Can You Moo Main Loop Tr

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

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If you ride this trail from late fall to early spring, you'll likely find cattle grazing. If this is the case please make sure the gate remains closed after you proceed through it.

This is the lower loop of a double loop trail system that begins at a pullout on Highway 40 on the opposite side of the highway from the 12-mile Wash road, There is space here for about 6 vehicles. Park your vehicle on the highway side of the barbwire gate. The ride begins on the opposite side of the gate (if the gate is closed, please close it again after you go through). Beyond the gate you ride for a short distance along a section of the old highway on broken pavement. About 0.1 mile the singletrack loop leaves the old road on the left and is usually marked with rocks, maybe even a small cairn. The entire, 9.5 miles, lower loop is on singletrack. Almost immediately you'll drop in and out of a sandy wash, then at 0.3 mile you come to a fork in the trail where the loop begins. It is recommended that you ride in a counterclockwise direction by going to the right at the fork. A short distance later you reach the most difficult challenge of the ride with a very steep climb on loose dirt where you may need to push your bike part way up. Beyond the initial climb the trail proceeds through open sage brush flats, in and out of several washes, and at times, along the sides of steep hills. At about 4.9 miles you'll reach the far northern tip of this lower loop where there is a trail junction, marked by rocks. Up until you reach this junction, you'll generally be climbing and gaining elevation. Here you'll have the choice to continue north by going straight through the junction for an additional 6.6 miles loop. To continue just the lower loop, take a sharp left at this junction.

Initially you make a moderate climb out of the shallow canyon where the junction was, along the left of a rocky outcrop. Swinging south you'll generally be descending through more sagebrush flats, along some short sections of slick rock and a couple of 18-24 inch drop downs. At about 6.7 miles you'll reach an old cattle pond. Here, be careful to fork left where a doubletrack takes off to the right. You'll stay on the singletrack trail. Soon you descend steeply into a shallow canyon that is lined with rocky ledges on either side. This is the most scenic portion of the loop. Through this canyon is a fun and rapid descent. Where the canyon opens up you'll climb slightly over some low bluffs and return to your initial trail junction at 9.5 miles. Veer to the right and continue back to the trailhead in about 0.3 mile, after dropping in and out of the first sandy wash.