Review Date
July 4, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: cloudsurfer14 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This was a fun and challenging ride. The view from the bridge was spectacular as you crossed the rocky river! My high for the trail was the fast technical downhill with some steep ledges off to the side of the trail. My low was the 100' rocky uphill section that seemed impossible to ride.
Overall, great ride! The uphill challenges your aerobic conditioning and the downhill challenges your nerves (depending on how fast you go).

Review Date
December 7, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Dbjacks ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Squaw Leap is my trail of choice when visiting relatives in Fresno. Every time I have come out to this trail I've only come across a couple of riders and hikers. The second time I rode this trail I met a just retired Fish & Game Warden, his name eludes me, I think his first name was Richard. He was part of organizing the trail maintenance. He also rode a sweet Klein Mantra with a custom paint job of purple flames which would iridesce when angled in the light. The bike isn't the performer like the vp's of nowadays, but I would still own one just because of the unique frame geometry. Onto the ride-I've only ever ridden Squaw Leap CW. It's quite a climb, however the surrounding Oak woodland is fantastic. CCW clockwise as the previous review contends like it would be a great ride but only in spring to early summer when the ground is still firmed up from the winter precipitation. When it gets hot in Fresno it gets cookin' at Squaw Leap. And it definitely gets sandy, however I still found that even the downhill was still quite challenging and fun even with a little sand...nothing like the sand on Mr. Toads in S. Lake Tahoe at the end of the season. Watch out for the cows!

Recommended Route:
From the parking lot, pass through two gates (rember to latch them behind yourself), Easy on the braking down the light switchbacks, then cross the bridge and climb @ 100ft. and turn left, keep heading west following the trail and it will start to break back north to northeast (this is all climbing. One section on the climb is sandy, rocky, and steep- I had to shoulder the bike for about 50ft or so up this hill. Eventually you will reach a saddle, were you want to keep on the single track trail (still not the top) A little more climbing to do here. Once the top is reached the view is fantastic. Next grab the bars to your roller coaster because that's how this ride is going down! From this point you really have to screw up to get lost of the main trail. Just follow it back to the bridge and head back to the lot! It's only 7.5 miles but it's good fun.

Review Date
October 3, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: robnfl ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Why hasn’t this trail been reviewed since November 2003? I rode this for the first time last weekend. I rode it CCW on the advice of this forum, so I could blast down the descent. Well, the descent was pretty fun with a few technical areas thrown in but the climb up was HEINOUS. It was very steep and rocky in spots, but the worst part was the thick sand. Sand sucks, but it sucks BAD when you’re climbing a rocky technical trail. Of course it hasn’t rained around here since May, so that is probably why it was so dry and loose. I think the next time I ride this trail I’ll ride up CW and then turn around and head back the same way.

Recommended Route:
CCW for a heinous, rocky, technical climb and a fun descent. CW for an easier climb, but a very technical descent.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
There's some good trails around Three Rivers. If you're camping at Millerton Lake SRA, theres a fun short roller-coaster trail there.

Review Date
November 8, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Review Date
September 7, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month