Trailshot:
First, more than four miles of typical low desert road.
Some sand, some rocks, a good long warmup for what's to
come.
After the last wash crossing, it's into the hills
for a few miles of twisty and verrry narrow S-track.
Well, they're improved wild burro trails, really.
Most of the bad rocks are off the trail;
just off the trail.
But the burros like it, and so do I.
Along the return route beautiful blue Lake Havasu
beckons less than two miles distant. Two different side trips lead there.
The first choice is a fairly easy double-track descent.
The second is a heavily used walking trail; wicked technical first,
then speeding up on ridgetops all the way to the lake.
Both lead to secluded coves. Yeah.
Back at the trailhead, there's extra credit in the form of
2countem2 separate two mile trail loops! WOOHOO!!
Updated Feb. 2, 2002
Go about ten miles east on Interstate 40 from the Colorado River crossing at Topock. There highway 95 goes south twenty five miles to that same river at Lake Havasu City. Stay on the highway straight thru town to the south end.
After the last traffic light at Oro Grand, continue to the next cross street at McCulloch Blvd South.
(Note: McCulloch also crosses the highway near the north end of town). (strange town).
Turn right (south) and go seven tenths of a mile. Look for a parking area just off the road to the right, next to a locked gate that's on a cable fence.
You're at the Trailhead.
For the really cool mini-loop, step thru the cable fence at the gate and go down the road one-tenth mile to a right hand trail next to a trash can. Then just follow the tracks. Or you can take a new trail segment, starting from the gate, going up to the right, and back down to the loop. Whatever.
The loop ends three-tenths of a mile from the trailhead, on the main hiking trail to the lake.
For the other trail, go across the paved road from the trailhead, and look for a trail leading away from the road. You want to go northeast up the valley, then climb up onto the ridge on your left.
This loop is much ruffer, and not real scenic, but it's got some good drops and no hikers to worry about.
0.0 From the trailhead go southeast along the paved road which follows the cable fence (state park boundary) about one half mile. Watch for an old road cut slanting off to the right, and hop the fence there.
Here you will see 'keep out' signs posted by the shooting range on down the paved road. Why they think they own the state park I don't know. Pay no mind; ALL the local bikers use this route. But if you hear shooting, make sure you always present a moving target.
A couple of miles along you'll see a nice looking single track curving off to the right. Going that way cuts the main loop in half for a short ride. For the main loop stay on the road. (map)
3.6 As you approach the electric substation ahead, watch for a road that branches right, and take it. This road swings right and climbs moderately toward a pass thru the steep hills ahead.
4.1 Speed trap. Really a five foot deep vertical washout right across the road. Detour around to the right.
4.4 The pass. Some pretty good doubletrack. (map)
5.7 After you go past some large rock formations on the left, and then go thru a small notch, or gap, watch closely for a narrow trail slanting off to the right. This goes directly at the wash ahead. Take it.
The road continues south, paralleling the wash. I've not been that way, but I understand it's fairly lengthy, and goes to the lake at some point.
5.8 Go straight across the wash, then turn sharp right along the far bank. The trail soon rises out of the wash.
After some fun trailing, you drop into the head of a little wash and run down it for a while. There's some sand in spots, but it's not too bad. (map)
6.5 A very steep, but short trail segment leads up and out of the wash to the right. "Stop whining and get yer burro up there!" At the top, 1-track resumes, and it's kinda narrow so dog that line.
7.6 The trail splits and joins a doubletrack that cuts straight across the main loop, toward the lake. It's the shortcut passed earlier in the ride.
Go left toward the lake. (map)
7.7 At the top of a rise, a trail splits off and up to the right. Take it.
If getting wet is your desire, you may side-trip down the road to the lakeshore, less than two miles off. It's easy going down (400 ft. descent), but coming back up requres muscle.
7.9 The trail splits and both ways drop down a steep hill. Left is a hike-a-bike, Right is rideable only down, and just barely that. At the bottom, you cross a large wide wash and work your way up a small one.
When it's hot, this is the worst part of the loop.
8.3 Just when you think you've had enough, there's a fifty foot crawlup! Oh woe! And you're TRAPPED!! No chairlift.
When you make it to the top, (assuming you do) take a breather brother, 'cause you'll need it. Then it's more fine 1-track ahead. (map)
8.6 The main trail continues north here, but it's only good going the other way, so take the side trail left down into the big wash. The hiking trail passes thru here, right to left, on it's way to the lake.
The main loop/hiking trail turns right, and then quickly left, onto an old doubletrack running up a secondary wash.
Note: It's easy to miss this old road and go up the main wash, but this trail too is a bummer going uphill.
If instead, you go left toward the lake, the trail quickly divides and goes high and low.
The low leads down the wash into a little slot canyon ('hole in the rock'), carved from pink stone. Nice, but no riding here. Instead, go right and up, on a really technical and rocky section about a half mile long. Then smoother riding down the ridgetops until at the end, a split, left and right, toward two different coves. (1.4 miles from loop) Take the left, it's better. Note: don't take the false trail that goes right at 1.2 miles from the main loop. This whole area is very scenic, so bring the camera.
Now back to the loop. (map)
9.0 After you pass a side trail to the right, you go up and around and down across the wash, and up onto a road which goes by a big old mining pit.
Continue on up the road.
9.3 You should be looking at your vehicle behind that cable fence. At least I hope so. Now do it again the other way! (map)
