Larry Creek Hill Climb
Terrain Distance (approx): 14.24 miles (rt)Climbing Distance: 2,415 feet
Highest Altitude: 6,069 feet
Trip Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy dirt road climb.
Maps: My Google Map | KML File
This is a easy "quickie" ride that climbs to a lookout over the beautiful Bass Creek Drainage. From the lookout you can hike to Little Saint Joe Mountain. In the winter this is a great place to start a tele-ski trip from.
Park in the parking lot to the right as you enter the Larry Creek Campground Area. There are some mountain bike trails in this area as well. I like to use a cross bike for the climb itself although i do not recommend doing it in the fall when there is limited light and 4 inches of snow at the turn-around.
At about 4,600 feet you will encounter a gate and it is here that the snow usually starts. In the winter you must go from here on skis.
Trip Report
The climb was grueling not because I am a wimp, but because by the time I reached the top there was 4 inches of snow. To make things worse the ground was soft and muddy below it at the lower altitudes and a frozen sheet of ice at the higher altitudes.
The climb took me 57:32 and the decent 37:07 (it was dark). The weather was cold. On the way down I had to stop and re-warm my fingers three times. The view at night is gorgeous.
I averaged 126 bpm for the ride (150 up, and 90 down). I give this ride three stars out of 5.