Finding the entry to this trail is a trick. Having a good map and an accurate cyclocomputer or GPS is a near must. After climbing 4.6 miles up the Quazeomon/Pipeline combo or all the way on Pipeline itself, there is a singletrack on the right. You should know when to look as you have been doing a relentless climb for a long time and if you start a long downhill to a saddle, you've gone too far. Just before that first significant downhill is the entry. When last ridden, it was not signed, but somebody had built a small cairn with a dead tree to mark the spot, but it's not obvious, especially if you start ripping the downhill on the Pipeline road.
Upon initial entry, you will be in a rare, unburned portion of the area. The trail is very narrow and the plant live surprisingly lush, so line of sight is poor and the minor techy bits can sneak up on you. The lush area doesn't last long and you return to the burn area. Then, you will find some significant erosion and some far more challenging technical spots along with some challenging sand/gravel. You can descend back into Los Alamos on the Upper Guaje Road or the Cabra Loop Trail. This one is dry, exposed and can be very hot in the summer, so bring plenty of water. Also bring some technical skills or be prepared to dismount regularly.
Just to let anybody know who wants to ride this trail in late summer/early fall, the trail is completely overgrown and there are many many many thorn bushes for almost the entire extend of the trail. I rode it yesterday and it was brutal, strongly advise to not ride this trail during this time of year, you will not enjoy it!
| ThankThis is the crown jewel of the Los Alamos trail system. Remote, rugged, hard to access, dry and challenging from end to end, this one provides a near-epic sense of adventure. I rode it on my 26" hardtail, but would have had less pain on big wheels and/or a fully. There's a lot of descending in a short amount of time, some of it on loose surface, some of it on high-speed hardpack, and some on fairly wicked and fun rock drops and rollers. It's a lot of unpleasant work to get to this trail, but it is totally worth every drop of sweat.
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