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Crane Prairie trail descends steeply into old growth wilderness. (See further description at roughride.cc)
The entry to this loop climbs the pleasant Bennet Pass road (NFDR 3550), a rutted double track up to Gunsight Ridge Trail and road. At a 3-way intersection, NFDR 4891 heads south and uphill along a scree slope that you will shortly be descending beneath. Crane Prairie trail is a tiny entry on the left dropping quickly into the valley. The trail is signed about 100 meters in and red blazes on trees make trail following mostly straight forward. Shortly small meadows mark the beginning of Boulder Creek.
The trail (#464) is narrow and definitely maintained, judging from the number of sawn logs that aid in guidance, but there is plenty of new timber fall (July 2020) to slow your progress. Huckleberry quickly reclaims the trail from both sides and your bare legs will remember that you chose this route.
The descent begins to repeatedly cross the stream and boggy spots in between steeper drops, the trail ultimately following a ridge fairly straight down into the valley. Near the bottom the timber is older.
The trail fords across Boulder Creek and here, a recently fallen tree parallels the creek, branches intertwining with the undergrowth to completely obscure the trail. NeoTreks and RidewithGPS maps incorrectly have the trail continuing along the southwest side of the creek. However, the trail does cross the creek and the red blazes, Gaia Topo and OSM Outdoor maps most accurately reflect the course of the path relative to the creek.
This bottomland is bog, home to frogs. Even the trees have a difficult time maintaining their foothold in the slippery mud. At Crane Prairie, the trail intersects Crane Creek trail #478. This follows the creek slightly uphill on the east side. It is a bit more open and intermittently crosses rivulets feeding Boulder Creek. In one meadow, a more than 200 year old tree obscured the trail again. Delightful old growth timber continues along the valley.
While I had planned to explore Crane Creek trail to its terminus and bushwhack across the creek to NFDR 4880-013, my slow progress suggested an earlier exit from the valley was prudent. Boulder Lake trail #463 is well signed at the intersection and a sturdy log bridge crosses the creek. Up a short steep switchback and you are reminded of civilisation shortly at NFDR 4880 as numerous cars may be parked at this trailhead to Boulder Lake.
From here it is a rolling, fast groomed gravel descent to Wamic Road. There are some potholes and washboarding for entertainment. Wamic Road is a pleasant paved, rolling incline, moderately traveled by pickups, SUVs and Subarus up to Route 35 at White River. The shoulder is reasonable most of the time.
| By: | Voxdoc |
| Started in: | Hood River County, OR, US |
| Distance: | 55.0 km |
| Selected: | 55.0 km |
| Elevation: | + 1059 / - 1054 m |
| Moving Time: | 03:58:47 |
| Gear: | Open UP - Enve |
| Page Views: | 78 |
| Departed: | Jul 10, 2020, 11:06 am |
| Starts in: | Hood River County, OR, US |
| Distance: | 55.0 km |
| Selected distance: | 55.0 km |
| Elevation: | + 1059 / - 1054 m |
| Max Grade: | |
| Avg Grade | |
| Cat | |
| FIETS | |
| VAM | |
| Ascent time | |
| Descent time | |
| Total Duration: | 07:27:06 |
| Selection Duration: | 26826 |
| Moving Time: | 03:58:47 |
| Selection Moving Time: | 03:58:47 |
| Stopped Time: | 03:28:19 |
| Calories: | 1133 |
| Max Watts: | |
| Avg Watts: | 79 |
| WR Power | |
| Work | |
| Max Speed: | 61.0 kph |
| Avg Speed: | 13.8 kph |
| Pace: | 00:08:07 |
| Moving Pace: | 00:04:20 |
Best format for turn-by-turn directions on modern Garmin Edge Devices
Best format for turn by turn directions on Edge 500, 510. Will provide true turn by turn navigation on Edge 800, 810, 1000, Touring including custom cue entries. Great for training when we release those features. Not currently optimal for Virtual Partner.
Useful for uploading your activity to another service, keeping records on your own computer etc.
Useful for any GPS unit. Contains no cuesheet entries, only track information (breadcrumb trail). Will provide turn by turn directions (true navigation) on the Edge 705/800/810/1000/Touring, but will not have any custom cues. Works great for Mio Cyclo. Find GPS specific help in our help system.
Estimated Time shows a prediction of how long it would take you to ride a given route. This number is based on your recent riding history, and represents an estimate of moving time. Each time you upload a new ride, your Estimated Time profile will adjust to reflect your most recent riding. Only rides exceeding 10 miles (16 km) will affect these estimates.
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