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Foreman Trail
The Foreman Trail is a forested singletrack loop that runs through the
Lodgepole Campground in Daniel's Canyon. The trail has seen better days
(as of summer 2009), and at this time I'm only recommending it for very
strong skilled riders with a high tolerance for adversity. The loop itself
is 4 miles. If you connect to it from Daniel's summit, the ride is 5.5
miles with 1100 vertical feet of climbing. Lowest altitude is 7650 feet,
top 8400.
View through the aspens on the
connector trail from Daniel's summit. Photos and ride description August
17, 2009 by Bruce.
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| The loop consists of four parts: (1) at the bottom is the
connection between two canyons on doubletrack and paved campground roads;
(2) Shingle Hollow is singletrack in a steep ravine with rocks and other
technical features; (3) there's an easy traverse on the high ridge; and
(4) Foreman Hollow on the south has a very steep pitch but fairly smooth
surface.
The loop is a "nature
interpretation" trail, with raised plaques identifying fir vs. pine
vs. spruce, etc. It's a great route to HIKE with your family if you're
staying in the campground. |
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| Any way you ride the Foreman Trail, you're going to suffer during the uphill. I
guarantee you at least some hike-a-bike. There are some truly nasty trail
sections in Shingle Hollow, and quite a few fallen tree trunks. If you
can't handle that, don't go.
Select your riding direction:
Clockwise has a 0.6 mile
section rising 400 vertical feet (basically push-a-bike steep) on the
uphill in Foreman Hollow. Then you'll find tricky rocks and roots with
plenty of opportunities to crash on the downhill through Shingle Hollow. A
short but continually nasty struggle uphill, and a technical descent:
consider this direction if you're more of a DH guy with a heavy bike. |
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Counterclockwise puts the tricky stuff on the uphill. The climb is less
steep, 600 vertical over 1 mile. The push-a-bike comes in short sections
as you fail to clear obstacles, with grunt uphill riding between. Going
downhill in Foreman Hollow isn't tricky.
The trail has a lot of deadfall and
deteriorated features. It obviously had a lot of work put into it at one
time, but could definitely could use some TLC. |
Uphill in Shingle Hollow. Moss,
mud, and rocks precede
an old deteriorating boardwalk. |
Shingle Hollow between
technical features. Steep sides
on
the ravine, deep forest of fir, spruce, and pine. |
| The climb up Shingle Hollow gets meaner as you climb higher.
The trail is narrow, with large rocks and quite a few (but small) roots to
clear. Plants leaning into the trail left me covered with stickseed, but
there was plenty of room at the handlebar level. I just wasn't man enough
to ride the whole thing and had to carry the bike up a few spots.
Nearing the top of Shingle Hollow, the
trail is a bit faint but still easy to follow. It's quite steep here. The
arrows show the trail. |
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Two bridge areas were deteriorated to the point that it was impossible
to ride them. Most are holding together but don't inspire great trust as
you approach.
Once you reach the split-log bridge that extends left to the
south side of the creek, the climbing is more humane. Crank onward,
soldier.
Looking back at a sagging bridge
across the creek, and we're almost to the top. |
| The trail breaks out into meadow near the top of the climb, with a
couple of brief views of Daniel's Summit, Strawberry Reservoir, and
surrounding mountains. Now begins a slightly-downhill traverse southbound
toward Foreman Hollow, followed by a short plunge to the trail fork
connector.
View east from the ridge
top.
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You can ride the trail starting from the Lodgepole
Campground. Parking here requires a fee. To save a few bucks, go to the
lodge at Daniel's summit and turn right to park at the north end of the
dirt parking area.
Southeast, we see a bit of
Strawberry Reservoir.
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| The step-around near the metal gate is the beginning of
a faint trail that extends 0.8 miles to connect to the middle of Foreman
Hollow. (Watch for blue diamonds on trees.) There's a ton of deadfall on
this trail, although I didn't find it as annoying on the return trip. I
could hop the bike over about half of the downed tree trunks.
Jackie moseys downhill through fern
and elderberry. |
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Riding notes, counterclockwise loop, from
Daniel's Summit:
0.0 Hoist bike over step-around gate, north end of parking
N40 18.203 W111 15.481
0.1 Keep L uphill (don't follow graveled service connector)
0.8 Through (dry?) creek, then R downhill, becomes DT
N40 18.495 W111 16.032
1.4 At gate, go L on paved campground road
N40 18.724 W111 15.575
1.5 Keep R on road (enter camping circle counterclockwise)
1.7 At apex of camp circle loop, R past gate on DT
N40 18.969 W111 15.633
2.2 L uphill on ST N40 19.215 W111 15.809
3.2 Cross creek, almost through climbing!
3.4 Top of ridge, begin traverse
4.2 Begin steep descent
4.7 At fork, R across creek on return trail N40 18.495 W111 16.032
5.5 Back at parking
View of the trail along the ridgeline. |
Getting there: Take US-40 southbound from
Heber and drive 18 miles up Daniel's Canyon. As you reach the summit, turn
right toward the lodge, then immediately right again (away from the
buildings). Go to the north end of the dirt parking area to the metal
gate. Next to the gate is a step-around where you can pass through the
fence as you hoist your bike over. Follow the trail (keep uphill and left
where a gravel path descends -- this route goes down to a storage
building) 0.8 miles to intersect the Foreman trail immediately after the
connector descends through a small creek.
Lodgepole Campground: To stay in the campground, turn at the campground
sign about 1/2 mile before the summit. Drive down to the campground. To
reach the trail at Shingle Hollow, keep right and go to the far (north)
end of camping Loop A, where the trail is the doubletrack behind the metal
gate. |
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