The steepest and most rugged trail in the Shellburg area, the Lost Creek Trail links the
Shellburg Creek Trail with
Buck Mountain Loop at Silver Falls State Park. It can also be used to connect the
Catamount Trail with the Shellburg Falls-area trails.
The trail has two distinct portions: the lower half - from
Shellburg Creek Trail to Ayers Creek Road - and the upper half - from Ayers Creek Road to the Buck Mountain Trail in Silver Falls State Park.
From the end of the
Shellburg Creek Trail, Lost Creek continues climbing. Before it reaches Ayers Creek Road, keep your head up for steep, loose, root strewn sections. If it's wet, expect slick climbing conditions as you try and navigate over the root drops.
This trail can be ridden both ways but it's definitely better when descending. Out of the Shellburg-area trails, Lost Creek is the most challenging, but it's fast and fun. This section is 100% singletrack.
After topping out at Ayers Creek Road, the trail becomes a mix of doubletrack and singletrack. Take a right and follow the road until you reach a junction. Follow the sign for Lost Creek Trail straight through the junction (if you want to link up with the
Catamount Trail, take a left here.)
The trail follows the old logging road for a few hundred feet before it breaks off to the left to become singletrack again. Continue climbing until you reach
Lookout Mountain Road. Here, you'll see a locked gate for Silver Falls State Park. Continue through the gate and follow the flat, overgrown doubletrack about 3/4 of a mile to the trails end at the Buck Mountain Trail.
This trail can be accessed from midway up or at the bottom. Access it midway up with a vehicle or as part of a bigger ride via Ayers Creek Road, or ride up from the bottom by following the
Shellburg Creek Trail. You can get at the true beginning/end from
Buck Mountain Loop in Silver Falls if you want to ride overgrown access roads with horse droppings for awhile.
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