Rye Spur Figure-8 Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
16.55 mi
1,384 ft
Mine some loam on a trail that time forgot.
The Rye Spur Trail harkens back to the good old days of mountain biking when riders took to the forests and simply pedaled whatever singletrack they could find there. This old school national forest trail has been around for... who knows how long? Decades definitely, and maybe even longer. This is a trail that time forgot.
While time may have forgotten about Rye Spur, a small group of local riders haven't, and they keep cutting and clearing the major trees that fall across this trail. Even still, the trail tread is constantly covered in small sticks, pine needles, and leaves due to the limited traffic to beat it in.
After pedaling up the dirt road, the route mapped here follows an aqueduct around the mountain, providing a scenic route to reach the shores of Fourmile Lake. Take a moment to have a snack and enjoy the stunning views of McLoughlin before you continue on.
Even though it feels like you've already been climbing for hours, another even steeper climb faces you on the singletrack. However, the beautiful ancient forest and the almost invisible trail will keep you highly entertained as you gain elevation.
Eventually, you'll break out of the trees at a viewpoint near the top of the mountain. The vista from this exposed section is simply stunning, and demands another snack break to take it all in.
Finally, it's time to descend!
The rip down Rye Spur is relatively non-technical, but it's fast and furious! The trail drops down the blackest, loamiest singletrack imaginable. As dark black dirt flies up and hits you in the shins, you'll wonder how it's possible that you have this brown pow all to yourself.
The trail does negotiate a few rock gardens and root webs, but overall, it's high-speed loam ripping punctuated by a few sharp turns. Some of these turns can be railed, and others you'll need to slow down for. This ripping descent is over all too quickly. Written by Greg Heil
The Rye Spur Trail harkens back to the good old days of mountain biking when riders took to the forests and simply pedaled whatever singletrack they could find there. This old school national forest trail has been around for... who knows how long? Decades definitely, and maybe even longer. This is a trail that time forgot.
While time may have forgotten about Rye Spur, a small group of local riders haven't, and they keep cutting and clearing the major trees that fall across this trail. Even still, the trail tread is constantly covered in small sticks, pine needles, and leaves due to the limited traffic to beat it in.
After pedaling up the dirt road, the route mapped here follows an aqueduct around the mountain, providing a scenic route to reach the shores of Fourmile Lake. Take a moment to have a snack and enjoy the stunning views of McLoughlin before you continue on.
Even though it feels like you've already been climbing for hours, another even steeper climb faces you on the singletrack. However, the beautiful ancient forest and the almost invisible trail will keep you highly entertained as you gain elevation.
Eventually, you'll break out of the trees at a viewpoint near the top of the mountain. The vista from this exposed section is simply stunning, and demands another snack break to take it all in.
Finally, it's time to descend!
The rip down Rye Spur is relatively non-technical, but it's fast and furious! The trail drops down the blackest, loamiest singletrack imaginable. As dark black dirt flies up and hits you in the shins, you'll wonder how it's possible that you have this brown pow all to yourself.
The trail does negotiate a few rock gardens and root webs, but overall, it's high-speed loam ripping punctuated by a few sharp turns. Some of these turns can be railed, and others you'll need to slow down for. This ripping descent is over all too quickly. Written by Greg Heil
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3661 140 to canal | 2.87 mi | 669 ft | 4.4% |
| Four Mile Lake to Hwy 140 | 6.03 mi | -1,234 ft | -2.3% |
| Fourmile to Overlook | 3.30 mi | 499 ft | 2.8% |
| BLT to Overlook | 3.16 mi | 489 ft | 2.8% |
| Rye Spur Full | 5.68 mi | -1,161 ft | -2.3% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 1.77 mi | 420 ft | 4.5% |
| The full downhill pedal | 2.42 mi | -1,204 ft | -9.4% |
| Overlook Down To Canal | 1.25 mi | -495 ft | -7.4% |
| Rye Spur Descent | 2.57 mi | -1,224 ft | -9.0% |
| Canal Down to NF-3633 | 0.50 mi | -348 ft | -12.9% |
| NF-3633 Down to Trailhead | 0.83 mi | -351 ft | -7.9% |