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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 5 mi (8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +529/ -27 ft
Total: 7 riders
Mountain Biking French Creek Canyon
#30 of 256 mountain bike trails in Wyoming
The French Creek Canyon trail on the northern end begins at around 10,500ft via the Tipple trail #293. There is also a spur from the Lake Marie parking area south of WY 130. The trail goes steadily downhill and passes through open meadows and spruce-pine forest. It winds along French Creek and passes Sunshine Falls. The trail crosses a tributary of French Creek the bridge. The upper end of the trail can be steep and loose. The trail will eventually end at FR 236, and FR 236 connects to FR 225. You could connect to Tie Hack Trail for a longer ride. Otherwise, turn around and ride back up. Alternatively, start at the bottom trailhead on FR 236 and ride up, then back down. There a few signed intersections with trails to other parts of the Medicine Bow Peaks area. 5.3 miles one way, or 10.6 miles out-and-back.
First added by dauw on Sep 17, 2007. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Take Wyoming Highway 130/230 south of Saratoga approximately 7.5 miles. Turn onto Wyoming Highway 130; drive east for approximately 26.5 miles to the Tipple trailhead across the highway from Lake Marie parking area. You can also park at the Lake Marie parking area and the trail begins on the south side of WY 130.
I ride this trail once or twice a season. This year there were several large trees down across the trail. These obstructions really changed the flow of the ride. This is still a challenging ride with incredible scenery.
| ThankThis trail is a lot of fun. I started at the top near mirror lake at 10,500 feet and rode down. In 5.9 miles the trail drops around 1,900 feet. Most of the trail is rideable. It had a few downed trees and wet muddy spots I had to walk over. It wasn't enough to take the smile off my face on ride down. Traction if good on the majority of the trail with a few sections of loose rock to keep it interesting. Coming back up is a long climb. It is doable if you have the lungs for it. The scenery was excellent. This trail doesn't seem like it gets a lot of traffic. I saw tracks from one other bike and didn't see another person on the trail when I rode it. I would certainly ride this trail again.
| Thank6-30-12- The trail is completely clear of fallen trees. It's getting cool in the upper elevations, so dress appropriately, 40-80 degrees.
| ThankI rode this on 05/27/2012. I had a great time. I rode it out and back. There were a few trees across the trail but nothing major. My ride was stopped short because of snow cover at the upper elevations. The intermittent snow that I walked around on the way up I got to plow through on the way down. Weeeee! Overall it's a nice trail with several creek crossings, some short steep hills, and a few rocky techy spots.
The road to the lower trailhead, as mentioned before, would be sketchy for a car, but doable if it hasn't rained.
| ThankGreat ride down into French Creek.
Here is a pretty good alternate for the adventurous...
| ThankWe used to (in the 90s) cut across the canyon at the bottom on the road and follow a powerline back up to Libby Flats to complete a loop. Some bushwhacking involved but a fairly decent game trail along the powerline.
Let me start by stating this is beautiful country.
| ThankI've done this ride a couple of times now starting from both the lower and upper trail heads. The ride top to bottom takes 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. It is fast with a wide variety of moderate technical challenges including steep downhill sections, rocks, roots and water crossings.
The ride up takes about 2 to 2 ½ hrs. The climb to the top is tough. Some of the locals I met on the trail recommend French Creek Canyon as a shuttle ride; biking from the top with a ride at the bottom.