The Beaver Bench trail system lies at the mouth of Beaver Canyon, just
outside the edge of town. The first phase of the trail system was
completed in 2021 with a bit over seven miles of trail ready to ride and
one stretch still under construction. The expected riding season is
June through October.
Riding east on Sage Advice as storm clouds gather.
Photos and trail review by Bruce on July
26, 2021. Update for new trail completed October 2021.
At this time (October 2021) there's a lariat loop called Sage
Advice plus two downhill flow trail loops and a long loop to the east. I'm
still waiting to learn the other trail names. A ride that hits everything
would be 8.7 miles in length with 600 vertical feet of climbing.
Looking down the left option of the two DH flow
trails. Here we're in an old burn-scar where the dead trees have been
knocked down.
The Mammoth Crossing trailhead is on the Beaver Canyon
Road (Highway 153) and is reached by taking 200 North 3.3 miles east of
Main Street. There's no water or bathroom at the trailhead, but there is a
bike repair station.
Bruce and bike at the trailhead. Looking north from
the canyon road.
Sage Advice trail
Sage Advice is a lariat ride consisting of a 1.1-mile stem
that climbs the hill and a 2.3-mile loop around the edge of the bench. A ride around Sage Advice
alone would be 4.5 miles long
with around 250 vertical feet of climbing.
The trails lie on the delta of a prehistoric river that flowed from the
Tushar Mountains into a large lake occupying the Beaver valley. The ride
starts at 6150 feet elevation with a high point of 6350 on top of the
bench.
Looking over cholla cactus at the Beaver valley.
The trail surface is brown dirt with occasional embedded
rock. The trail is surrounded by river-rounded boulders. Much of the
ground is bare, with a sparse forest of juniper, cedar, and pinion pine.
Turns are banked for smooth uphill climbing and fast downhill turns.
The Sage Advice trail winds through juniper and
pinion.
The Sage Advice trail starts on the west end of the
trailhead parking with a repair station and kiosk. It will quickly cross
the Harris Ditch irrigation canal, then begin winding back and forth
across the edge of the bench as it gains elevation.
At mile 1.1, keep left for a clockwise ride around the loop. The trail
on your right will be your return. All the other area trails are reached
via the Sage Advice loop.
Typical banked turn on Sage Advice. Smooth riding.
At this point, the trail contours the slope of the old river delta. It
stays just a bit downhill from the flat top of the bench.
On the far side of the Sage Advice loop are two short
downhill flow trails with a return climbing trail. At mile 2.2 of a
clockwise ride, you'll pass the return trail coming uphill on your left.
The two DH trails start next to each other just 1/10th mile further along
the trail.
Breaking out of the woods to climb up and over the
old river delta.
As you continue around the Sage Advice loop, it will climb
up to the top of the bench around mile 2.9 from the trailhead. This will
be 1/2 mile past the DH trails on the clockwise ride. Here there's a trail
fork. Go hard right to cross the old river delta to close the Sage Advice
Loop, or keep left to enter the newer eastern loop.
After crossing the top of the bench, Sage Advice descends
west to close the loop at mile 3.4. Here a hard left turn takes you back
to the trailhead.
Closing the loop. That's the return path on the left,
with a wide spot to swing the turn. Straight ahead is the path to another
trip around the loop!
DH Flow Trails (names unknown)
The DH flow trails fork downhill from Sage Advance at mile
2.3 of a clockwise ride, or mile 2.2 of a counterclockwise trip. As above,
at mile 2.2 of a clockwise ride you'll pass the return trail coming uphill
on your left. Keep straight. The two DH trails start next to each other
just 1/10th mile further along the trail.
The first trail (to the left as you face downhill) is just under 0.3
miles in length. It descends 110 vertical feet. It will have a 0.3 mile
return climb back to Sage Advice.
Highly banked but quick turns are typical here.
Looking down the left-most DH flow trail.
The second DH trail (on the right as you face dowhill) is
0.3 miles long with 120 feet of descent. At the bottom, the eastern loop
comes in from the right side. Keep left for the uphill return
trail. It's 0.4 miles back to Sage Advice.
First turn on the right-most DH trail.
Turns are highly banked for speed. There are rollers and
table jumps between turns. Overall, these are intermediate-level descents.
Both downhill routes end on the same return trail, but the trail to the
right will have a longer return.
We're out of the woods and into the burn scar. Lots
of bumps and a few tables.
Return Trail (name unknown)
The return trail from the DH flow trails is 0.4 miles long
with 120 vertical feet of gentle but steady climbing. From the bottom of
the rightmost DH flow trail, it's 0.1 miles before the second DH trail
joins.
As the return trail joins Sage Advice, just keep straight
and in 0.1 mile you'll be back at the top of the two DH trails for another
descent.
Climbing up and around a turn on the way up.
Eastern Trail Loop (Name Unknown)
The eastern loop starts at the northeast corner of the Sage
Advice loop. From there, it very slowly loses elevation as it traverses a
mile to the east before hooking back to hit the bottom of the DH trails.
From here, you can use the DH return path to climb back up to Sage Advice.
Except for one short stretch of intermediate riding on the lower
(return) part of the loop, the trail is very easy both technically and
aerobically.
Heading east on an easy cruise toward the Tushar
Mountains.
The eastern loop trail is 2.2 miles in length, dropping
100 vertical feet in elevation. A full loop -- including the climbing
trail and the piece of Sage Advice from the top to the trail fork where it
starts -- is 3.2 miles.
In October 2021, the lower limb of the trail breaks into
several narrow rock-dodging paths just before it reaches the burn scar
area. This stretch is less than 1/10th mile and would rank intermediate in
skill requirement.
Breaking out of forest onto the burn scar as we tie
into the climbing trail at the bottom of the DH flow trails.
A Quick Ride on Beaver Bench!
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Bottom Line:
Very nice trail system. Easy to ride; modest views. Not a lot of miles
yet, so I wouldn't call it a "destination" trail system at this
time. But it makes a quick and very satisfying sneaker ride as you're
heading past on the freeway. Or if you hit town and find that the weather
won't let you ride at Eagle Point.
Getting there:
Exit I-15 to Beaver's Main Street. Drive to 200 North and turn east
(toward the mountains). At 3.3 miles after leaving Main Street, you'll see
the log fence of the trailhead on your left.
