Level:
Length: 40 mi (64.4 km)
Surface: Greenway
Configuration: Other
Elevation: -
Total: 4 riders
Mountain Biking Wolf Mountain to Banner Mountain
#733 of 1,004 mountain bike trails in California
Although little of this trail is remote or on dirt paths, there is over 2500ft of vertical climb involved. I did it in 4 hours and it was 41 miles. There is a lot of work involved in this but you get the benefit of riding down Idaho-Maryland road to GV at speeds well over 40mph, not to mention a lot of Cedar, madrone and pine forests in the Banner area. The wolf mountain part can be omitted for those who aren't keen on a major odyssey. A guy who met Lance Armstrong in France last month showed me the shortcut (greenhorn to banner) that took a lot of the pain out of steep vertical on other routes. This route can be added to a "Cascade canal to Scotts Flat" instead of the Look out trail. It's about 40 miles, but most of it is on well paved (but not well trafficked) roads. I went in late July (with no heat problems), but I would avoid this trek on real hot days. The Wolf mountain area is considerabley drier and hotter, but you can restock on ice, water and food in Grass Valley, which is in betwen the two mountains.
First added by searsandrewj on Aug 9, 2004. Last updated Apr 30, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- 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.
Loop: Start in Gv (ele. 2400) :Take the Union Hill Trail on the north side of 174 thru Empire mine. In the back section at the top is an access gate out to private timber company land. Follow the trail out and follow it about for about a mile through old growth timber acreage. If your cool they wont chase you out of there. The back end will pop you out at the Greenhorn/brunswick intersection. Take green horn about half a mile and go left and at a road called Amber-something. It's 15% grade for about 400 yards pretty gnarly. Follow this through a private driveway (leftish)(the guy doesn't mind mountain bikers) the other side will drop you into the loma rica airport area. make a right on loma rica and follow into Madrona Estates. At the end of this road there will be a gate to the left you will have to wheelbarrow through. This road will eventually come out on Idah-Maryland rd. Continue uphill and make a left on Banner mountain Lookout road. the last mile is about a 450 ft vert climb. At the top is a CDF lookout tower and the lookouts welcome visitors. From the Lookout (ele 4000 ft) look west/southwest (the lookout has a great map.) and you will see Wolf Mountain. Take Idaho maryland road back to GV and then roll towards the fairgrounds making a left off mcourtney to auburn rd. after 3 miles make a right on hidden valley. Follow this road about 5 miles and you will come back out on mcourney, near the dump. go left (south) and follow mcourtney to Wolf mountain road. Wolf mountain road goes up to wolf mountain (ele 2850), with more great views. Take the same route back to town via Mcourtney or south ponderosa for a more rural trip.
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