| Bennie Creek Cutoff Trail This awesome downhill romp has a few tricky spots requiring advanced riding skills, but the typical intermediate rider will have a great time, dismounting to walk the bike over these few rock or root tricks. The downhill section itself is 2.5 miles. The short loop is 8.1 miles (4.4 of which is on pavement), there's 1500 vertical of climbing (1400 on road and100 on the trail). Long loop from the ridge above the Blackhawk Campground (7 miles of singletrack, 1700 vertical descent, road portion 6.7 miles). Some bikers ride from the Blackhawk Campground itself. Shuttle option. Season late May through mid-October. |
| Ride Notes, Long Loop: 0.0 Start from the pullout (near Maple Dell) N 39° 57.126' W 111° 40.480' 7.5 Turn left onto Blackhawk Campground Rd 7.7 Just past the turnout (R), go L on ST N 39° 54.541' W 111° 38.348' Alt = 8400 9.0 Join Blackhawk Loop, in from R N 39° 55.147' W 111° 37.617' 9.3 Fork R (straight) (L = up to road) N 39° 55.410' W 111° 37.574' 11.4 Gate, fork R (L = up to road) N 39° 56.497' W 111° 38.499' 12.2 At corral, keep L (R = downhill to Bennie Creek Road) N 39° 57.122' W 111° 38.454' 12.3 Fork L (R = Loafer Mountain) N 39° 57.190' W 111° 38.534' 14.9 Back at vehicle | Ride Notes, Short Loop: 0.0 Start from the pullout (near Maple Dell) N 39° 57.126' W 111° 40.480' Alt = 7850 4.4 Turn off road onto Loafer Mountain Trail N 39° 56.598' W 111° 38.515' 4.6 Fork L (R through gate = to Blackhawk Trail) N 39° 56.497' W 111° 38.499' 5.4 At corral, keep L (R = downhill to Bennie Creek Road) N 39° 57.122' W 111° 38.454' 5.5 Fork L (R = Loafer Mountain) N 39° 57.190' W 111° 38.534' 6.3 Faint trail in from L, keep straight and slightly uphill 8.1 Back at vehicle Trail conditions change, and the layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this trail guide at your own risk. |
 | Getting there:
Going south, take the Payson exit
250 from
I-15 and turn left. Head into Payson on U-115 to the traffic light, then
turn left (100
North, U-198). About 1/3 mile later, at the top of a small hill, turn right
at 600 East.
Drive up the Nebo Loop Road. Look for
a small turnout on the left at mile 7.3, with a sign "Bennie Creek
Cutoff Trail." If you're doing a shuttle, this is the trail's end. GPS
N 39°
57.126' W 111° 40.480'. If you're doing the loop, park and start riding
uphill on the road.
Short Loop: At mile 11.7, there's a small turnout on your left at GPS N 39° 56.598' W 111° 38.515', with a sign "Loafer Mountain Trail." This is the trailhead for the short loop. Long Loop: At mile 14, you reach the fork to Blackhawk Campground. Turn left. About 1/10 mile down the road, there's a turnout on the right. You want the trailhead across the road, slightly downhill -- not the trail heading directly west from the parking area. GPS N 39° 54.542' W 111° 38.373'. Blackhawk: Go to the campground, 2.5 miles further down the road. Keep left, going into the group picnic area. The trailhead is on the left corner of a small parking area, just before the loop around the bathroom. GPS N 39° 53.568' W 111° 37.203' Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc |