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Rock The Creek

Rock the creek ride!Distance: 61 miles round trip
Time: 5.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 9,793 feet
Difficulty: Difficult Long Climbing
Disclaimer: The mileage below is not accurate!

On Memorial Day Weekend I decided to do "Rock The Creek". This loop is my own invention and I named it after the where the start and beginning sections are ... Rock Creek. I highly recommend being is decent shape before embarking on this remarkable adventure. I also highly recommend this loop for its beauty, terrain, and effort needed to complete it. Here is the map.

The trip can be looked at in four different distinct sections. The rider starts out on the Brewster Creek Road for section one. After getting to the ridge near Sliderock Mountain the ride turns to the second section along the ridge south. After some of the most beautiful forest sections the downhill begins. The third section is the ride down the Willow Creek Drainage and finishes at the beginning of the last section. The last section of course is the Rock Creek Road ride back to the start point.

Brewster Creek Climb: Brewster Creek Climb starts up Brewster Creek Road near Quigley. The ride starts out quiet enough as it winds through a community of cabins and lodges. Shortly up the road is a creek crossing which is very mild. Shortly after the crossing the road turns to a jeep trail and begins to climb. The climb is in great shape and there is plenty of traction. The climb is long and the grade gets steeper as the rider reaches the top. This climb really put me in great difficulty. Here is the rundown.

  • Mile 0 - 2 Brewster Creek Road to beginning of the climb.
  • Mile .5 - .75 Take a left onto one of the first lefts heading up towards the tree line.
  • Mile 2 - 8.5 The grueling climb (awesome scenery and trail).
Route 1 Ridge: Route 1 in Granite County runs along the ridge going south. This terrain goes through some great forests and affords views of the Welcome Creek Wilderness to Quig Peak. The rundown:
  • Mile 8.5 - 12 Up and down along the ridge working southward.
  • Mile 12 - 15 Downhill into the Willow Creek Drainage.
Willow Creek: Going down the Willow Creek Drainage is beautiful. Looming in the distance is the Pintler Mountain Range. I passed old farms using horse and plow ... just like the old days. Its a great ride. The rundown:
  • Mile 12 - 15 Downhill into the Willow Creek Drainage.
  • Mile 15 - 28 Really fast dirt road back to Rock Creek Road.
  • Mile 28 - 30 Take the Rock Creek Paved Road West to the turnoff of Rock Creek (dirt) Road.
Rock The Creek: Going down the Rock Creek can get a little dusty but the scenes are beautiful. Looming next to the creek are towering cliffs overlooking a green lush valley. Some sections are twisty and narrow. Look for eagles and osprey. It is also a great a great ride unless your legs are falling apart from the ride. The rundown:
  • Mile 30 - 61 Ride the Rock Creek Road back to the beginning. There are great views of valleys and rock cliffs. The only draw-back is the dust from the traffic. Rock Creek Road is well used by anglers and floaters, so watch out for the trucks carrying rafts.