Trout Creek trail is an ATV trail that is also great for mountain biking. Not your typical ATV trail that is rutted, rocky, and torn up, this trail is well built and maintained. You could also call it the "Switchback trail" because there are tons of them! The trail traverses two ridges to get back to the creek, approx 500 ft of climbing each ridge, so by the time you reach the creek you will have climbed about 1000 ft. Remember you will climb about the same amount getting out as you did getting in. The most popular way to do this trail is an out and back. 4 miles one way to the creek, or you can push on further where a singletrack branches off of the ATV trail. The singletrack climbs a lot of elevation and is very rocky. There are some huge cliffs and boulders along Trout Creek that would be great for rock climbing.
I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this trail was especially since it is shared with ATVs and horses. From the trailhead you have a slow, gradual climb for 1.16 miles then the next 1.1 miles is fast and fun downhill with long stretches between switchbacks to really rip it up! After a small creek crossing, you start another gradual climb only to be rewarded with another stretch of fast downhill. At 3.86 miles, you join a 4x4 road (maps show this road as a possible exit route back to the highway but it is gated off and locked). The road follows Trout Creek in a steady climb for another 2.5 miles where the singletrack that southforkmtbkr describes branches off. We made it part way up this climb when my buddy's rear axle broke (bad luck - not bad trail) and we had to turn around. The trail is loaded with pines trees and aspen groves as well as some outstanding views. I'll give this trail an overall rating of 4 only because it isn't single track and a "more difficult" rating because of the prolonged climbs. But what goes up . . .
| Thank