Once finally on course this ride gets serious in about a mile. There is a hike a bike section of about 1/2 a mile. It is overgrown and there is no road. You will hit gravel/mud at the end of this. In summer it will be more overgrown and snakey. You’ll be in a surface mining area once out of the woods and the climbing is steep and rugged. In places it is boggy and the road disappears, follow the track, it will lead you through. Make sure your bike is right, brakes are not worn. Sloppy, sandy, steep gravel descents. Once off the mountain you have (guessing 10-12 miles of great rolling and twisty gravel....Then the climb over the mountain. The descent back into Caryvillle is steep with switchback after switchback. Take lights, unless you start early. Plenty of water, or a filter. I saw ~ 30 elk up there, quite a day on the bike. I’ve done days with a lot more climbing and distance, but the terrain (maybe the weather the day I did it?) makes this one much more demanding than it sounds. You’ll know you’ve been out there! Now go get it!