Beaver Creek Loop
Best Use: Mtn Biking
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Length: 32.5mi (52.4km)
Start Elev: 4,556ft (1,389m) Tot. Elev Gain: 4369 ft (1,332m).
Trail Surface and Use: Seasonally graded county roads and rough two track. One short hike a bike section into Beaver Creek Canyon with some pathfinding down the creek bottom.
Trail Head Access: 2WD autos.
Trail Head Coordinates: 12S 675571 m E 4283308 m N WGS84 UTM Zone12
Description: From Gateway, climb the steep John Brown Canyon Road crossing the Utah State Line at mile 8.7 (14 km). After 1.5 miles (2.4 km) take the next right for a short climb onto Dolores Point Mesa and the high point of the loop – 7,745 ft (2,360 m) Stay on the main road as you travel northward on the mesa top. At mile 12.5 (20.2 km) look for a road to the left (west) that will soon drop down to the first bench and the old log Kniblock Cabins. Continue north on the two track until you come to the steep switchback (south) which will take you down to the next bench and the Hubbard Wikiup on the canyon rim at mile 16.3 (26.3 km). The steep hike a bike just to the south will take you 800 ft (244 m) down to Beaver Creek. An old trail can be seen occasionally as you follow the creek bottom to the Dolores River at mile 24 (38.7 km). Follow the seasonally graded county road upstream to Gateway. Note: Pack extra water and food for this demanding ride.