Bernard Peak - Scout Trail Option

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A fun excursion with a gradual climb and a great intermediate downhill into Scout Trail (#49) down to Farragut State Park.

There is one 100 yd. hike-a-bike on Scout Trail (#49). There can be moose on or near the trail. There can be a lot of trees down in early spring as well as snow. Check with the local bike shops.

To access this loop ride, park at the round-about and head south on N. Good Hope Rd. for just under two miles. Turn left on Bunco Rd. and start the gradual uphill. At mile 4.2, you can use the Bunco ORV/Power Line Trail (Trail 6001) uphill turnoff to avoid off-road traffic on the fire road (that way is a bit more physical).

Continue on Bunco High Drive / FS 332 (NF 209). After about 8.5 miles, turn left onto NF 2708 - Bernard Peak. Most people don't bother with the top of Bernard Peak as there is not much to see. Head down Bernard Peak Trail (#37) until it continues onto the Scout Trail (#49).

About catching #37— it is easy to miss as you're slogging uphill towards the summit (and even easy to miss coming down from the summit). It's a subtle trail marker on your left (if pedaling up hill) and is the first singletrack trailhead of the loop. So don't be looking for a visible fork or even a doubletrack-sized entry point.

On the lower Scout Trail (#49) things start off fast, open, and flow-y but get a little more complicated after that. There is also some tight overgrown singletrack (July 2018) that may require some dismounting. And past that, there is about a mile of easy to difficult rock gardens which one can walk. About half way through this part of Scout Trail, there are some junctions that are a little confusing but somebody has helpfully marked the correct path with white chalk on the trail markers. It's helpful.

Finish going through Farragut State Park. This downhill section can also be done as a shuttle with two cars. About six miles up hill, six miles flat, and six miles of downhill.