WHAT: 

The Third Flats trail system is a recreational area used by hikers, mountain-bikers, dirt bikers, ATVs, equestrians & jeeps.  It is a mixture of singletrack & doubletrack dirt trails, slickrock & steep rocky roads with outstanding panoramic views in every direction.  About half of today's 9.4-mile ride, featuring Art Cooks View, will take place on trails with the other half on rough jeep roads.  Approximately 900 feet of elevation will be lost during the first half of the ride so that will need to be made up on the return trip.

WHERE:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5194716

Take Broadway to Monument Road.  The left to D Road comes up quickly.  That turns into Rosevale, which eventually becomes Little Park Road as you veer to the right.  Continue climbing and note that the trailhead for the Third Flats trails is approximately 1.2 miles beyond the well-marked "Little Park Trailhead."

Here's where it gets tricky.  The Third Flats trailhead is on the LEFT, but there are many signs indicating NO PARKING there.  Instead, hikers and mountain bikers generally park in the large unmarked dirt lot on the RIGHT about 75 yards BEFORE the Third Flats trailhead.  We will meet here, then walk up & across the road to begin the ride promptly at noon.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY

http://files.meetup.com/3048522/Third%20Flats%20trail%20system.pdf

After getting to the trailhead across the road from where we're parked, we will ride a quarter-mile down Third Flats Road to get on the Quad Rocker trail.  After a rough half-mile "hike-n-bike" climb to the ridge, we will enjoy the slickrock of the Canyon View trail for the next half-mile.  From there, we'll connect to a jeep road and drop about 400 feet along it over the next mile & a half.  This will bring us to the featured part of the ride: Art Cooks View.  We'll be riding down its ledge here above Billings Canyon for 1.8 miles, dropping another 300 feet, before connecting to Third Flats Road and then begin our climb back along that for almost 2 miles.  We'll then branch off the jeep road to continue our climb on a loop of trails (Rocky Stumble, Twist-N-Shout, Nut-N-2-It) for the next 2.2 miles instead of staying on the jeep road for the 1.1 miles between those two points.  To finish, we will remain on Third Flats Road for the final three-quarter of a mile to return to the trailhead across Little Park Road from where the vehicles are parked.

The total distance of this ride, which will take a little under 3 hours, is approximately 9.4 miles and the skill level should be considered intermediate and above.

BRING: 

* Mountain bike

* Helmet (REQUIRED for all HNB rides)

* LOTS of WATER, none available at the trailhead & this is a very long ride

* Quick-energy snacks like dried fruit, granola bars or trail mix or diluted energy drinks

* Riding gloves (to absorb shock and in case of falls), knee pads & elbow pads if you have them

* Sunscreen, sunglasses, layered clothing

* Spare tube for your particular tire, patch kit, pump, any bike tools you might have

* Dogs are not welcome at any Hike-N-Bike biking events

CONTACT:

Steve Obser 200-9052