Forbidden Trail Closer

Forbidden Trail has been officially closed by the Caspar Watershed Study Staff. The reason for the closer is to stop use that may cause soil to wash into the stream.
I meet with JDSF and Caspar Watershed Staff earlier this year to look at the Moguls Trail. They do not like this trail because it also may cause soil to wash into the water. This area has an ongoing study to monitoring water quality and any excess soil in the water will mess up their data. At that time the Watershed Staff did not think Forbidden was a problem. Motorcycles started using the trail so probably the extra heavy use changed their minds.
At this time I think it is unlikely these trails will be reopened. I will try to get a new trail approved downstream of the study area so there will be a loop using the Caspar Crossing Trail as one leg.

Get out and Ride!

Caspar Classic Map

The red dotted line is the new Caspar Classic race course.

Moguls Trail Closure

I met with JDSF and Caspar Creek Watershed Study staff 11/5/09 at the Recreational Task Force meeting. Everyone apologized for not letting us know before closing the trail. The reason for the closure is to immediately stop use that is contributing to soil washing into streams in the Caspar Watershed Study area. This study monitors water quality before and after timber harvest work. It is important for this study's accuracy to keep erosion not related to harvesting to a minimum. I asked to be given an opportunity to try and reopen the trail by addressing the erosion problems. In my opinion this would be the best long-term solution. Staff was open to this. I will set up a field meeting to look at the problems with staff and ask that the public be invited as well. This will not happen overnight so please respect this closure.

Chris

Camp One and Camp Twenty Maps

New Woodsprite Trail

Caspar Trails Map

Cycling Trails in Caspar Area of Jackson State Forest

Please be courteous to equestrians and hikers/dog walkers that frequent this area. Do not ride trails when wet. Trails stay wet weeks after a heavy rain and will be damaged if ridden. Take all your trash out with you. Jackson State Forest has been great about allowing bikes on trails. Please do your best to keep this Forest open to cyclists!

Lower loop. Miles, 3. Fitness level, medium. Skill level, medium.

Lower loop trailhead, Rd 500 at Rd 600, don’t block the gate. Look for 500 Trail a hundred feet down Rd 600 on left. This is fun twisting trail thru redwood, fir, and pine forest. There is a few short steep climbs but most of this trail is not hard to ride. Watch out for large tree roots and sandy corners, ride with caution. Trail ends at T.V. Trail about an eighth mile after crossing Rd 500. You may turn left to return to Lower loop trailhead or turn right and add Upper loop and 4.5 miles to your ride. This trail is an old logging road and it is fairly flat and straight with a lot of large puddles months after rain. Most puddles have by-pass trails around them. Really fast speeds can be reached on this trail. Make lots of noise and expect to see someone on the trail around every corner. T.V. Trail east has some rutted areas and a stream crossing fallowed by a short, steep, rutted climb about an eighth mile from S.H. Trail, at west end is Rd 530. This rocked road is closed to motor vehicles because garbage dumping was a major problem. Road ends at Rd 500 turn left for a few hundred feet to first logging road on right and take this road a few hundred feet to 500 Trail turn right on trail to Lower loop trailhead.

Upper Loop. Miles, 2.5. Fitness level, difficult. Skill level, difficult.

Upper loop trailhead, Rd 500 at Rd 520, don’t block the gate. Look for S.H. Trail a few hundred feet up Rd 500 on left. This is an old logging road that is used illegally by four-wheel drive off roaders. Because of this use there are large ruts and holes on the trail, ride with caution. Follow this trail about a quarter mile to T.V. Trail. You may turn left here to Lower loop or keep straight on Upper loop. After about a mile look for rutted trail on left, this is Three Pipe Trail. This is a very steep climb on an old logging trail. Near the top of the climb look for trail on right. This is Gunslinger Trail that was built by cyclists and has many tight corners and abrupt grade changes. After crossing Rd 500 find Thru Stump Trail to right of gate and more technical trail. This trail ends at Rd 500 across from S.H. Trail. Turn left on road to Upper loop trailhead.

The big Picture

Mendocino Woodlands

Red boundary line on left of map fallows Little Lake Road (Rd 408)