Schwalbe NAEC 2022 Day 1 route

Be aware, all roads on transfers are live and will potentially have vehicle traffic. Pay attention, especially while riding around corners.

Transfer 1 – Riders will depart the Gondola in waves and begin pedaling on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. You’ll take a right on Division St, and continue until seeing signs pointing out a left turn onto Slaughterhouse Gulch Rd. The asphalt will turn to dirt, and you’ll ascend roughly 2000’ to 5 Corners. Once you reach the top of the transition you have up to five minutes to start the stage.

Stage 1- Everyone- Spooky Woods- Wide Open Road- War Gerbil- End on Cemetery Road
Radio Brewing Speed Trap

Spooky Woods is part of the first top to bottom downhill trail ever built at Silver Mountain. It’s a nice tangle of slick roots and punchy little downhills that will deliver you to the top of Wide Open Road. Crack the throttle because this sketchy old jeep trail is home to the Radio Brewing Speed Trap. Radio will be giving growlers and gift certificates to the 3 fastest women and men regardless of category Saturday night. At the bottom of Wide Open Road you’ll bang out a hard right and head into War Gerbil where you’ll be greeted by a series of off cambers, roots, and more mellow descents.

Stage 2- Everyone – Snake Pit - Frankenbeans
As you exit the gondola bay head towards Chair 3, you’ll find the start to the looker's left of the chairlift terminal. Stage 2 is a full-on downhill track with an optional section called Baby Swiss. Baby Swiss is NOT rollable; please look before you leap. When you finish this stage you will follow the signs past the bottom of Chair 3 and up Moose Knuckle. When you get to the top of this gentle climb you’ll hook a right, stay off of the road, and continue to follow the signs to Payday where a volunteer will guide you across the active race course. Follow signs to Stage 3.

Stage 3- Everyone- Pirate Trail- Wide Open – Tinkerbell - Secret Squirrel -Manchild
Pirate Trail is a short little tech trail that pops out onto Wide Open, where you’ll hit a few jumps, berms, and some tight corners. Be careful on the jumps, they’re a little poppy and short, and be ready for the hard left hander onto Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell and Secret Squirrel are fast with minimal bermage, and they’re peppered with a few roots and off cambers. The beginning of Manchild features a nice step up to step down and finishes just above the road. Riders will make their way back to the gondola and head up top to begin Stage 4.

Stage 4- Everyone- El Burro Loco- Lower Jackass- Ridge Road- Daisy Downs - Daisy Dukes
As you depart Chair 3 exit to your left and you’ll find the start at the top of El Burro Loco. El Burro Loco is a blue tech trail and offers a bit of everything, including rim shattering rocks and fast berms. You’ll cross the road at the edge of the ski area and go straight into Lower Jackass, which spits you onto Ridge Road where you can sprint your legs off. Riders will turn LEFT onto the Picnic Rock viewpoint trail, this intersection is just before you’d normally turn onto Corkscrew. You’ll stay on this trail just for a second and then enter a new trail, Daisy Downs. Daisey Downs got a full facelift this spring with sightlines cut out and a general widening of the trail corridor. Rooty off cambers are a thing here and a little bit of moisture will turn this trail into a skating rink. You’ll pop out onto a short section of road where you can rest for second and then dive into Daisy Dukes. Dukes is 100% hand built in the last two weeks and is loaded with fresh organic matter and stupid wide corners with a load of line choices. This trail is probably rated Sport Plus and everyone should make sure to practice this ahead of the race.

All riders will turn right onto Slaughterhouse Gulch Road and begin climbing. Sport class will be able to ride to Pepsi Can and Mom Jeans, where they can free ride back down and be done for the day. Experts and Pros will follow signs past the top of Stage 1 and out to Stage 5.

Stage 5- Pro and Expert Only – Monday Tuesday
Monday Tuesday is more than a powerline corridor, it’s a freshly tuned up and maintained powerline corridor with two new hand built sections. Straight line speed will be important up top, but after you dive through the first steep, rocky section things get more technical and even surfy. You’ll blast past a previous finish line, navigate some awkward off camber corners, and then dive into a nice piece of bootleg dirt bike trail we’re borrowing for the race. After the finish, riders will cruise down the dirt road and then a gentle pedal back on McKinley Ave to the Silver Mountain parking lot. Keep your timing chip overnight.