Information & Conditions: Trail #412, #405.2a, #405 and #409 1/2

Updated 6/22/10

Status: Not Recommended

Current Conditions: Parts of this route are dry...others still have snow.6-21-10

The map in this illustration has the old forest service numbers, look at another more recent map for an update.

Detailed Description:

These trails link up with each other to make any number of combinations of rides. A look at a map will take some of the confusion out of my description. These trails aren’t easy and involve a lot of climbing and some really technical rocky areas, especially 409; but you will have earned that pizza. There are any number of ways to start these rides. I’ll take you up Cement Creek Road and start that way.

Ride up Cement Creek Road. Just after you pass Pioneer Guest Cabins, there is a singletrack trail on the left that takes off from the road. It’s more fun than the road and less dusty this time of year. The trail parallels the road for about a mile and keeps the road in sight, so it’s hard to get lost. Stay left when the singletrack forks, then cross a creek and climb shortly to join a rough dirt road.

This doubletrack is Walrod Gulch. Keep climbing steadily up Walrod Gulch. Pass a singletrack on your left marked “Walrod Gulch Cutoff to 409” (this one of your choices to return later). Keep climbing, staying left at the split in the road, and then top out in a small field. There is a sort of four-way intersection in the road/trail here.

Turn left and keep climbing/walking up a very steep hill called “Heart attack hill” for obvious reasons. There is a sign here marking the Walrod Gulch Trail #412. At the top is a nice shade tree and a good rest spot. Don’t stay long, the climb has just started. Climb steadily up a small creek drainage and cross the creek a couple of times. At a “Y” intersection turn hard left onto the Walrod Spur Trail #405.2A, and keep climbing. (Right at the “Y” is an out for Double Top and Waterfall Creek). Keep spinning to the top and enter the edge of a small meadow. Head right and slightly down across the meadow.

Continue contouring for a short distance before you cross a small stream and climb steeply out and up, now in dark timber. When you reach the top you will arrive at the end of 405.2A. Ride straight ahead, now on Trail #405.
Spin through some incredible wildflowers as you sidehill along. A short climb, a rocky little descent and another short climb brings you to another intersection. Great views north and west.

Here you have several options:Turn around and blast back the way you came up (one of my favorites).Turn hard right onto 409.5A. This is a great downhill rush through the aspens that eventually bottoms out on trail 409 in the Farris Creek area. A left on the Farris Creek Road would take you back toward Strand Hill for more singletrack; or down to Brush Creek Road, where a left would take you back to town. A right on Farris Creek Road would take you to Farris Creek Trail or 402.

The third choice at the top is to continue straight and careen down the steep and rutted 405 until it reaches a “T” intersection with trail 409. Skidders grease bottom brackets in Hell. Right on 409 takes you back to the Farris Creek area and the bottom of trail 409 and ½. This is the really rocky part I was talking about.

Left on 409 climbs back up to a small ridge then down through a great little wildflower field to another “T” intersection with the Walrod Cutoff trail. Trail 409 "The Caves Trail" goes right and down through some terrific switchbacks to Cement Creek Road. Left on Walrod Cutoff takes you along some really nice sidehilling back to Walrod Gulch, where two rights will head you back toward CB South.