TR - Resurrecting the Dixie 311
I've done the Bristlecone (FKA Dixie) 200 a couple times now.
It evolved out of the Dixie 311 and Dixie Lite (168 mi) routes also created by DaveH. The 311 was a burly loop that went way north up into the Tushars and included some tough, remote singletrack. It generated plenty of buzz in the early bikepacking community but few riders attempted it and only a handful ever completed it. The 311 had been in the back of my mind for years after seeing awesome looking photos and reading TRs describing challenging, remote trail. But everything north of the 200 route was a blank area on a map for me. And yeah, it looked pretty damn hard. After exploring the Tushars a couple years ago I realized the trails I had ridden included the north end of the 311 route, and my interest was spiked.
So I searched out GPS tracks and started plotting. The 200 was re-routed significantly for 2019 due to fire closures and major washouts, so I plugged those re-routes into the old 311 track. And then I tacked my Tushars loop on to the north end. Everything between the 200 route and the Tushars would be new ground. Studying the maps in that zone I could see where the problem areas were. All singletrack was suspect due to lack of use and maintenance. The rest of the route mostly followed the Paiute Trails, a 1,000mi network of primary and secondary OHV trails which are maintained and see regular use. They may not be ideal for bikes but at least they will be clear of deadfall.
I researched the singletracks that were part of the route. All I could find was a hiker trip report for one of them dated May 2022, which said the trail was in good shape. That can mean something very different to a hiker than a MTBer so I'd have to wait and see on the ground. The Forest Service was of no help. They didn't know when the Spruce Trail was last logged out (it is notorious for deadfall) and said Willow Creek may have large washouts. On the east side they simply said they hadn't received any complaints about the trails in question. OK, but is that because they are actually in good shape, or is it because no one has used them in 10 years? They had no clue. I hoped to include these trails in the ride but was not interested in 20+ miles of deadfall-infested hike a bike. I've done plenty of that this year already.
Fortunately, logical bypasses existed for all of these singletracks using the Paiute ATV trails which gave me the final push needed to commit and head to Utah. The group start for the Bristlecone 200 was coming up and I hoped to make it to that and start with the group. Unfortunately I didn't make it up there until after the last racers finished. No biggie, I wouldn't have seen them after the start anyways. With all the unknowns this would be more of a scouting mission than an actual attempt at the route. I'd ride as much as I can and let conditions dictate the route as I went.
With the Brian Head fire closure ended and Dark Hollow rebuilt (thanks, RA!), a start/end at the bottom of 2nd Left Hand Canyon is back.
https://www.habventures.com/photos/0...11/Day1/01.jpg
The downside of that is a 3,500ft climb to start the day. Having gotten in late the night before I was late to get going...1030ish. Fortunately temps were cool, and being a weekday there was minimal traffic.
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Having burned in 2018 the thick forest was gone. Most of it pretty well torched.
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Lookin' back down the hill
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I'm about to find out...
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To my surprise Spruce Trail was riding great. Trail tread was still pretty raw, but all the downed trees so far had been cut out.
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And then I came around a corner to find Armageddon. With all the branches and overlap this mess was impassable.
I hiked around. The worst went for 100m with regular deadfall after that as far as I could see. Found out later there was a big wind event a couple weeks before. I'd experienced deadfall like this on 3 miles of Spruce trail before on the 200 route, and the 311 route stays on Spruces for an additional 6 miles. No thanks, time to retreat...
https://www.habventures.com/photos/0...11/Day1/08.jpg
The bypass was to drop Bunker Creek Trail to Panguitch Lake and then climb up Horse Valley Road
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Bunker Creek is no consolation prize. It is a very fun trail that was rebuilt a few years back. And it has been extended by over 4 miles almost to Panguitch Lake. As a bonus, this bypass took me past a general store and the Burger Barn. How could I not stop in for dinner?
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Horse Valley Road is a main forest road that was well graded and a pretty easy climb. A couple trucks and some sheep were the only encounters on the climb.
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Up top I rode through some nice valleys.
Worth mentioning, Spruce Trail runs along the ridgetop on the left. You can see all the standing dead trees on the hillsides. I was confident I made the right choice as since there is probably tons of deadfall up there.
https://www.habventures.com/photos/0...11/Day1/12.jpg
I finally got into some nice forest near the top
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Enjoying the view during a snack break at the top of the pass
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Those distant mountains are where I'm heading tomorrow
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Spruce Trail actually ends just out of sight in a valley below. The 311 route doesn't use it beyond the pass I'd just been at though. It is probably in terrible shape below, but it's something to look at for later.
I love a sunset up high, but it was getting chilly and time to keep moving.
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I made quick time dropping down low as the road was still in good shape. I hit the valley bottom at dusk and turned onto the Old Spanish Trail
https://www.habventures.com/photos/0...11/Day1/18.jpg
It was only a few miles to Willow Creek Trail, the next unknown.
I hiked up it a couple hundred meters and didn't like what I saw...steep trail that was trenched out by ATVs. Wasn't interested in that and navigating possible washouts in the dark, so I opted for the bypass again.
I actually did go back after finishing the bikepack and rode the trail. It was overgrown enough with sage and other brush to be annoying but was mostly ok, just slow going. No big washouts and not excessive deadfall. It'll probably stay in the route.
The bypass turned off the Spanish Trail onto a side road that was narrow and primitive. Where Willow Creek met up with it, there was a stream crossing to filter from. I walked a bit of the trail on that side and lost it among the cow paths.
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I rode a couple miles on this road down canyon before turning up an old ranch road up another draw.
UT one-up's AZ in hard to open ranch gates. Came across this one at the top. I had to hop the fence and open it from the far side, couldn't get enough leverage on the cross piece to get the wire off.
https://www.habventures.com/photos/0...11/Day1/20.jpg
Climbing out of the canyon got me out of a cold air drainage and I didn't want to drop down into another one on the far side. I was hungry and there was a flat spot, so it seemed like a good place to camp. Quick dinner and I was out.
Stats for the day were around 53mi and 8k of gain.
