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Happy Jack
21 reviews
4.38 of 5
Everything from real easy double track loops to some serious technical climbs and descents.
From Laramie, take I-80 east about 15 miles to Happy Jack Road exit. From Cheyenne, go 35 miles west to same exit. Directly across from the rest area is the trailhead that accesses all the trails in the area. Park just off the road or park in the rest area and walk across. Maps are at the Forest Service board on the other side of the fence.
Trail Length
30 + miles. All loop back to trailhead eventaully.
Summary: This trail system has about everything from pretty technical to rolling hills. I'll bring my kids up when they're old enough, but it is fun for the older kids too. Of all the trail systems I've ridden across the country (OK, I'm not that well traveled), this is second only to trails at Moab. The elevation can cause you to suck a little more air than ususal.
Recommended Route: I usually park at the bottom of Headquarters trail so I can finish on the downhill. Also, there is no fee for parking there. The first half-mile to the top is pretty rough, but once you're on top, it's worth it.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Granite Lake trails.
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Summary: Rode this trail while on a business trip to Cheyenne. Great fun, although I had some trouble finding it -- turned left and went on a gravel road tour, only to find I should have turned right. After that it was real easy. I didn't find this trail terribly challenging, did several loops and enjoyed them all. I rode in early May and there was still snow, a foot deep in places but it was only in spots. There are some tough climbs and the elevation had me gasping. You could spend a lot of time here.
Summary: Just wanted to say very good point by Fischmann about the need to be very courteous to equestrians. It is very important that we give them the right of way. Its often spooky to a horse to have a person on a metal machine approach them quickly and the last thing any trail system needs is an equestrian falling off thier horse and hurting themselves because a bike spooked the horse. If you ever get the chance to help an equestrian on a trail with a brief desensitization exercise with their new horse they are breaking in, take it. They will show you what the horse needs to experience, you help them, and both parties win. Its rewarding too and certainly helps the equestrian feel better about our sport.
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Summary: i only got to ride the aspen loop and had to quit because of a mechanical. i cannot wait to go back and ride all the happy jack trails. if you are passing thru, do not pass these trails up.
Recommended Route: go to the lincoln memorial, get a trail map, and explore.
Other recommended trails in the same area: turtle rock
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Summary: This is a great trail system. The Headquarters trail puts the sweetest singletrack you may ever see right under your knobbies. Alternating ponderosa forest and mountain meadows threaded by narrow, sometimes rocky, singletrack. Just the right mix of technical riding, yanking and banking through the trees, and take-your-fingers-off-your-brake-levers ripping. Start from the North/East) with a 500+ foot climb to get your heart rate up, then rip down the other side. After you connect with the Happy Jack system, pick a loop. The aspen loop (not to be confused with the middle aspen trail, which is also fun) is a mostly downhill roller coaster starting in high, dry ponderosa woodland and descending through near-tropical lushness. Climb back out on the Pole creek trail through the wildflowers and butterflies (bug spray is really good here unless you can rip up the whole hill without dropping below 10 mph). then head for home back on the headquarters trail or pick another loop and do it all over again.
You may encounter an equestrian, but this is Wyoming--no overcrowded multi-user conflicts here. They'll probably say "howdy" and make some comment about how what you're doing looks too much like work. It is your responsibility to yield to equestrians, but often they beat you to the punch and step their horses off the side of the trail. If they do, return the courtesy by dismounting so as not to spook the horses, or at least ride by very slowly and return the "howdy."
Recommended Route: Take Happy Jack road (west from Cheyenne or east from the summit as you leave Laramie) to the trailhead for the Headquarters trail. Ride the HQ trail and, just before reaching the meadow before the I-80 rest station, take a right through the gate to get to the Happy Jack/Tie City complex. Ride whichever loop(s) suits your fancy and then take HQ back to your car.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Turtle Rock
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