Review Date
September 2, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: kjellterskelter ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I really enjoy this trail. I don't think it's too difficult. It's mostly singletrack, with a few climbs, and a few slightly technical sections which are fairly easy to spot, so if you don't think you can manage them, you can walk them (but I always recommend going for it and riding it through). The best thing about this trail is that it's so beautiful, and it's not so difficult that you would miss the scenery.

Recommended Route:
Clockwise

Review Date
June 18, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: ezurita2005 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This trail is a great Intermediate course. plenty of variety but never to extreme or to boring. Also the trail rides along the edge of the lake and the view is amazing especially in spring and fall. Mostly a shaded trail, so you get a nice cool breeze as your riding.

Recommended Route:
Clockwise
Start at French Gulch and Payette Trail starts there 9.2 miles one way

Review Date
July 14, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: tch ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Hammered this out today and had a blast. The trail was in good shape given the mid-summer dryness. I started early - 7:30 AM - and it took me 2 1/2 hours to get through it. Speed does not come easily here as there are lots of tight corners with exposure and plenty of water-bar switch backs. This is an awesome trail to work on pedal position in corners and the transferring of weight - I always seem to learn something when I ride this trail. The poison oak was present, but a good scrubbing seems to have allowed me to avoid it. On the west side of the lake there are plenty of overgrown blackberry bushes that like to bite and hide some techy sections.

Recommended Route:
This is two separate trails; Payette Trail #970 on the east side and Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trail #940 on the west side. Gravel and paved road connector between the two. I started at French Gulch parking lot and went clockwise. Next time I'll ride counterclockwise, but CW seems to be the chosen route. CW you have one climb of a couple hundred feet to the gravel road connector. Steep climb after the rolling 9.2 miles on Payette, but it might only be a 1/2 mile long - if that.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
There are tons of trails in the Applegate Area. I would highly recommend the Treadmaps, http://www.treadmaps.com/ Southern Oregon" Ashland, Applegate & Brown Mountain maps. Great starting point for Southern Oregon.

Review Date
December 18, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: jcollins2 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
What an awesome trail. Most of it is single-track with some small creeks, as well as logs to jump. Lots of short ups and downs around the lake. We had to clear a lot of downed tree limbs (December and no snow!).

Recommended Route:
Turn left from main road and cross the dam. The first campground on your right is a goo(clockwise) most of the way. Be careful in the beginning not to follow too close to the lake or you'll end up on a game trail and have to hike your bike back up a steep hill (someone was kind enough to string up a cable to assist you). Eventually Payette will come to a small bridge. Cross this and keep going. There's a good climb just before the south-eastern most part of the lake. At the top you'll get to then ride down a pretty fast fire road. You'll eventually meet back up with the highway, and then you can either take the trail or highback back along the north side of the lake.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Collings Mountain

Review Date
June 13, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: chrisdabiker ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Rolling singletrack with short paved and gravel sections. Only one climb, approx. 100'vert. Nice swimming holes along the way. Takes less than 2hrs if you hammer down.

Recommended Route:
I like to go CW, seems like the more popular direction so there's less chance of a head-on. To be sure you're on the right trail just stay as close to the lake as possible.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
See my site for this and other trails in the area:
http://rvhpa.net/mtbike/