Trail logs and Ratings - Explained

Trail logs:

These contain directions for driving (or biking) to the trailhead, and then have important turns and landmarks, along with corresponding mileages. All of them were produced with a Trek cyclocomputer that is only accurate to 0.1 miles, so some mileages may be considerably off.

Trail Ratings:

Please note: These trail ratings do NOT correspond to the rating system (1-4) used in Moab. LA ratings are considerably harder - ie the Slickrock trail would only get a 3 or so for technical difficulty, and a 2 for physical difficulty.

Technical difficulty : a measure of the bike-handling skills required to ride the trail. This can vary quite a bit depending on which direction you are riding the trail - for sake of convenience, all trails are rated for their most fun direction. Remember, all these ratings are very subjective. I include them only for the folks that love/hate technical terrain. The scale looks like this:

1 - Anyone who can ride a bike can ride this. Flat pavement, perhaps. Take those training wheels off!

2 - Not paved, but fairly smooth and level. Most first-time riders will have no trouble.

3 - Bumpy, steep, or loose terrain makes it necessary to have good bike-handling skills. Most experienced riders will have no trouble.

4 - VERY bumpy, steep, or loose. Logs, rocks, ruts, tight switchbacks and sand are all possible. Even experienced riders will have difficulty riding these trails clean.

5 - Technical to the point that I consider it unridable, except perhaps by an experienced trials rider. Difficult enough that expert mountain bikers will generally get off and walk. There are only a couple of trails in this guide that get a "5" rating.


Physical Difficulty: Measures the fitness level necessary to complete the rides. Note that this is a very relative characteristic of most trails - you can choose to ride fast or slow, and thus change the physical difficulty. Some people I know try to make every trail a 5.

1 - Very easy. Anyone, including your 300-pound, 75-year old grandmother could ride the trail. Completely level, or downhill the whole way.

2 - Moderate. There may be small gains in elevation, but the route is generally level and can be easily completed by anyone in reasonable shape.

3 - Difficult. Athletic riders will have no trouble, but there will be sustained, steep sections. Even the very fit will be out of breath by the end. Climbs of up to 1000 feet will be found.

4 - Gnarly. Expert mountain bikers and serious athletes will be gasping for air by the end of the ride. Those who are in poor condition probably will be unable to complete it. Climbs of several thousand feet are common.

5 - Absolutely brutal. There aren't any trails rated "5" in this guide. Such a trail would involve more than 3,000 feet of climbing, or be excessively long and steep to the point where even expert bikers generally could not ride it without resting.