Reviewed by: spun monkey ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is a great trail and is magical when the fog is sitting low in the redwoods. Just imagine a trial through the ewok forest in Return of the Jedi.
This trail has everything from wicked offcamber switcbachs, sketchy wooden bridges and planks over streams, stairs and a really fun climb.

Recommended Route:
There are actually two downhill routes and since the trail is not very long I like to ride both of them. I recomend getting a map from Catch a Canoe in Mendocino before trying to locate the trail head because there are a few splits in the road and it is easy to get lost. Park at the top of the trail head and the trail follows the ridgeline down about a few hundred yards to the first left which is really easy to miss. You will know you have passed it if you come to a climb sweeping to the left with a trail at its base going down to the right which is the top of the return climb. If you don't miss the trail you are in for some great dowhill single track until you get to the abandoned logging road near the bottom. Hear you will come across a sign warning about mountain lions. Follow this road until you reach the main road at the bottom and take a right. Follow the main road down for about half a mile and you will see the trail entrance for the return climb. After climbing for about a quarter of a mile there is a split, take the trail to the left and climb up to the intersection mentioned earlier. This time, go up the climb that sweeps to the left for some more downhill.

Reviewed by: Bill , from Santa Clara

Summary:
The gulch itself is fun, not very technical, but narrow in places. You'll have to lean your bike once in a while to get the handlebars around some trees. Still, a nice woody ride.

Recommended Route:
We rode inland from Russian Gulch, ~7 miles with a few climbs, rode down Cook House Gulch, then out 730 and 720 back to Mendocino. A long ride with the only single track being the gulch. Might be better to park at Mendicino Woodlands and go from there.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Haven't ridden any others. Yet. Will next year.

Reviewed by: Brian W , from san francisco, CA USA

Summary:
This is a really nice ride. Singletrack the whole way except on rte 730. Not technical. The map from catch a canoe recommends that you park on road 408. This starts you out with a ~20 min downhill and then a bitch of an uphill. You might be better off parking at the cabins near the intersection of forest history trail and rte 730 and then ending with a great downhill. We parked at the top and took the first right hand turn off of cook house gulch and found our way down to 730. You can also go up/down on Forest History Trail. Added bonus: playing a little b-ball at the mendocino cabins on 730 & exploring the cabins (if no one's around).

Recommended Route:
up Manly gulch from road 730 to cook house gulch and back down.