Hawes Hot Lap

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Three miles of road climbing to the trailhead. Then it's about a half mile of steep climbing on dirt singletrack to the top of the hill. From there, it's a well rounded mix of downhill flow, berms, chunk, and gnar. Close it out with a one mile sprint through covered track along the canal back to the car.

Most people park in the lot behind Walgreens. The climb up is relatively tame at around a 1-3% grade with occasional jaunts of 5-6%. Most mountain bikers use the extra wide sidewalk on the left side of the road, but there's a bike lane on the right side too (the roadies all use that). At mile two turn left on Las Sendas Mountain Drive (look for the waterfall on the left). Follow the road for another mile as it curves up and to the right.

There's a large stone sign that marks the trailhead for Upper Hawes Loop Trail. If you take a moment to look South from here, you'll get a nice view of the valley before heading up. This is where the climb gets steep. After about a quarter mile of climbing, hang a left at the fork. Another quarter mile to the top of the hill. Alternatively you can cut out the difficult section by taking the Diamond Point Connector trail straight to the Hawes Trail. The trailhead is found by taking a left on N. Diamond Point a few hundred feet before the Upper Hawes Loop Trail entrance.

The downhill starts with a short roller coaster section followed by a few hundred feet of fast and rough rocky terrain. The trail continues as you follow the fenceline down to the Hawes Trail. You'll cross a few sandy dry creek crossings, there's a short climb before more fast and loose goodness. It's like this all the way to the sharp left turn onto Fenceline Trail (locally called "Where the Wild Things Are"). Then it's a mostly flat mile back to the point of beginning.