Alcove Spring Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Downhill · Flow · Technical · Wooden/Built Features

Great loop with a lot of variety. Moderate climbs, a couple that are more punchy. Loose rock and soil/debris.

Parking is limited under normal circumstances. There is no drinking water available, be sure to pack it in. There is also no trash service, so pack out. There is a pit toilet on site. Marysville is the closest community with amenities.

The initial climb into Cedar Grove is a light, technical climb with off-camber soft corners and tight twists. The route winds through a cedar grove with natural drainage elements that then create natural barriers and impediments for the course, adding additional elements of control needed for the rider. Come out of the grove, and continue a gentle, gradual climb to an upper prairie section for a short little breather into the open grass. Take an immediate right onto Donner Trail enjoy a breather, get the legs ready for a really nicely cut set of switchback climbs that take you up to Carson Loop. Be cautious on the climb, mind you, there is loose, loamy soil and lots of sharp Kansas flint- makes for a pretty slick, techy climb that is a lot of fun.

Hit the top, roll the prairie grass a bit, and gaze to the north, and you see Alcove Spring open in its entire breadth. From this vantage point, you can see much of what you've just ridden, and almost all of what you have left in the lap! Continue on a short track and we hit the max elevation for the lap, then beginning an excellent descent ducking back into some timber and following the natural contours and exposed rock to the creek bottom, some faster flowing turns and a couple of tight tech descent sections bring the challenge level up on this!

At roughly the 3-mile point, you'll turn into the creek bottom and find some really excellent rock sections. There may even be a couple that require a dismount. Hop back on and crush through the fast, flowy sections of the bottoms. There's a bit of climb left in there, but not a lot. It will dump you out to the great open field that you just saw from the overlook, and you can then make your way back along the creek access road to the Cedar Grove - Creek Connector to find your start!

The north end of the park contains visible wagon swales from the Oregon Trail. It is named for the spring that sits in an alcove, hidden and protected. A small waterfall over a stone table flows into the creek during wet seasons. Wagon Trains would wait at Alcove Spring for low water periods. They would then ford the river and continue their westward migration.