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Level: Intermediate
Length: 8.1 mi (13 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Lariat
Elevation: +535/ -336 ft
Total: 29 riders
Mountain Biking Blackhawk Loop
#74 of 710 mountain bike trails in Utah
The Blackhawk loop is one of the premier singletrack rides in Utah! Blackhawk loop is composed of couple of different trails, so the name changes from time to time. I would recommend taking along a topo and a guide book;(Mountain Biking Utah, by Greg Bromka is by far the best). This trail is not for the "faint of heart", or those lacking in backcountry biking skills. Blackhawk will test your stamina, bike handling skills, and route finding skills. But the blue ribbon singletrack more then makes up for any hardships endured along the way. With over 14 miles of premier singletrack, who could possibly complain!?
First added by Baneamofe on Jan 1, 2003. Last updated May 8, 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.
Take the Payson exit off of I-15, follow the signs for the Nebo Scenic Loop and Payson Canyon. The trailhead is about 3/4 mile past mile marker 10 on the left hand side. The sign reads "Loafer Mountain Trail".
This is the route we road yesterday:
| ThankStarted at the Loafer Mountain Trailhead and instead of dropping left into Bennie Creek, we went right on Blackhawk. This section of trail is really fun and the views are great. The trail isn't ridden very often and is a bit soft with some loose rocks and horse damage, but the flowers were amazing! We rode through sections of seemingly endless yellow wildflowers that made up for the hoof prints in the trail. We stayed left at the intersections so that we could do the loop all the way down to the Blackhawk Campground. The trail kind of loses it's way at the campground, but we went up the road for just a few hundred feet and were able to find the sign for the trail. We then climbed around the back side of the ridge up to the Nebo Loop road. Along the way up to the road near the Beaver Dam Trail, we ran into an intersection with trails going in 4 different directions and we continued straight ahead. Once we reached the road we made a big mistake - we should have made a right on the pavement and road to the Frank Young Canyon Trail, but instead, we stayed on the Blackhawk Trail traveling west and then north on the Holman Canyon Trail. DO NOT DO THIS! I repeat - DO NOT DO THIS! This section of Blackhawk is so overgrown with bushes and small trees that you can barely see the trail and Holman Canyon is an unrideable 0.8 mile uphill that will suck the life out of you. After we finally reached the road and after cursing whoever built that BS Holman Canyon Trail, we continued onto Lizard Lake Trail then made a right on Rock Spring Trail all the way to the road again. The lower section of Rock Spring is super fun. At the pavement, we turned right for a gentle uphill to our car.
Amazing single track that is a mild epic ride and has amazing scenery! Nothing is to technical and the trail i would say is intermediate, but what it lacks in adrenaline causing drops it makes up for in a breathtaking trail. From amazing overlooks to beautiful single track through pines, cow grass fields, and aspens. This trail makes you feel like your in the back country with just your riding buddies and the mountains. I suggest not trying to do this one as fast as you can but to take time and enjoy the scenery.
| Thank~16 Miles of sweet, sweet single track. I rode it twice last year and would recommend a healthy amount of water, some good anti-bonk foot, a decent trail map, and a few tools.
| ThankMiles of pristine singletrack far removed from the madness of SLC or Moab. Stunning aspens. This is a "be self sufficient" trail as it is remote and receives little traffic. Bring a map and know how to read it as there are unmarked trails that may lead you astray. The elevation profile doesn't look threatening, but the ride will take more out of you than you expect. Highly recommended as it is high on the adventure scale.
| ThankBusted my chain, got a flat and still went back and rode it again. This trail can be physically challenging and technically fun.
| Thank