Featured Trails Manzanita Trail by Tom Kenney The Manzanita Trail is the old nick-name of the eastern half of the High Desert Recreation Trail (HDRT). This trail traverses the base of Mount Baden-Powell and Mount Lewis between Vincent Gap at it's high end and South Fork Campground at it's low end. This section of the HDRT is considerably rougher and more challenging that it's 'better half' - the Devil's Chair - to the west. There is more variety, and trail conditions vary from packed duff to gravel to scree, with acorns, sand, and bouldery stream crossings thrown in for fun. Unfortunately, the Manzanita does not get much traffic, so the conditions don't 'form up' like other well-travelled trails. What the Manzanita lacks in trail conditions, it makes up in scenery, wilderness feel, technical challenge, and easier loop logistics. [more] Macclesfield Forest Loop, Cheshire, England by Andy Livo The Macclesfield Forest area is well known for walking and biking, being situated some three miles from Macc. town. The area has been recently developed and now allows MTBs through the forest trail. It provides the MTBer with some great routes in the hilly Cheshire countryside. There are two cracking technical downhills here which are great to hone your skills on. Many options are available around the area and they can be mixed and matched. This loop has some road work in but is well worth it for the off road sections on offer. [more] Devil's Chair by Tom Kenney The Devil's Chair is a strange rock outcrop in the midst of the sandstone uplift zone known as the Devil's Punchbowl, situated on the northern edge of the eastern San Gabriel Mountains. The Devil's Punchbowl is a county park on the border of the Angeles National Forest, and is in the transition zone from Mojave Desert to the subalpine forests of the San Gabriels. The trail itself, the High Desert Recreation Trail (HDRT), traverses the base of the San Gabriels at an average elevation of about 5000' and stays mostly above the sandstone uplift. Views from this trail out over the western Mojave Desert are staggering! [more] Jackass Peak Loop by Tom Kenney The Jackass Peak Loop is an excellent medium-sized loop with easy climbing and an incredibly fun singletrack descent. Many options exist on this loop, including a '100% singletrack' option for the purist. This trail may also be linked with other major trails in the area if one is in need of more mileage. The scenery on this loop is typical of the southern Sierra Nevada. Most of the riding is done in dense fir and pine forests, with some beautiful little groves of quaking aspen along the way. Many meadows are passed while riding beneath the stately granite domes that pepper the Kern Plateau. [more] Chimney Creek - Long Valley Loop by Tom Kenney The Chimney Creek - Long Valley Loop is a neat Southern Sierra Nevada sampler that takes in the high desert sagebrush and pinyon forests, subalpine meadows, dense pine and fir forest, and rocky mountainsides. The loop is mostly dirt fire road, with one short segment and one long segment of pavement. Two campgrounds and numerous primitive sites along the route provide nice camping. This loop would make a good easy-to-moderate overnight bike tour. Despite moderate elevation (5200' low point and 7800' high point), this route can be ridden most months of the year. The desert conditions provide a relatively dry environment, even in winter. Also, road conditions on the loop are good to excellent, with almost no deep sand, and very few rocky sections. [more] Wawona Meadow by Cedar Wawona is located 4 miles from Yosemite's southern entrance. The area is a logistical center for those passing through on their way to Yosemite Valley. At the center of Wawona is the historical Wawona Hotel. It offers dining and lodging for those who plan on staying for the night or even just passing by for lunch. For those running out of gas, there's even a gas station which, although more expensive than the stations in Oakhurst 15 miles away, may come come in handy for the unorganized. [more] [See Past Featured Trails]