Bruce powers up a ridge on the homeward bound side of the loop. Photos March 13, 2003.
Dee Pass Loop
The Dee Pass Loop combines two desert motorcycle routes with a smidgen of dirt road to form a 13.4-mile mountain biking loop. This loop is located southwest of Green River. The riding isn't too technical, but there are a few steep spots and a couple of sandy areas. This loop is very remote -- if you're exploring, we strongly suggest you take a GPS unit.
The Dee Pass Loop combines two desert motorcycle routes with a smidgen of dirt road to form a 13.4-mile mountain biking loop. This loop is located southwest of Green River. The riding isn't too technical, but there are a few steep spots and a couple of sandy areas. This loop is very remote -- if you're exploring, we strongly suggest you take a GPS unit.
The desert scenery here has its own stark beauty. There's little vegetation to interrupt the
colors of the Morrison Formation shales, laid down at the end of the Jurassic
Period. The first
third of the loop is undulating singletrack through a moonscape of wierd.
Capping the multicolored
Morrison is the rough Buckhorn Conglomerate from the early Cretaceous
Period.
View northward from a high point in the trail.
One of several ruins near Dee Pass, this home is a dugout.
Descending onto the connector road, you'll find a broad flat of eroded shale, littered with
small volcanic chips.
While our loop turns right onto the road, the singletrack that continues across the road is enticing. Consider a quick side-trip on this trail, which takes you 1.5 miles up to a fantastic viewpoint over the Tenmile Wash region. (The trail turns eastward and descends from this viewpoint.)
While our loop turns right onto the road, the singletrack that continues across the road is enticing. Consider a quick side-trip on this trail, which takes you 1.5 miles up to a fantastic viewpoint over the Tenmile Wash region. (The trail turns eastward and descends from this viewpoint.)
After leaving the dirt road connector, you'll ascend into broken sandstone -- the Salt Wash
sandstone at the base of the Morrison Formation. The riding here is only
marginally more technical.
Dominic cruises through the broken boulders of the Salt Wash sandstone.
A few miles southeast of Dee Pass, Dominic attacks a hill.
After descending from the bluffs, there's a bit of sand on the northwest corner of this loop.
But it's rideable without getting off to push -- assuming good technique,
fat tires, and reasonable
leg power. A couple of miles through the sandy brush takes you back to
the original trail near
Dee Pass.
0.0 Trail crosses road, go east
N 38° 49.901' W 109° 59.971' alt=4400'
0.5 Keep straight at trail crossing
Continue up wash past watering trough
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
(Trail on R is return trail)
0.6 Ruins on left
1.2 Cross Dee Pass, more ruins
3.0 Keep right to climb steep hill
Hilltop N 38° 49.68' W 109° 57.45' alt=4750'
5.1 Turn R on dirt road
N 38° 48.973' W 109° 55.756' alt=4575'
(ST continues towards Blue Hills)
N 38° 49.901' W 109° 59.971' alt=4400'
0.5 Keep straight at trail crossing
Continue up wash past watering trough
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
(Trail on R is return trail)
0.6 Ruins on left
1.2 Cross Dee Pass, more ruins
3.0 Keep right to climb steep hill
Hilltop N 38° 49.68' W 109° 57.45' alt=4750'
5.1 Turn R on dirt road
N 38° 48.973' W 109° 55.756' alt=4575'
(ST continues towards Blue Hills)
8.1 Fork R where cairn marks
minor DT
N 38° 47.254' W 109° 57.920' alt=4600'
9.0 ST comes in from L, keep straight
N 38° 47.577' W 109° 58.493' alt=4730'
10 Crest ridge
N 38° 48.295' W 109° 58.186' alt=4740'
11 4-way, fork R
N 38° 48.558' W 109° 58.888' alt=4600'
11.4 and 11.9 Keep R
12.8 Turn L onto original trail
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
13.4 Back to vehicle
N 38° 47.254' W 109° 57.920' alt=4600'
9.0 ST comes in from L, keep straight
N 38° 47.577' W 109° 58.493' alt=4730'
10 Crest ridge
N 38° 48.295' W 109° 58.186' alt=4740'
11 4-way, fork R
N 38° 48.558' W 109° 58.888' alt=4600'
11.4 and 11.9 Keep R
12.8 Turn L onto original trail
N 38° 49.874' W 109° 59.508'
13.4 Back to vehicle
Map of the Dee Pass loop ride
Getting there: On I-70, drive 15 miles east of
Green River. Exit at Ranch Exit 175. Turn right and head south. At mile
4.1 from I-70, keep right (left is Blue Hills Road). At around mile 7,
keep left. Watch for a trail crossing the road near a fence at mile 7.2, N 38°
49.901' W 109° 59.971'.
Park here and ride east (downhill, through the fence).
One-page riding guide to this
trail
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to Price and San Rafael area resources
