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Mountain Lion Trail
1 reviews
5 of 5
This trail is near the eastern border of Golden Gate Canyon State Park. To reach it, get to the intersection of highways 93, 58 and 6th avenue (This is the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon). Go north on highway 93 (Towards Boulder) about a mile to a signaled intersection of highway 93 and Golden Gate Canyon road. Turn left (west) and go up the canyon. For those of you familiar with the White Ranch, you will be heading in the direction of the upper parking lot. As you go up the canyon, take a right at a road just past the Grange building called Crawford Gulch. I am guessing it's about 5 miles up the canyon. Be on the lookout for signs pointing you to White Ranch. Follow them. While you will not end up at White Ranch, you will fly right past it. Take Crawford Gulch all the way past the last turn to White Ranch, which will take you on a dirt road. Enter Golden Gate State Park from the east and pull off at the Nott Creek trailhead. Make sure you grab a parks pass envelope at the entrance and pay the $5 fee. Park at Nott Creek and hop on Mountain Lion Trail. Follow it clockwise--and this is crucial. (The opposite direction is just not rideable for long stretches). The trail climbs hard for about 1.5 miles, levels out for a half mile, then climbs for another mile or so. Then it's a technical descent (Rocky and rooty) along a creekbed until a rolling uphill exit. ALTERNATE ROUTE TO THE TRAILHEAD: Take Golden Gate Canyon road ~ 20 miles to the ranger station (Look for signs) and stop in for directions to the Nott Creek parking area (4.7 miles away).
Summary: This is a classic, but only for experienced riders. Novices will get hurt, or they will spend an inordinate amount of time walking their bikes. I wouldn't do this trail on a hardtail--but then again, hardtail aficionados are a hardy bunch. The beginning climb is over loose sand resting on top of hard-packed quartz. The surface is off-camber and rutted. Not to the extreme, but enough to challenge hard-core climbers. Skilled riders will not dab, but most of you will, once or twice. Kudos to you if you can clean the initial 4 miles. The only way that will happen is if you're fit and technically proficient... Period.... Then you'll flatten out a bit and ride on a jeep road for a mile or so, until you get to the next uphill grunt. It's a switchback climb over golfball-sized loose rock. I don't have to tell you this adds a bit of a challenge to the steeper sections, where traction is found at a premium. Once you crest this do-able climb, you weave downward though a lodgepole forest, taking some drops through ruts and roots. Fun stuff!! Then you reach the creekbed and bounce along the cobble, over tree bridges or through shallow crossings. Look out for the wheel-grabbing gnomes; they're all over the place. I endo'd three times the first time I rode this, but I've made a mental note or two of the places and spaces that require a bit more speed. Now I just rack myself once in a while. All I can say is pick a good line and hang on. After all the bouncing, you'll emerge onto a double-track which will rise and level three times. If you're riding with someone (You really should have someone along for safety) this is a great place to start the sprint back to the trailhead. It is still a couple miles away, but certainly a great place to duel it out (If that's your thing; Personally, I like to crank it up!). Finally you'll drop down to the parking area and finish up the ride. Relish this puppy--it's a gem!
Recommended Route: Clockwise from the Nott Creek parking area.
Other recommended trails in the same area: White Ranch: Epic Loop (Belcher-Longhorn-Wrangler)
Centennial Cone
Chimmney Gulch-Windy Saddle-Apex
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