Turkey Run
Distance: 6.1 miles round trip
Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 2,083 feet
Higest Point: 4,866 feet
Average Grade: 9
Difficulty: Moderate Climbing, Fast Downhill Singletrack
Disclaimer: The mileage below is not accurate!
Maps: [ Google Earth ][ Google Maps ] [ TNR Map ]
This is a great little loop that I learned about on one of our "Thursday Night Rides". I have modified it to my liking and the description below isn't accurate mileage-wise or map-wise and they are close approximations. This loop starts out with an invigorating climb that leads to a screaming fast downhill with plenty of corners and great "Big Air" opportunities. Here is the map. The trip can be looked at in two different distinct sections. The rider starts out on the climb up spring and curry gulches and then transcends up the ridge to the high point. After getting to the high point it is all downhill from there.
Hill Climb:
- Mile 0 - .6 Main Corridor Trail and take the first left up Spring Gulch Trail.
- Mile .6 - 1.4 Take left up Curry Cabin Trail.
- Mile 1.4 - 2.1 At the trail junction, go left and follow trail slightly uphill to gain the ridge.
- Mile 2.1 - 2.5 Take a right and go up ridge staying on the trail most traveled.
- Mile 2.5 - 3.5 Follow trail to a spot where a trail leads off to the left.
- Mile 3.4 - 4 Take a left onto a trail that leads uphill and climb to the next trail junction. Top out and go left at the junction. After some tiny risers the terrain goes downhill in earnest.
- Mile 4 - 7 Downhill into the Sawmill Gulch Drainage. This is the Turkey Run as I understand it. Follow trail most traveled and enjoy the great downhill singletrack
- Mile 7 - 8.2 Ride out of Sawmill Gulch taking a right at the end of the meadow. Ride down to the upper parking lot and take to the road. After about a quarter mile take the left into the woods for the mandatory singletrack. Enjoy the last bit of downhill singletrack before ending the ride in the parking lot.