Access: Summit County High School
Start: 15:58, 8/20/2013
Start: 15:58, 8/20/2013
Total Distance: 4.11 mi
Duration: 0:36:11
Avg. Pace: 8:49
Lowest/Highest Elevation: 9064'/9977'
Weather: 65F, overcast
The Route:
There is an entire network of single track, dirt roads, and game trails in the hills behind Summit High extending north to south between Iron Springs and the Colorado Trail at Gold Hill and bordered to the west by the Peaks Trail. This particular route starts on the rec bike path adjacent the high school. On the northwest side of the school, a narrow single track splits off left from the bike path in a spot where the bike path intersects with a perpendicular bike path leading to HW 9.
The trail climbs 300' in under a quarter of a mile to an old dirt logging road. Take a left on the logging road and continue climbing for about 150 yds. Near the top of the logging road, there is a steep trail that splits off to the right. If you start running downhill on the log road, you've gone too far. The steep narrow trail ascends 600' south through thick trees paralleling the rec path below. In a few clearings, there is a good view of Summit High and Farmers Korner below. The trail levels out at around 10,000' near Ophir Mountain's peak. Continue on to the T in the trail. Taking a left, the trail quickly wraps around to another split. Staying left, the single track descends about a mile where it turns into a double track.
Follow the double track until the double track makes a hard right. There you can hop off the double track and continue straight on a single track that leads to the Farmers Korner houses on the hill. The single track cuts left behind the hill houses and you can turn off right anywhere along the single track to hop on the paved road below that leads back to the paved rec path. Alternatively, you can remain on the double track. This leads you further south to a system of roads and trails in the Gold Hill area near the Colorado Trail.
Overall Impression:
The trails around Ophir Mountain do not see much traffic. They're a viable alternative to the overcrowded Peaks Trail on the opposite side of Ophir. In a county that has a lot of disappearing forests, the trails around Ophir are still thickly wooded. It is easy to get lost if you are unfamiliar with the trails, but if you have a grasp of the area - there are more variations than the Oregon Ducks football team's uniforms.
The Run:
http://runkeeper.com/user/bwayne/activity/229783654
There is an entire network of single track, dirt roads, and game trails in the hills behind Summit High extending north to south between Iron Springs and the Colorado Trail at Gold Hill and bordered to the west by the Peaks Trail. This particular route starts on the rec bike path adjacent the high school. On the northwest side of the school, a narrow single track splits off left from the bike path in a spot where the bike path intersects with a perpendicular bike path leading to HW 9.
The trail climbs 300' in under a quarter of a mile to an old dirt logging road. Take a left on the logging road and continue climbing for about 150 yds. Near the top of the logging road, there is a steep trail that splits off to the right. If you start running downhill on the log road, you've gone too far. The steep narrow trail ascends 600' south through thick trees paralleling the rec path below. In a few clearings, there is a good view of Summit High and Farmers Korner below. The trail levels out at around 10,000' near Ophir Mountain's peak. Continue on to the T in the trail. Taking a left, the trail quickly wraps around to another split. Staying left, the single track descends about a mile where it turns into a double track.
Follow the double track until the double track makes a hard right. There you can hop off the double track and continue straight on a single track that leads to the Farmers Korner houses on the hill. The single track cuts left behind the hill houses and you can turn off right anywhere along the single track to hop on the paved road below that leads back to the paved rec path. Alternatively, you can remain on the double track. This leads you further south to a system of roads and trails in the Gold Hill area near the Colorado Trail.
Overall Impression:
The trails around Ophir Mountain do not see much traffic. They're a viable alternative to the overcrowded Peaks Trail on the opposite side of Ophir. In a county that has a lot of disappearing forests, the trails around Ophir are still thickly wooded. It is easy to get lost if you are unfamiliar with the trails, but if you have a grasp of the area - there are more variations than the Oregon Ducks football team's uniforms.
The Run:
http://runkeeper.com/user/bwayne/activity/229783654
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