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Dee Pass Loop
The Dee Pass Loop combines two desert motorcycle routes with
a smidgen of dirt road to form a 13.4-mile mountain biking loop. This loop
is located southwest of Green River. The riding isn't too technical, but
there are a few steep spots and a couple of sandy areas. This loop is very
remote -- if you're exploring, we strongly suggest you take a GPS unit.
Bruce powers up a ridge on the
homeward bound side of the loop. Photos March 13, 2003.
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| The desert scenery here has its own stark beauty. There's
little vegetation to interrupt the colors of the Morrison Formation shales,
laid down at the end of the Jurassic Period. The first third of the loop
is undulating singletrack through a moonscape of wierd. Capping the
multicolored Morrison is the rough Buckhorn Conglomerate from the early
Cretaceous Period.
View northward from a high point in
the trail.
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Descending onto the connector road, you'll find a broad flat
of eroded shale, littered with small volcanic chips.
While our loop turns right onto the road, the singletrack that
continues across the road is enticing. Consider a quick side-trip on this
trail, which takes you 1.5 miles up to a fantastic viewpoint over the
Tenmile Wash region. (The trail turns eastward and descends from this
viewpoint.)
One of several ruins near Dee Pass,
this home is a dugout. |
| After leaving the dirt road connector, you'll ascend into
broken sandstone -- the Salt Wash sandstone at the base of the Morrison
Formation. The riding here is only marginally more technical.
Dominic cruises through the broken
boulders of the Salt Wash sandstone.
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After descending from the bluffs, there's a bit of sand on
the northwest corner of this loop. But it's rideable without getting off
to push -- assuming good technique, fat tires, and reasonable leg power. A
couple of miles through the sandy brush takes you back to the original
trail near Dee Pass.
A few miles southeast of Dee Pass,
Dominic attacks a hill.
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0.0 Trail crosses road, go east
N 38°
49.901' W 109° 59.971' alt=4400'
0.5 Keep straight at trail crossing
Continue up wash past watering
trough
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
(Trail on R is return trail)
0.6 Ruins on left
1.2 Cross Dee Pass, more ruins
3.0 Keep right to climb steep hill
Hilltop N 38° 49.68' W 109°
57.45' alt=4750'
5.1 Turn R on dirt road
N 38° 48.973' W 109° 55.756'
alt=4575'
(ST continues towards Blue
Hills) |
8.1 Fork R where cairn marks
minor DT
N 38° 47.254' W 109° 57.920'
alt=4600'
9.0 ST comes in from L, keep straight
N 38° 47.577' W 109° 58.493'
alt=4730'
10 Crest ridge
N 38° 48.295' W 109° 58.186'
alt=4740'
11 4-way, fork R
N 38° 48.558' W 109° 58.888'
alt=4600'
11.4 and 11.9 Keep R
12.8 Turn L onto original trail
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
13.4 Back to vehicle |
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Getting there: On I-70, drive 15 miles east of
Green River. Exit at Ranch Exit 175. Turn right and head south. At mile
4.1 from I-70, keep right (left is Blue Hills Road). At around mile 7,
keep left. Watch for a trail crossing the road near a fence at mile 7.2, N 38°
49.901' W 109° 59.971'.
Park here and ride east (downhill, through the fence).
Copyright 2003
Mad Scientist Software Inc
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