The Curley Springs mini-loop can be considered an adventurous add-on to
the Crop Circles ride above Lindon. The singletrack is narrow and
twisting, with unforgiving clearances with the oak brush on either side.
The loop itself is 1.4 miles with around 350 feet of overall climbing. I
recommend it for upper-intermediates or better.
The top elevation of the ride is 6250 feet for an expected riding
season of late April through October.
Squeezing through the oak brush on the re-route
singletrack. Video, trail pics, and review by Bruce
on May 2, 2022.
If you come up through the Crop Circles to reach this loop,
expect a minimum ride of around 7 miles and 1000 vertical feet of
climbing.
If you decide to ride further in this area, note that the Curley
Springs main trail north of this loop is tough to ride. The surface is torn up by horses
riding wet. There are very steep pitches. An out-and-back from Dry Canyon to
Battle Creek would be around 1500 vertical feet of climbing just on Curley
Springs alone.
The connector singletrack from the Upper Crop Circle
reaches the chunky and steep Sumac Hollow doubletrack.
Here is why more riders don't add this little loop to
their Crop Circles outing. The upper part of the Sumac Hollow trail #310
that you'll use to reach Curley Springs is steep and chunky. Not hike-a-bike steep for most of us,
but still, not a cruiser.
The loop starts at the trail fork where the top of the Sumac
Hollow doubletrack (trail #310) meets a right-angle turn of the Curley
Springs trail #51. If you're doing a clockwise ride from the top of Sumac
Hollow, turn to the left. Then after 100 yards, turn hard right uphill on a
faint singletrack (unmarked in May 2022).
Trail fork. From Sumac Hollow, left is the northbound
Curley Springs trail, which you'd take for a clockwise ride of the little
loop.
This trail is the Upper Curley Springs trail. It's a narrow
and tight traversing trail with a fair amount of quick ups an downs. While
you'll be heading generally in a downhill direction as you proceed east,
you'll do around 50 feet of climbing as you lose 50 feet in elevation
overall.
Typical terrain on the upper trail heading east.
That's Box Elder Peak on the skyline.
The terrain is mostly scrub oak with just enough handlebar
clearance to get through. There are occasional tiny meadows of grass.
After a bit of sustained downhill as you reach mile 0.5 of the loop,
you'll join the Dry Canyon trail #49. Turn to the right.
Another quick uphill, then down again.
Dry Canyon is steep and loose, which is why I recommend
doing the loop clockwise. You'll lose 150 feet of elevation over the 0.2
miles of this trail segment.
If your ride plan will take you further uphill in Dry Canyon, be aware
that the Dry
Canyon trail uphill from this loop becomes hike-a-bike steep in an
unpleasant erosion trench.
Descending Dry Canyon. Steeper than it looks.
As Lament (trail #51) joins Dry Canyon on your left, the trail
flattens out. Take a minute for the nice view. Now go 100 yards west downhill. At the trail fork, the
trail drops to the
left is the continuation of Dry Canyon. The flat trail straight ahead is
Curley Springs.
Heading toward the Curley Springs trail fork after
joining trail #51.
Immediately after starting on the Curley Springs trail,
fork right and uphill on a very small singletrack. This is the Curley
Springs Alternate. After climbing steadily for 1/10th mile, it will
descend gently, then turn and climb back up again before traversing over
to the main Curley Springs trail at mile 0.4 from Dry Canyon.
Typical trail segment.
Veer uphill and right to join Curley Springs, then after 30
feet, leave on the left on the small singletrack. This is the Curley
Springs re-route trail. This segment of the trail is only about 1/4 mile
long.
Climbing away from the cross-over of the Curley
Springs main trail.
Follow this trail uphill and around the ridge until it
rejoins the Curley Springs trail. You're now at mile 1.2 of the loop. Keep left and in 100 yards you'll reach
the trail fork with Sumac Hollow. Now decide how you'll descend back to
civilization.
Bottom line:
Short adventure for those who want to go off the grid.
View south as the trail turns to attack the final
section up to the ridgeline.
Loop clockwise from the
Upper Crop Circle
If the above video does not appear on your
browser/device, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking
here.
Getting there, Dry Canyon Trailhead:
Turn east off State Street (Highway 89) at 200 South in Lindon, which also
happens to be 2000 North for Orem. Keep straight as you approach the
mountains. When the road begins to turn right (south), turn left onto Dry
Canyon Drive heading northeast. Now keep straight uphill until the road
turns into the trailhead. The parking area is at N 40° 20.52' W 111°
40.62'.
