Review Date
May 15, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Almaden Mike ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
If you're driving down to Almaden to go to Quicksilver, drive the extra 5 minutes and check this place out instead. Dbl track and fire roads with some punishing climbing. Great scenery and some fantastic views from the top of the bald peaks. Unlike Quicksilver, this place doesn't have hordes of hikers around every corner. Many times I go and don't see anyone else. Just keep in mind that this place is much more physically demanding than Quicksilver. The standard loop is a bit over 11 miles with more than 2000' of climbing. Also plan to come early in hot weather as there is almost no shade.

Recommended Route:
From the parking area head up the dbl track Mayfair Ranch trail and come down the other side. At the bottom you'll come to the intersection with the Longwall Canyon trail. Go right here, you can go left but it's not as fun.

After 1/2 mile or so you'll come to the intersection with the Catamount trail. It's tough to find the first time so look for a little steel shack on the left. The trail cuts up behind the shack. Now take a deep breath, suck down some Gu, and get ready to climb.

The trail will climb about 800ft in the first mile, 15% grade, and then mercifully level out for a while before joining the Bald Peaks Trail. Go left here and continue climbing the remaining 200 or so feet to the top. Kick back for a bit, enjoy the view, then start heading down. You'll soon come to the top of the Longwall Canyon Trail and enjoy the 2 miles downhill dbl track.

Finally you'll come back to the intersection of Longwall Canyon and Mayfair Ranch trails. Make a right here, heading back the way you came, for another 400ft of climbing. This last bit always gets me. Eventually you get to the top and then it's a quick downhill back to the car, 11.4miles later.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Almaden Quicksilver (Start at Mockingbird) and Santa Teresa (the Stiles Ranch/ Rocky Ridge figure 8)