The ride starts w/ a 10 mile climb up forest service roads. You'll start on forest road 72 for 7.4 miles. Then make a right up road 7250 and you'll come to an intersection at 9.6 miles. Take road 210 which ends at 10.2 miles. This will bring you to the beginning of the Dalles Ridge Trail #1197. Take this trail up for about 1/2 mile to Ranger Creek Trail #1197 and take the sharp right downhill. Don't miss it. Then let the good times roll all the way down to HWY 410.There is another trail that runs along side 410 and take you back to forest service road 72 and back to your car.
This is not the easiest ride but well worth it. The clinb up the forest service roads is a pain(Ihate riding the roads) but the veiws of the Cascades is awesome! The ride down is pretty steep at times w/ tight switchbacks.
 | Little Ranger Peak |  | 4.2 mi |
 | Noble Knob |  | 5.7 mi |
| Noble Knob Climbing Trail | | 1.5 mi |
| Noble Knob Summit Trail | | 0.4 mi |
Lovely ride. Start at Buck Creek airfield, ride north across hwy410. Head west about 50 feet there's a thin trail that diagonals up the slope. Take a right when it intersects the more established white river trail. Follow the white river trail past the turnoff to ranger creek, past the turnoff for deep creek and you'll reach the gate at the base of fs7174 (road to corral pass.) The road is blocked in several spots by fallen trees. Ride on up. You reach the parking lot with horse hitch bar. If you keep going north for 1/8 mile you reach the campground and there's a toilet. Anyway from parking lot head west on dalles ridge trail. It follows below the ridge. You can head north to noble knob. On the way down ride past deep creek and continue on the trail to the shelter at ranger creek. Either descend ranger creek (which has several slides and fallen trees) or palisades. Alternates: climb ranger creek instead of fs7174, downside is that shelter to noble knob is a steep climb and treacherous in the rain.
| ThankRanger creek is maybe my favorite ride. Realize there are a ton of trails on the north side of hwy 410 so you can pick whatever loop you like or just do an out and back.
The ranger creek trail is a fine climb, no need to ride up a logging road. There is a parking lot just off hwy 410 on the road to buck creek campground/ranger creek airfield. Across the river, about 200 feet from the highway. Park there, then ride back to hwy410, cross the highway (be careful!) and to your left you'll see some narrow singletrack going diagonally up the grass slope and into the trees. Take it for 50 yards and it connects to the white river trail. Take a right and follow the white river trail until you see the turnoff for ranger creek. Take it. Nice long climb through forest with gorgeous grippy single track. You'll eventually reach "the cabin". Take a left and in 1/4-1/2 mile the trail skirts some cliffs. Great views and nice place to picnic and sunbathe. If you keep going to the left you'll descend palisades and be back at hwy 410.
From cabin take a right and you'll head up to noble knob. Best views ever to the north you'll see norse peaks wilderness. Take a side trail up noble knob. I usually descend ranger creek when I'm done.
| ThankIncredible epic ride. High grind factor to the top up a fairly smooth but steep at times forest road. Well worth it views await you. On a clear day one of the best shots of Mt. Rainier. Advanced downhill with steep switchbacks will challenge you.
| ThankI intended to follow the trail directions and follow FS72 up the fire road to descend this, but after riding Skookum Flats first, I met another rider who attempted it that day and said that snow blocked elevations above 3700 feet, resulting in a significant snow hike-a-bike. Unwilling to do that, I instead elected to climb this from 410 East highway and see how far I could get. It was a steep pitch littered with wet rocks, roots, and some surprisingly tight switchbacks--most of which I was unable to clear up or down. Despite some really steep grades, I was able to ride most of this, although I decided to turn around about 2.5 miles in due to time/weather. I'd love to ride this downhill only in the summer when things are dry. I'm surprised there is only one other review of this trail, and no photos (which I'll add today) because this trail is AWESOME. Even better, you can add it to Skookum Flats and/or Crystal Mountain if you are in the area for a couple of days, and even squeeze in an eastern Mt Ranier hike if you have the time. Camping is abundant, and there are also cabin rentals on Hwy 410 (ALTA is one, which also has snacks/water FYI). You can park in Buck Creek campground and ride west on Skookum, then ride E on 410 E to access the trailhead parking on the left (small dirt lot) if you do not elect to ride up/shuttle FS72. Note: some parking areas require a "Discovery Pass" to park (purchased online unfortunately)--Buck Creek is not one of them. Also, expect very little to no cell or mobile data reception here, though on some of the higher spots of the trail you may be able to send a text. My Strava GPS recorded the entire ride, surprisingly. Have fun and be careful--these are some deep, dark woods!!
| ThankWe did this as a shuttle, I know weak, but we were time crunched. The first third is as flowy and smooth a single track as you have ever seen. At the horse shelter, where Palisades and Ranger intersect, the steep tight switchbacks begin. This has a monster elevation drop and it's tight. The last third is as close to how an Ewok in Star Wars must have felt.... flowy, smooth and too much fun. I recommend you cross 410 and ride Scookum Flats back to your shuttle car. That's a good day!
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