Racetrack Trail  (Lapoint area)
The Racetrack Trail is an easy desert loop located just east of Lapoint (12 miles northwest of Vernal). There's a short 4.5-mile version, and a longer 6.8 mile ride. Overall elevation change is only 400 feet, from 5600 to 6000. There's a bit of mild up-and-down. The trail is suitable for beginners, as long as they know how to get off the saddle for the multiple wash-dips. The wash dips bring the trail to an easier-intermediate rating.
Riding notes, counterclockwise loop ride:
0.0  ST heading north from parking area
N40 24.782 W109 43.694
0.1  Fork R  N40 24.831 W109 43.669
2.3  Keep R for longer ride (L = return)
N40 26.470 W109 43.174
3.2  Left for loop  N40 27.038 W109 42.823
(R = stiff 0.8 mile climb to mesa top)
3.7  Trail turns south to begin return
4.9   Join shortcut (in on left) N40 26.336 W109 43.383
6.8   Pass outgoing trail
Back at parking

Getting there:
From within Vernal:  From the middle of Vernal, go north on Highway 44 to 500 North (Highway 121 to Lapoint) and turn left. Zero your odometer here. Drive 12.2 miles west on 121. About a half mile past mile marker 29, watch for a dirt road on your right. Just through the fence, there's a broad parking area on your right.
From Roosevelt on US-40:  From where US-40 makes a 90-degree right turn in Roosevelt, drive 7.9 miles east. Turn left on Highway 246 to Lapoint (just before the town of Gusher). Drive 7.3 miles north and turn right at the T intersection toward Lapoint on Highway 121. Drive 5.7 miles east. (After dropping down into a canyon and turning rightward, ignore the first dirt road on the left. The dirt road you want will be about 1/3 mile past mile marker 28.) Turn left, go through the fence, then turn right into a broad primitive parking area.
To begin the ride, find a narrow singletrack in the northeast corner of the parking area.

Copyright 2010 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change, and the layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this trail guide at your own risk.