Temperature at 5:00AM (Dec 21st):
22.1° F Min temperature in last 24-hours:
18.3° F Max temperature in last 24-hours:
41.7° F New Snow last 12 hours: 0". New Snow last 24 hours: 0".
Spring Creek Trail:
This 6.5 mile long trail connects all the way from Rip and Tear, above the lodge, down to the bottom of the Spring Creek drainage (near to Hwy 75). Very popular with mountain bikers enjoying a great scoot through the trees along the base of the Boulder Mountains.
As mentioned, this is a popular trail with bicyclists, especially those looking for some technical-trail-features and a mixture of ups and downs. The berms and jumps along sections of this trail are designed to be ridden from the high end of trail, to the low end, or north to south, but the trail is open to two-way, shared, non-motorized use, so be aware that people use this trail in both directions. Watch for others and stay in control. Riders who are descending need to be able to stop safely for those that are climbing. Watch and listen for people who may be coming toward you, especially in areas with limited lines of sight, like at the approach to blind-corners.
The high end of this trail, relatively speaking, is the north end. It is accessed off of Rip and Tear. Once on it, off of Rip and Tear, it's not all downhill. Like the rest of the trail segments, there are uphills as you travel north to south. Overall, you are loosing elevation, but every descent includes a following climb.
To cut-off some of the length, and some of the fun, you can get on the Spring Creek Trail off of the Senate Meadows Loop Trail. This approach is a popular way to access Spring Creek Trail. You can get on Spring Creek near the high point of the Senate Meadows loop - near its northern tip, of get on Spur Trail, off of Senate Meadows Loop Trail. Spur climbs from Senate to Spring Creek Trail.
Tip: Pick up a free trail map at the Galena Bike Shop.
Regarding the difficulty rating for this trail, which is Intermediate, some would call this trail advanced. It all depends on your experience, skill level and fitness. The trail loses elevation overall, from north to south, but there is quite a lot of climbing along the way; its not all downhill, that's for sure.
The trail includes a lot of exciting technical-trail-features that you can roll through, or boost for maximum fun. Keep in mind that Spring Creek Trail, like all of the trails at Galena, are open to two-way traffic. Ride safely and yield to others.
The low end of Spring Creek Trail is well south of the lodge, and near Hwy 75. Some people utilize the gravely, and in places, loose, Harriman Trail for a return to the lodge. Others brave the highway as a paved return. Still others ride up the native-surface Spring Creek Road #182, turning left at the bottom of Spring Creek Trail. You can ride up the two-track Spring Creek Road, and then, once you are up where the road intersects with the Spring Creek Trail, get on the trail to return toward the lodge. It is also possible to ride up from the low end of the trail, but watch for traffic, as most people utilize Spring Creek Trail as a largely downhill-type run - from north to south.
To ride up the Harriman Trail toward the lodge, from the low end of Spring Creek, cross the highway (be careful as traffic comes by quickly). Then cross the Big Wood River at a shallow ford. Feet wet, turn right at the Harriman and ride up the two-track-like trail. Watch for gravel at the base of the trail's steeper hills, as it will drop you like a leaf. Do not enter loose areas of gravel with speed. Stop early and get off and push through.
Like all of the trails at Galena, Spring Creek Trail is open to two-way traffic, but keep in mind that many trails within the system are more popular in certain directions. Use good trail etiquette and anticipate that others may be approaching from around the next bend. For cyclists, downhill riders yield to riders who are climbing.