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Basics
- Length:
- 12 mile loop
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time To Allow:
- 4 - 5 hours
Description
This trail is a cool, green departure from the desert rides typical of Canyonlands. Situated in the Abajo Mountains of the Manti-LaSal National Forest, the route courses through thick stands of aspen and Ponderosa pine and offers superb views of 11,360 foot Abajo Peak and its neighboring mountains.Although described here as a counter clockwise ride, you can pedal the loop in the opposite direction just as easily. For the first 2 miles, the trail ascends the Pipeline Trail, a designated recreational route. At mile 2.5 the trail crosses a bridge spanning the North Fork Creek. This section of the trail offers the best views of Abajo Peak to the west. Another .25 miles further, the trail cuts through South Creek (no bridge spans the low water). Half a mile beyond the stream crossing, the trail turns into a gravel road at Gold Queen Basin, heads northeast then drops 1,000 verticle feet as it passes Loyd's Lake. A reservoir that supplies water into Monticello, Loyd's Lake nestles among scrub oak, pinyon pines and junipers and offers swimming, fishing and picnicking. The loop finishes 0.5 miles past the lake at Monticello. This is a Loop trail and is in season from May to October.
