Beaver NICA Race Loop
(Ramblers Trail)
The Beaver race loop is part of the BLM Beaver Bench trail system. The NICA loop lies across a shallow valley a mile north of the Beaver Bench DH flow trails. The trails are at 6500 feet elevation and are almost entirely sun-exposed. The expected riding season will be mid-May through November.
The 5.8 mile race loop is called the Ramblers trail. The trail surface is bench-cut and highly engineered with tall berms. Overall climbing on the loop is 500 feet, divided into multiple short increments with no steep spots. It's an easy ride both technically and aerobically.
The terrain is grass and sage meadow, with an occasional small grove of mixed pinion and juniper. The trail is 100% sun-exposed.
The race shakeout starts on the north side of the Table Grounds Loop Road. It will be of little interest to non-racers. But when combined with a short section of the main gravel road it can make a nice easy half-mile loop for young children.
Trailhead and Connections
Race Staging Area
In Beaver, take 200 North (Highway 153) east toward the mountains. After
1.1 miles, turn left onto North Creek Road. Now drive exactly 2 miles.
You'll see a gravel quarry ahead, to the right of North Creek Road. Turn
right on the gravel Table Grounds Loop Road (not marked by a sign in
2023).
Drive 1.1 miles. You'll now see flattened areas on both sides of the road. These are the racer prep zones. If its not a race day, you can pick any spot to establish camp.
Table Top Trailhead
First, drive to the racing prep zone as described above. Spot the sign for
Table Top Trailhead on the right side of the road. 100 feet later, turn to
the right on a smallish doubletrack. If the route isn't clear, aim for the
small grove of trees, as you see in the photo above. There's only room for
5 or 6 cars here. The trail is at the far end of the parking area just
past the kiosk.
From Mammoth Crossing - Beaver Bench system
The Mammoth Crossing trailhead is on the Beaver Canyon
Road (Highway 153) and is reached by taking 200 North 3.3 miles east of
Beaver's Main Street. Take the Sage Advice trail to the DH flow trails.
Drop down Sundance Skid and veer right at the bottom, then quickly turn
left on the connector out to the dirt road. Pick your route. The
doubletrack on the left is the main connector; the one to the right is the
Bone Hollow DT. If you go 90 degrees right, that road will take you on a
loop 4 miles to the race area.
Ramblers Loop
From the Table Top trailhead, head to the left on the singletrack. The trail is designated as two-way, but it's built to be more fun -- and to flow faster -- in the clockwise direction. Now keep to the right on the narrower trail as you pass the lap/finish diversion as it forks away and rejoins.
At mile 0.4, again keep right. The singletrack joining on your left comes from the shakeout doubletrack (where racers spread out from the start line before hitting the actual race loop).
At mile 1.7 you'll reach the first of two A-B splits. These "sprint arounds" are short -- only around 100 yards -- with the right line being very slightly shorter.
At mile 4.0, just after dropping into a small canyon, the trail will join a doubletrack for about 100 yards. This doubletrack is one of the two connectors from the main Beaver Bench trail system. The connector hits the bottom of the Flow Hollow trail in 1.2 miles.
The singletrack race loop diverts to the right off the doubletrack to cross to the other side of the small canyon and begin climbing.
At mile 4.9, the race loop joins an improved gravel doubletrack heading northeast. This doubletrack is the main connector from the race loop to the rest of the Beaver Bench system. You'll pedal on this doubletrack for almost 0.2 miles before diverting off to the right.
I noted a flag-line running parallel to the doubletrack, which might be the future alignment for the race loop. (This would free up the doubletrack for riders to cross over to the Beaver Bench trails without actually getting on the race loop.)
At mile 5.7, the trail enters the grove of pinion and juniper at the Table Top trailhead. At mile 5.8, you're ready for a second lap!
Bottom Line!
Very easy high-speed loop ride. Suitable for beginners and experienced
kids. Not a high-voltage adventure but a fun cruise.
Getting there:
In Beaver, take 200 North (Highway 153) east toward the mountains. After
1.1 miles, turn left onto North Creek Road. Now drive exactly 2 miles.
You'll see a gravel quarry ahead, to the right of North Creek Road. Turn
right on the gravel Table Grounds Loop Road (not marked by a sign in
2023).
Drive 1.1 miles. You'll now see flattened areas on both sides of the road. These are the racer prep zones.
Spot the sign for Table Top Trailhead on the right side of the road. 100 feet later, turn to the right on a smallish doubletrack. If the route isn't clear, aim for the small grove of trees, as you see in the photo above. There's only room for 5 or 6 cars here. The trail is at the far end of the parking area just past the kiosk.
Riding Resources:
GPS Track Files (R-click and download as...):
Area File
Race Loop only
Map in new window: View
