MTB Project Logo

A fun, steep and rocky trail leading to fun and flowy creekside trail with beautiful views!


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.2

Miles

8.3

KM

Singletrack

3,729' 1,137 m

High

3,225' 983 m

Low

558' 170 m

Up

727' 222 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

36%

Max Grade (20°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

The first part of the trail has a gentle climb followed by a short descent. Keep your eyes peeled to follow the signs on the descent, the trail veers off to the left, if you find yourself going down a jeep trail, you've gone too far!

A couple of steep pitches around the drainages will eventually lead you to doubletrack that climbs up to the intersection.

This trail can be accessed from three different trailheads, however, my favorite way to ride it is from south to north. This means starting from either Spanish Traverse or from the South Park Trailhead at Mount Hough Ranger Station.

From the trail intersection, follow the Cascade Trail down along a fast rolling section with few obstacles. Once you make into the river valley, the trail changes to steep, rocky, and loose. This section is technical and very fun. It has a few tight switchbacks and the loose shale makes it a fun challenge!

Once you make it onto the valley floor, it is fast and has a good flow as you follow Spanish Creek. There are a few technical spots, but it is a blast of a trail!

The hardest technical spot is at the Cascades, which is a series of little waterfalls that occur where Spanish Creek cuts through an outcrop of slate. There is a great swimming hole at the bottom of the Cascades, and I highly recommend stopping for a swim!

The trail continues to follow Spanish Creek and there are a few rocky sections, but everything is roll-able. The trail ends at the Forest Service Spanish Creek day-use area, AKA Cascade Trailhead.

Contacts

Shared By:

Eduardo Guerrero with improvements by Tony McCutcheon

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 4 votes

#12210

Overall
  4.0 from 4 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#849

in California

#12,210

Overall
1 Views Last Month
1,990 Since Jun 9, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Some scenic singletrack along Spanish Creek on the Cascade Trail.
Aug 29, 2023 near Quincy, CA
A view of the trail's namesake
Jul 6, 2014 near Quincy, CA

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 85 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 26, 2023
Mark Loftin
Epic scenery, especially the river (and swimming hole) area near the end of cascade trail. Great flow in many sections.
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.