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Arkansas Hills Tech Ride: Unkle Nazty and Sand Dunes (Unkle Nazty Uncle Nazty S-Mountain S Mountain Hooligan Sand Dunes)
Mountain Biking Trail
Extreme
7.94 mi
1,424 ft
A rowdy collection of the original tech trails in the Arkansas Hills.
The Arkansas Hills trail system has been cut into the rocky, dry mountains rising to the northeast of the town of Salida. This climate zone is decidedly desert, although the slightly larger vegetation like pinion trees mark it as a high desert climate and not low desert. Regardless of distinctions, with any trail in a desert you’re guaranteed to encounter two things: sand and rock. And the Arkansas Hills has a ton of rock!
While a few intermediate-friendly trails grace the flanks of S-Mountain, this network is home to some very technical trails that break into double black diamond territory, The ride mapped here makes the most of the tech gnar available, focusing on the original tech trails built in the system. Bring your suspension and your cojones, because this route takes no prisoners!
The climb up from the trailhead follows the standard Frontside -> Little Rattler -> FS 173 route, getting you to the goods as quickly as possible.
Once up top, this route follows Pauli and then drops down the classic Unkle Nazty trail. Unkle Nazty is a technical trail of the first degree—steep, rocky, loose. In some sections, the entire hillside is simply covered in rock, and spotting and picking the correct line can be a challenge in places. Rock rolls, drops, and optional jumps make for a raucous descent!
Climb back up, and then turn right before you get all the way to the top to drop into Sand Dunes. Sand Dunes is one of the most intriguing trails in the entire trail system, traversing beuaitufl sandstone cliffs, with mroe rock formations towering overhead. The trail tread is chunky and challenging, with alt lines providing even tougher obstacles.
After snaking around the upper cliffs, the trail funnels into steeper and rockier chutes, and then eventually the dune from whence the trail gets its name. This route follows Sand Dunes all the way back down to the parking lot, finishing with numerous rock ledges and a sweet rock wallride.
If you don’t like riding rocks, you will not enjoy this ride. But if you’re seeking a challenge for your body, your machine, and your skills, this route will put all three to the test!
One final note: this ride utilizes the original tech trails in the Arkansas Hills Trail System. The addition of new—and even more challenging—trails has opened up an even broader range of technical challenges! Written by Greg Heil
The Arkansas Hills trail system has been cut into the rocky, dry mountains rising to the northeast of the town of Salida. This climate zone is decidedly desert, although the slightly larger vegetation like pinion trees mark it as a high desert climate and not low desert. Regardless of distinctions, with any trail in a desert you’re guaranteed to encounter two things: sand and rock. And the Arkansas Hills has a ton of rock!
While a few intermediate-friendly trails grace the flanks of S-Mountain, this network is home to some very technical trails that break into double black diamond territory, The ride mapped here makes the most of the tech gnar available, focusing on the original tech trails built in the system. Bring your suspension and your cojones, because this route takes no prisoners!
The climb up from the trailhead follows the standard Frontside -> Little Rattler -> FS 173 route, getting you to the goods as quickly as possible.
Once up top, this route follows Pauli and then drops down the classic Unkle Nazty trail. Unkle Nazty is a technical trail of the first degree—steep, rocky, loose. In some sections, the entire hillside is simply covered in rock, and spotting and picking the correct line can be a challenge in places. Rock rolls, drops, and optional jumps make for a raucous descent!
Climb back up, and then turn right before you get all the way to the top to drop into Sand Dunes. Sand Dunes is one of the most intriguing trails in the entire trail system, traversing beuaitufl sandstone cliffs, with mroe rock formations towering overhead. The trail tread is chunky and challenging, with alt lines providing even tougher obstacles.
After snaking around the upper cliffs, the trail funnels into steeper and rockier chutes, and then eventually the dune from whence the trail gets its name. This route follows Sand Dunes all the way back down to the parking lot, finishing with numerous rock ledges and a sweet rock wallride.
If you don’t like riding rocks, you will not enjoy this ride. But if you’re seeking a challenge for your body, your machine, and your skills, this route will put all three to the test!
One final note: this ride utilizes the original tech trails in the Arkansas Hills Trail System. The addition of new—and even more challenging—trails has opened up an even broader range of technical challenges! Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontside/Lil' Rattler climb | 2.12 mi | 482 ft | 4.2% |
| Frontside Heartbreaker | 2.63 mi | 768 ft | 5.5% |
| Frontside/Lil' Rattler | 1.97 mi | 449 ft | 4.3% |
| Frontside Climb | 0.98 mi | 259 ft | 5.0% |
| FS to BP intersect | 0.68 mi | 210 ft | 5.7% |
| Lil' Rattler - Up | 0.89 mi | 190 ft | 4.1% |
| Lil' Rattler: parking lot to 173 | 0.94 mi | 194 ft | 3.9% |
| 173 - Lil Rattler to Dude Abides | 0.60 mi | 305 ft | 9.5% |
| CR 173 to saddle | 0.49 mi | 259 ft | 10.1% |
| County Road 173 Climb | 0.98 mi | 407 ft | 7.8% |
| up pauli singletrack | 0.35 mi | 82 ft | 4.3% |
| Unkle Nazty | 0.55 mi | -285 ft | -9.8% |
| Prospector - Nazty to LSD | 0.69 mi | -285 ft | -7.2% |
| Porcupine E to W | 0.63 mi | -226 ft | -6.0% |
| Prospector DH | 0.52 mi | -272 ft | -9.8% |
| Backbone: Lower Sand Dunes to 173 | 0.82 mi | 135 ft | 3.0% |
| CR 173 to Sand Dunes | 0.50 mi | 305 ft | 11.3% |
| Salida 720 Nasty Road Climb to Sand Dunes | 0.45 mi | 217 ft | 8.9% |
| Sand Dunes | 0.59 mi | -361 ft | -11.3% |
| Sand Dunes Full DH | 1.36 mi | -725 ft | -9.9% |
| Middle dunes - Hooli>Bone | 0.40 mi | -230 ft | -10.8% |
| LSD Straightline (no drops) | 0.62 mi | -289 ft | -8.7% |
| lower sand dunes | 0.29 mi | -125 ft | -8.0% |