Route Check: Bear Valley Gravel Loop
Bear Valley Road
Diamond in the rough / Bear Valley Gravel Loop
Now Known As “Margie’s Ride”
BONUS CONTENT: Margie LaPoint in a vintage ad for Husqvarna.
With the increase in traffic in the area and the mountain bike trails starting to show their dust, a gravel ride seems to be the perfect choice. Shop crew member Margie LaPoint’s favorite gravel ride is the Bear Valley Loop. It is the “friendliest” gravel ride around getting a whopping 50 miles in about 4 hours riding time. The roads on this loop are almost all as “smooth as butter” and you won’t see many cars either.
Description from the master of the gravel, Margie LaPoint:
Starting Location:
The loop begins at the parking lot for the Emigrant Trailhead on Hobart Mills Rd and 89N.
Getting on the right path:
• Head east out of the parking lot and take the first dirt road on the left which will head straight across 89 into the Hobart Work Station area.
• A right hand turn immediately starts you on a nice gravel road heading north and paralleling 89.
• At mile 3, take a slight right turn onto an unnamed rocky road with a slight downhill slope. This is the only rocky road on the loop, so hang in there! There is a metal pole at the intersection (the pole looks like there may have been a gate here at some point). This road is the only way across the creek via a bridge- so don’t miss this turn.
• After the low point (bridge/creek) crossing you begin to climb out on this same rocky road. It begins to smooth out as you get to the top.
• At 4.3 miles you come to a 5 -way intersection. This part is a bit tricky, but you basically continue straight ahead- do NOT take the slight left that says to Sagehen campground. Just continue straight ahead and you’ll be headed towards Independence Lake loop.
• There is a “fast gravel” segment on Strava – and that is exactly what this entire section is: FAST! Grab a wheel and pretend you are on a road ride. It’s flat and fast and so fun!
• This brings you to broken down pavement as you are nearing Jackson Meadows Road. This section is over 3 miles long. Now you’ve gone 10 miles and are at the paved road. It only gets better from here on out.
• Turn right on the pavement and continue on until you cross 89N. The road now is called Cottonwood Road and it is the smoothest gravel road ever!!! It flows along with a slight climb topping out at the intersection of Lemon Canyon Rd and Bear valley Campground, which is on the right.
• Take a break and get ready for the next 10 miles of downhill to Loyalton via Bear Valley Rd. The road just changes names, you don’t make any turns, just continue straight. The road changes texture a bit with a couple of heavy gravel sections and a few turns, but you don’t need to check your speed too much at all. The road flattens out and you start seeing neighborhood houses and eventually it turns to pavement. You are at mile 25 and it’s about 2-hour riding time at this point.
• The road T’s into Smithneck Rd. Make a right and just a few minutes down is a lovely park on the right to stop and use the facilities and eat some food. Unfortunately, there is no water. If it’s hot, I suggest wearing a hydration pack, otherwise 2 bottles should be good.
• From here, you can access the single track that runs behind the park, next to the creek. Or you can just ride up Smithneck Rd. the entire way. Riding the single track breaks up the long 9- mile climb and makes things more interesting for almost 3 miles of singletrack! In any event, carry on and this becomes Henness Pass Road. There are beautiful views of Relay Peak along the way up Smithneck and some meadows bursting with wildflowers now too.
• Once you hit Stampede Rd. turn right on the pavement- you are at 39 -40 miles and head down the pavement to the Stampede Damn crossing. After crossing the damn, and as you end the paved section – you have some choices to make!
A) you can take the Emigrant all the way back- tough guys do this
B) continue on Dog Valley Road to Hobart Mills Road and ride the pavement back to the parking lot or
C) continue across Hobart Mills Rd and hit a few more hills on Dog Valley back to the intersection of Old Reno Rd. Take a right and carry on until the Emigrant crosses the road and jump on the last, super fun section of the Emigrant (on your left) – this part is very gravel bike friendly.
• Pop right up to the trailhead parking lot as you near the highway for completion of the 51-mile ride with 3500 ft. of elevation gain!
Follow Margie’s STRAVA for more details.
