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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 14 mi (22.5 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +1,074/ -1,061 ft
Total: 16 riders
Mountain Biking Crystal Mountain Resort
#57 of 1,216 mountain bike trails in Washington
Crystal Mountain is a great 14 mile loop. It has some grueling climbs, beautiful
ridges, great scenery, alpine lakes, steep sections, exposed switchbacks, and,
if the summit house is open, a chance to buy some burgers and fries at the
top.
First added by dauw on Sep 15, 2011. Last updated Jun 17, 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.
From Enumclaw take route 410 to the Crystal Mountain Road(if you enter Mt. Rainier Park you've driven too far) and turn left. Drive up this road about 4 or 5 miles depending on how you want to do the loop. If you are doing the loop clockwise park at 4 miles up the road next to dirt road 7190-410 on the left. This is the start of the route and is gated in 100 feet or so. If you are doing it counterclockwise continue up the Crystal Mountain Road another mile and turn right on the first dirt road past the horse camp. Follow this road to the base of the ski run called Northway (parking lot here). The trail goes off to the right from this lot.
System trails (5)
So Crystal Mountain isn't very big on Mountain Bikers. Their trails are all built for Hikers, nothing MTB purpose built. With that being said, ascending is painful. After pushing my bike for 80% of the time on the trail up the middle of the mountain I learned that isn't the way to go, however the view from the top and the ride down was well worth it. After seeking out multiple staffers on the mountain I learned that the best way to go up is via the Northway trail, then bombing down on Crystal Mountain Trail and connecting into Silver Creek trail to get you back to the parking lot at the base. This would put you around the whole mountain in a counter-clockwise fashion. I do believe that going clockwise as the last review states would be ok as well. Ultimately, the views are breathtaking, some of the exposure can be heart stopping, and this is a must do ride. If you're a beginner, don't bring your bike, just hike.
| ThankRating as a 4 only because it's short. Of all the trails in the 410 area, Crystal gets to the alpine quickest, and is the least used by bikes (since it can't be shuttled). Hopefully the lifts will not start carrying bikes and allowing this trail to get trashed with DH traffic the way others in the area have.
| Thankfor an east coaster, this is big mountain riding
| ThankThis is the most beautiful loop that I have ridden. You traverse the mountains around the ski area (clockwise is best, I think.)
| Thank