Forest City Trails
About the Forest City town: Forest City
is a old mining town located in the hills south of Downieville Ca. During
the gold rush this was a very profitable mining area with lots of hard
rock mines dotting the hills. Now its more like a ghost town with just
a few folks living full time. Some of the buildings are leaners. Forest
City's houses are mostly privately owned although the land they reside
on is owned by the Tahoe National Forest. So this means you can walk freely
around town on the public land but the houses are private so they are
off limits of course. They have some mining displays in town and folks
are real friendly if you do see any. It is a cool mining town to check
out. FTA has a house on Tin Can Alley which is on the right, off School
Street as you pass the school.
There is a lot of trail building going on in Forest City these days. The
Forest Trails Alliance
has teamed up with the USFS to build a network of trails in the area.
Trails follow old mining trails, mining ditches and include vista overlooks
and other points of interest. Built for mountain biking and designed for
fun, these trails have banked corners, lots of switchbacks, and alternate
trials features for the more advanced riders. Intermediate to advanced
riders will enjoy these trails. Trails flow through dense forests, crossing
creeks and switchbacking up and down mountain ridges. Designed for a 5%
grade, most are suitable to ride in either direction, although there usually
is a desired route direction. Forest Trails Alliance is a group of friends
and trail builders who are interested in preserving and expanding mountain
biking opportunities in the area. Connect with them if you are interested
in helping. Here is another and bigger area map of the local trails. Forest
City Map
Half of the Sandusky Trail was built fall 2007 {Trail
Work Pictures} The Ridge Runner and Highgrade trails were built in
2008 and finished in late spring of 2009, so they are nice now that they
have settled. The 3 trails trailhead at the Big Tree parking area is a
bit hard to see from the road because it was vandalized with a tractor
spring of 2008 and again 2009 and 2010. We hope to put a stop to this.
Parking area's retaining wall around the big pine tree will be rebuilt
later this year, fall 2010 we hope. Any volunteers? Vandalized signs will
be replaced too. Cell phones barely work well once you pass Pike on the
ridge, and it is a lightly populated area. Alleghany has a bar and store
with a phone at Casey's Place.
Sandusky, Ridge Runner, and Highgrade trails loop:
This route will probably be a popular loop. This just completed loop is
probably 12 miles with 1200 ft of climb. The Ridge Runner and Highgrade
trails were just finished late spring 09 so they are very nicely settle
in.You can start either at the Big Tree parking area where the 3 trailhead
parking area or in the Forest City town. I like starting in Forest City
for this ride so the ride ends with a fun downhill. So park where you
want I'm starting the ride in forest City.
Forest City is on the right {east} off Mtn House Rd. After parking bike
through this small mining town. You pass some mining displays and a few
old houses. On the other end of town take the left on School St. and climb
up the graveled road passing the old school on your right and a few more
houses as you leave the town area. The road becomes dirt and narrows but
still has a good climb. Ignore the side roads and continue on the main
road till you come to where it tee's into Sandusky Trail. The route we
want to take is to the right but you might want to take a left and go
see the new bridge that the FTA built in 2008 across the N. Fork Oregon
Creek. More advance riders might like to ride the alternate pearl necklace
of boulders dropping down to the bridge. After viewing the new biker bridge
head back and take the Sandusky south east. You climb following the canyon
with some switchbacks and views of the Pliocene Ridge. After 3 miles or
so you cross the S Fork Oregon Creek. The trail continues leveling out
for a bit then some switchbacks for the last climb to the top of the ridge.
Enjoy the tremendous view here. You will see 3 trails here Sandusky that
you just rode in the center. You will want to take the trail heading west,
the Ridge Runner trail. This new trail drops with a variety of switchbacks
before leveling out a bit. Some ups and downs as you follow the top of
the ridge. There are vista views of the area you were just riding as well
as Yomana Mountain. You can see Forest City too in some spots. You might
notice alternate jumps on either side of the trail as you ride. After
3 miles the Sandusky trail turns into the Highgrade Trail. There is a
careen of rocks to the left and a large flat rock on the right at this
spot. Continuing on the HighgradeTrail you will see Mountain House Rd
on your right. Trail climbs for a bit finally peaking and then dropping
down with plenty of switchbacks of all varieties as you descend the mountain
ridge. As you get closer to town you pass the Plum Valley Ditch Trail
turn off on the left, then you cross a spring next to a small pond. Here
you see Mountain House Road to your left below the Trail. You will continue
another mile dropping down the trail till you pop out onto Mountain House
Road. You are at the edge of town here continue to the right, to your
car, if you parked in Forest City.
Sandusky, Truckee Ditch Trails loop: This
is the more difficult of the two loops. maybe 16 miles with 1300 ft of
climb. You can start your ride in Forest City or at the 3 trails trailhead
parking at the Big Tree parking area on Pliocene Ridge. I enjoy starting
at the Big Tree parking on the ridge for this ride.
Take in the view before you head out on the trail on the east side of
the parking area, the Truckee Ditch Trail. You contour the hill slightly
dropping as you ride a old empty miners
water ditch. You ride in the ditch and the burm for a half mile where
you tkae the left on the S. Fork Rd.. There is a trail sign here. It sez
6 miles
to Henness Pass Rd. You cross the S. Fork Oregon creek climb a bit then
descend back on the ditch. The trail has been groomed this year 10010
and is a beautifull singletrack. There are logs
to ride for the more advanced and some easier
log jumps
in the trail. After a mile or so you come out of the forest to a view
area. You can see Forest City from a few spots on the trail here. The
Truckee Ditch trail takes a abrupt right and climbs up a Yomana for a
half mile or more. Then a descent and crossing the N. Fork Oregon Cr.
where you find yourself on the ditch again contouring with the hill. You
pass under the power lines continuing to contour a bit more. More climbing
and then descending back to the ditch for a bit. I missed the Ruby Bluffs
Overlook dirt road right turn, but it is worth the detour for the view
of the Downieville side of the hill. At the end of the trail you are supposed
to end at Henness Pass Road right before Sandusky Rd. I didn't, I seemed
to end up on this small dirt road that I rode a little ways up the hill
where it connected to Sandusky. I missed a turn no doubt?
Anyway Sandusky Road is a downhill so drop down this dirt road for about
a 1/2 mile and you will see the Sandusky Trail Sign on your left. Take
the double track, Sandusky Trail, to the left and it drops down the hill
for a bit till it turns to a singletrack trail. After a few miles you
pass under the power lines again.You will see mining signs warning of
the N. Fork Mine below the trail. When you come to the N. Fork Oregon
Creek you will pass over a new mountain biking bridge that FTA built in
2008. Notice the "Pearl Necklace" of boulders for the more advanced
riders to play on. Its about 3 more miles of moderate uphill before you
finish this ride at the trailhead parking area. I'll upgrade this trail
info after I ride it a few times.
Plum Valley Ditch Trail: Well I haven't
ridden this trail so I don't know anything about it yet. I did hear that
FTA was working to clear some of the overgrown areas to make it more enjoyable.
I'm going to have to make a separate map of this trail as its off my map.
I'll post something on this trail as soon as I've ridden it.
The Fish
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