Review Date
July 23, 2012

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: chappy59 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Great trail! Has a little bit of everything, not too techinical, but has just enough tricky spots to keep you on the edge of nervous, some really fun rolling hills, and canopy covered downhill. There are a couple washouts to be careful of....one on the backside just past the squaw arm, and a couple on the frontside about midway down the lake. all in all, one of the most complete trails you will find here. Just under 20 miles makes this a good length to tire you out but not totally gas ya for the day. Take a stop at Seattle bar at the end of the lake and take a dip off the bridge, well worth it on a hot July day in Southern Oregon

Recommended Route:
either way has it's benefits, I like to start at the dam and ride clockwise, get the first half mile of easy pavement to the French Gulch Trailhead. A good way to warm up the legs

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Collings Mountain trail, Grouse Loop, Cook and Green

Review Date
October 28, 2011

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: ShastaSteve ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This was a really nice ride. The scenery is amazing and it's not too difficult. A few places on the single track get a little hairy just because of the drop off to the lake but that's the fun part of the ride. We rode this trail counter clockwise and that's what I suggest but that's just me. I think clockwise would be more of an uphill battle but to each thier own. All in all it was a great ride.

Recommended Route:
Counter clockwise

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

Comments

ShastaSteve (10/28/2011)

This was a really nice ride. The scenery is amazing and it's not too difficult. A few places on the single track get a little hairy just because of the drop off to the lake but that's the fun part of the ride. We rode this trail counter clockwise and that's what I suggest but that's just me. I think clockwise would be more of an uphill battle but to each thier own. All in all it was a great ride.

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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.