Danskin Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Views

This ride will take you on a tour of the Danskin Creek drainage on trails technically open to ATVs, but rarely ridden due to the massive washout about 0.5 miles from the trailhead.

The portions along the creek feel very "hidden away" from the rest of the world, while the upper traverse offers some great views toward the Sawtooths.

No facilities at the trailhead. This area is very popular with hunters in the fall, and that's when it sees most of its ATV use.

Park at the old Danskin Rd. gate, and pedal up the old roadbed to the major washout that keeps ATVs and most motorbikes out of this area. The washout itself is a bit of a sketchy hike-a-bike, but once on the other side, the old road is solid for a while.

Stay right when you reach the Left Fork Danskin Creek - it's much more fun to ride the loop counter-clockwise.

After another half-mile or so, you'll reach another section where the creek has washed out the old roadbed. ATV riders have blazed a path, but you'll need to cross the creek twice and navigate a short section of path through thick hawthorn bushes. Be wary, those spikes will make mincemeat of your tires!

Once back on the old roadbed, continue up the creek for a couple more miles until the path makes a hard left switchback. Here's where the steep climb starts, so take a breather and stretch your quads. The trail climbs steeply out of the Danskin Creek canyon until you reach the high point of the ride. Ignore any overgrown skid roads and stay on the main path.

When you finally reach an old gate with an alder bush growing over it, you can breath a sigh of relief - you've made it to the top! Enjoy the easy traverse and great views along a more heavily traveled forest road for several miles. Stay left at any major junctions.

Eventually, after taking a couple of left forks, you'll reach an old log landing where the descent starts on the far side. You may have to ride over to the edge of the hill to see the trail. The descent is not technical, but be watchful for errant rocks, logs, or other debris in the trail. Lots of water bars make for exciting whoops as you drop to the Left Fork canyon bottom.

Follow the path down the Left Fork Danskin Creek to complete the lollipop loop. This trail can be overgrown, depending on how recently any ATV riders have come over the summit and cleared it. Rest assured; it will connect to Danskin Creek even if you have to bushwhack a little to get there.

At the junction, hang a right and head back to your car.

Much of this route was originally known as the "Danskin Road", but after a massive washout many years ago, the Forest Service gave up on trying to maintain it. However, they never officially closed it to motorized vehicles, so it is still open to motorcycles (i.e. e-bikes) and ATVs who come the long way around to access it from the back side.