Pine Log WMA Loop #2

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This is a very difficult loop featuring singletrack with long, sometimes steep rocky climbs, rock gardens, and two white-knuckle sketchy downhills. It is a dryer alternative to loops featuring the Wet & Wild Trail because there are far fewer creek crossings (which is nice in cold weather and after heavy rainfalls.)

Unless you are a cardiovascular mutant AND possess world-class climbing/technical skills, be prepared to hike-a-bike. Trying to ride this loop in reverse will greatly increase the probability that you'll be "bike hiking".

Please know your limits. Medical help is a long ways off. Check your GPS or the MTB Project mobile app often, as the trail is not well marked and it's easy to miss a turn, especially in the rock gardens. There's no telling where you might end up if you miss one. Maintenance is minimal. Downed trees regularly fall across the trail. Consider stopping to push some aside (it's a great excuse to catch your breath.)

Be sure to read all trail descriptions and view pictures before attempting. This is not for inexperienced or out of shape riders. The singletrack can be very hard to see at times (especially after the leaf fall) and are very remote. Be sure to use the MTB Project mobile app to know where you are—you do not want to miss a turn. There are no signs or trail markings. Know your limits as medical help is a long ways off and another person may not come by for days or weeks.

Head northeast from the parking area up Grassy Hollow Road to Donahue Road. Turn left. Immediately after crossing Stamp Creek, look for the Baby Heads Trail on your right on the back side of the primitive camping area. Baby Heads Trail is a great gauge to determine if riders should continue. If you are at all uncomfortable riding this section, turn back, as it is by far the easiest portion of the ride.

Upon exiting Baby Heads Trail, ride through the campsites and back up to Donahue Road. Make a right turn, ride past the Hanging Mountain Logging Road exit and make a left onto Ridgeline Trail.

Once you turn onto Ridgeline Trail, it's a long, steady climb to the top of Hanging Mountain. An early rock garden will challenge you technically and can make the trail hard to follow. This is good practice for later. Once on the ridge, ride past the Hanging Mountain Eastside Downhill Run (stay on the ridge) to the top of Hanging Mountain and prepare to drop your seatpost. The section from Hanging Mountain down to the Gutter Trail Downhill is steep and rocky. Turn left onto the Gutter Trail Downhill and hang on. This section is even more technical than the one you just came down.

Gutter Trail will end in an corn field. Follow the treeline to the left and out to Pine Log Gap Road. Once at Pine Log Gap Road, turn left and take Pine Log Gap Road back to the parking area.

Have fun, and be safe.