 | Jones Ranch Trail
The Jones Ranch Trail is an easy-intermediate trail, perfect for a short ride by a beginning mountain biker. The trail can be ridden out-and-back, or as a loop using a short section of the Nebo Loop road, riding the trail either uphill or downhill. This trail also offers a downhill route with shuttle for DH junkies. Bikers also use Jones Ranch as part of the Blackhawk Loop or Shram Creek Loop. The surface is mostly packed dirt, with occasional rocks and roots. But depending on moisture and horse traffic, there may be some damp and deeply hoof-hammered spots. Starting altitude is 7500 feet. The slope is reasonable. The trail is firm enough to ride in early June. |
| Jones Ranch all the way: Uphill,
it's 800 vertical feet over 3.0 miles, then a quick drop to the upper
trailhead. (If you're doing it downhill a big DH rig, plan on pushing
the
bike 100 yards up the hill to start.) If you're looping via the road,
add 2.5
miles of pavement. Jones to Rock Spring: Our favorite. Going uphill, go east on the Rock Springs Trail to the Nebo Loop near the guard station. This is 700 vertical feet of climbing and 3.25 miles. If you're looping via the paved road, add 2 miles. |
| Uphill (counterclockwise) loop ride: 0.0 ST uphill on R side of road N 39° 56.544 W 111° 39.449 1.7 Trail joins from L (Payson Lakes) N 39° 55.383 W 111° 38.939 1.9 Rock Springs joins from R, keep straight N 39° 55.204 W 111° 38.908 | 2.1 Rock Springs continues straight (L) |
| A very nice singletrack loop ride is to go up Jones Ranch
and veer onto eastbound Rock Springs as above, then go a tiny bit uphill
on the Nebo Loop road and follow the doubletrack on the left up to the
Blackhawk Trail.
Go north on Blackhawk, then turn left when you hit the Loafer Mountain
Trail and climb back to the road. At the road, coast a half-mile downhill
to the parking area. The ride is just over 6 miles. 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. Zero your odometer here. |
 | Lower trailhead
-- Drive 10.9 miles up the Nebo Loop Road.
(Pass the Grotto Trail and Bennie Creek Cutoff Trail. Pass the Shram Creek
trailhead and cross a cattleguard, then go another 1.8 miles up the road.)
Watch for
a parking area with a wood-rail fence on your left. The trail starts
uphill on the right side of the road, across from the parking area. N
39° 56.544
W 111° 39.449 Rock Springs trailhead -- Keep driving uphill past both Payson Lakes entry stations. About 1/4 mile after the second entry, watch for a small wooden building on the right, then turn right into a dirt road with a "Rock Springs" sign. N° 39 55.662 W 111° 37.948 Upper Jones Ranch trailhead -- Drive about 2 miles uphill from the lower trailhead. Watch for a "Jones Ranch" sign on the right. N 39° 54.992 W 111° 38.068. Turn right into the dirt road and veer right to a primitive camping spot about 150 yards later. The trail starts on the south (uphill) side of that camping area. N 39° 55.068 W 111° 38.109 |
Copyright 2006 Mad Scientist Software Inc. Trail conditions and layout may change. Use this trail guide at your own risk.