Stakeout Trail System, upper trails

The Stakeout Trail System is located in the cooler glens just east of Kyhv Peak. Each of the trails can be done as a nice out-and-back, or combined into a climbing route to the Kyhv Peak DH trails . The lower trails of Stakeout, called Lacey's Loops or the Kyhv Peak Circles , are discussed on another trail page. This page covers the "Dell" trails plus the Overlook Connector trail.

The trails can be accessed from the main Kyhv Peak Trailhead by riding uphill on the BST Access Trail to the Bonneville Shoreline . After turning right on the BST, it's 200 feet to a subtle trail on the left, the Lacey's Connector. This will take you 0.4 miles uphill to Lacey's Loops. After navigating (or blundering) through the loops to the uphill end, the Erindell trail continues uphill as the first in this series of trails.

You can also get onto these trails at several points where they approach or cross the Kyhv Peak road. See the Lacey's Loops page for several lower-canyon access points from the road.

Simply FINDING the continuing trail will be your greatest challenge, so again, GPS and map.

First, you need to arrive at the top of the loops. See the Lacey's page if you need more information.

The Erindell Trail begins on the southwest uphill corner of Lacey's Loops. It winds back and forth as it climbs 300 vertical feet in 0.8 miles before hitting the Kyhv Peak paved road. I refer to this section below the road crossing as "lower Erindell" and the portion above as "upper Erindell."

As you reach the paved road on Erindell, go to the left about 100 feet on pavement, then leave the road to the right on what looks like doubletrack. It quickly turns into the singletrack upper Erindell trail at the boulders.

0.1 mile uphill, there's a meander loop option that will add about 1/2 mile to your ride. Most riders won't see this bit of trail and will simply pedal past.

To continue further uphill on the Ellendell trail, pedal about 50 feet west on the road toward the Overlook, then turn left uphill on a faint singletrack. As with almost every road-to-trail transition in this trail system, you probably won't see the trail unless you're standing on the road looking straight into it. 

You'll spend only 1/10th mile on a relatively flat portion of the Rock Canyon DH trail, pedaling south. When you reach the now-gravel Kyhv Peak road, turn to the right and follow the road around the turn. Immediately as you complete the turn, the Overlook Connector trail is on your right.

To use the Little Rock Canyon trail as an uphill, watch for it on the right 0.1 mile further up the road. Both of these options involve some steepish climbing. If you want to skip that, you can grind on uphill on the road and catch further trail on your right 0.3 miles uphill.

The Overlook Connector will climb over 200 vertical feet in 0.3 miles, so it's a bit of a grunt. But it's pretty, with Mules Ear flowers and groves of maple.

The alternatives are climbing lower Little Rock Canyon (very steep), or taking the road (dusty and automobile-y). If you decide to head for Ashleedell, you'll find the entry to the trail on your right 0.3 miles further up the road.

You'll spend 0.3 miles on the Overlook Trail southbound. When you reach an open area with evidence of campers and picnics, it's time to find your continuing route.

A hard 180-degree left will take you down the lower portion of the Little Rock Canyon trail. 90 degrees left takes you out to the gravel road. Straight ahead is the Little Rock Canyon trail, which is your route to Ashleedell.

From the clearing near the road, keep straight and find a wide well-used trail heading south uphill.

After 0.1 miles climbing, it's time to leave Little Rock Canyon. (It will get impossibly steep soon.) The trail fork is right at the big gap jump (see photo). Keep wide to the left as you ride past it, and you'll find yourself on narrow singletrack heading uphill.

The Ashleedell trail is 1.3 miles long and will climb 700 vertical feet. There will be some navigation challenges as the trail hits some forks. In general, that means keeping to the left when you have an option. If all else fails, follow an eastbound trail out to the gravel road. (On the day of my latest ride, moron four-wheelers had driven around in a large flat meadow, basically erasing the narrow trail. I had to ride up the road and re-enter the trail from above to find where I should have gone.)

Buffalo Peak starts right at the spot where the Kyhv Peak road reaches its highest point.

The Buffalo Peak trail is the wider trail heading south along the log fence before curving right uphill. It climbs gently for 0.4 miles to a fork with the Little Rock Canyon trail. At the fork, you can continue straight 1/4 mile to a viewpoint on the peak (hike-a-bike ahead!), or fork right on Little Rock Canyon to begin a downhill.

Great trails if you like solitude and a raw remote feel to your riding. These trails are uncivilized but not cruel. Narrow and twisty, requiring good handling skills. Lots of beauty and great riding, but not everyone will enjoy them.