singletrack along the Moab Rim. (Don't come down via Poison Spider unless you're a masochist who enjoys sand.)

7. Horesethief Bench - Fruita, Colorado
Just some spectacular views on this shelf loop above the Colorado River.

Most of my riding has been in Colorado and Utah; I really need to take the bike traveling more! But hey, I've got such great riding close to home...

Monarch Crest - Poncho Springs, Colorado
Lost Lake, Buffehr Creek, North Trail - Vail, Colorado
Thunder Mountain - Bryce Canyon, Utah
Mary's, Lion's, Troybuilt, Mack Ridge - Fruita, Colorado
LPS to Porcupine Rim, Moab, Utah
Gooseberry Mesa - Zion, Utah
Colorado Trail - Pine, Colorado
Arizona Trail - Grand Canyon, Arizona
Tahoe Rim Trail - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Black's Canyon - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

I have biked Hood River for several years, and have never heard of Jones Creek/Dutch Creek Loop. Googling shows this loop near Durango, Co. Was this simply a typo? Did you mean to mention a different Hood River ride? Your comments do mention Hood River, so I am left wondering...

Anyone here ever been to a place called Whistler, British Columbia? It's got the absolute best mountain biking trails on the entire planet.

tahoe rim trail -- nevada side of lake tahoe

downieville -- california (although this one has come apart at the seams since shuttle services and large-scale racing started)

sunset -- flagstaff, arizona

schnebly hill road in heavy traffic -- sedona, arizona

cowpies / chicken point -- sedona, arizona

mr. toad's wild ride -- south tahoe

others i refuse to mention -- we all have to have our "secret" spots

Very nice trail selection... I really want to ride Mr. Toad's. Sunset is also sweet! I've been on Cowpies, very nice!

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

A quick update:

mr. toad's is threatened by the angora fire at south lake tahoe. if the area burns and history is any indication the best case scenario is that the trail will be closed for 2-3 years to allow some regrowth. worst case scenario is that the denuded hillsides will erode and destroy the trail. on the upside (i guess) the fire is west of and burning north at the moment. that's keeping it away from toad's.

there are dozens of miles of lesser known, but no less inspiring trails in the area that have bruned. even the trt and flume are off-limits right now due to air quality. as is much of the reno/carson area.

That's so sad! In Durango, we got hit with some serious fire, so I know what you're going through: trail closure, poor air quality, saddness, depression!

The guys/gals on the ground are doing their best to put this thing out, we should all think positively for the trails!

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

the firefighters are amazing. they've been contending with 30+ mph gusts almost every day since the fire started. i knew it was bad when I saw the plume over the mountains saturday from carson city. in the time it took me to drive home ~45 mins. it had stretched all the way across the horizon. the worst part is, it's only june, really not even the start of fire season yet.

tally so far: 3100+ acres, 275+ structures

sounds like a discussion board topic

Any update on the status of Mr Toad's after the fire? We've been talking about makeing the trek down from Truckee for a couple of years to do this ride. Hope we didn't miss our chance

I'm not sure.. Anyone else out there have an idea?

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

from what i can gather toad's actually survived unscathed. as is so often the case, initial reports were conflicting and inaccurate. the fire stayed on the west side of 89, which if ridden as a loop, is your return (or warm-up). none of the dirt portions of the trail burned to my knowledge, however, there are other trails that burned and no doubt will be off limit 'til they recover. riding has been out of the question for that past week, however, because of smoke from other fires burning in the area.

Talk about one thankful day! In Durango, during the 2002 fire, I can tell you how devastated the missionary ridge trail was after the fire: downed trees, charred earth, run off. The trail was almost totally ruined. Only now has it recovered. We got to protect this earth and our trails. It is all we have!

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

Hey Walker, when you said Turkey Creek, in Tulsa, OK, were you meaning Turkey Mountain? I just officially moved here, although I graduated from college here, so theres 4 years of my tread on that "mountain." But Turkey Mountain has some great technical sections.

I'm glad to see my local trail on your list. But you really need to check out the Womble in Arkansas. The IMBA just named in an Epic trail. It's kind of an undiscovered secret. But check it out!

Hey Epic Mike... I think you're right. It is Turkey Mountain. We, I mean, a few of us called it Turkey Creek (don't really know why). I've read tons about Womble. Actually, I want to get out there in the fall. Possibly Thanksgiving... Got any pics to share?

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

Yeah, I'd love to see them. Like I said, I'm thinking Thanksgiving I'm there...

Walker T

Off the road, on the mind...

A few of my favs in no particular order. Horse theif bench. Fruita, CO. Ridge trail 157 American Fork Can, Amreican Fork,UT. Deer Valley Resort, Park City, UT. Wasatch Creast Trail, S.L.C. UT. We are going to try the morman pioneer trail in the morning. Oh yeah The bobsled trail UT.

Almost a year later...My favorite is the Womble Trail in Arkansas near Hot Springs. It runs from Ouichta Lake to near Mena. Great ridge ride, with bluffs overlooking the Ouichta River. Easy access to the river for cooling off if done in warmer temps., however, fall is the best time to ride it for the scenery.
Cheers!