West Mag Backcounty Route route

Here's an updated version of the West Mag Backcountry Ride from the main center parking lot and newer trails in the system. It's rated advanced for steep climbs and technical features.

From the center parking lot 1 mile down Haul Rd off the Peak to Peak highway, head south on the Hobbit trail singletrack. You'll cross the road, continue on trail and then make a left onto Re-Root. Re-Root wiggles around rocks and trees - look for 4 alternative B-lines, definitely for expert riders. The trail eventually crosses Haul road, look for the trail on the left side of the bottom of the private driveway. You'll cross the driveway one more time, please stay on the trail At the next intersection, make a hard left to get on Aspen Alley. Climb up through the trees and enjoy the view from the meadow. Keep right to stay on Aspen Alley, cross the meadow and then you'll hit the berms and jumps on lower Aspen Alley. At the four-way intersection, continue straight to stay on Aspen Alley. Keep left, then right, to stay on Aspen Alley.

Next, you'll hit the end of Haul Rd and the beginning of Lookout. Climb the hill keeping right at next intersection to stay on Lookout. You'll start heading down the backside of hill, make the next right on Hobbit.This end of Hobbit is fun to ride in either direction but the preferred direction for many is coming the other way. This trail climbs a bit, but you'll be rewarded with some fun bumps and berms at the end.

Next, you'll come to a K-shaped intersection, take the first right to get on Hobbit 3.5, which connects to Rocks and Roots. Here's where the serious climbing starts. This section is about 2 miles long and 800 feet of climbing. You'll see other spurs, make sure you keep on this trail. At the top, you'll go through a meadow, then go downhill just a bit and take the next right onto Schoolbus. There's a sign that says, "Private Property Stay on Trail" that can be confusing, if you hit a closed sign on a chain, that's the wrong turn. Follow Schoolbus up a small hill, you'll come to a clearing with a famous mining pit sometimes called the Toilet Bowl. This is the top of the climb.

Next, head down Schoolbus. In a bit you'll come to an intersection, stay right to stay on Schoolbus. When the trail heads sharply to the left, you'll have a grunty little climb to get through. Next is more twists, turns and downhill. When you come to the wood planks, try to ride them to help keep the mining tailings from traveling down the mountain. Near the bottom, you'll come to the actual schoolbus that gave this trail its name, here's a link to the spot https://www.trailforks.com/poi/49130/. Schoolbus will intersection with Hobbit, take a right, cross the road and keeping following Hobbit. You'll stay on Hobbit now until you come back to the intersection with Re-Root. At this point, turn left and head back to the parking lot.