Big Wood Loop

The Big Wood Loop is the most recently built trail at Galena. It's a challenging and fun singletrack on the west side of Highway 75. It is used mostly by mountain bikers looking to tack on something a bit more challenging. Much of the trail is not too steeply graded, but it is demanding and some sections pitch-up enough to really get your attention. The trail is often ridden in a counter-clockwise direction by bicyclists, as doing so allows riders to travel downhill through the trail's big south-side berms (big banked turns).

Like all of the trails at Galena, the Big Wood Loop Trail is open to two-way traffic and shared use by hikers, horseback riders, runners, and bicyclists. Watch for and yield to others - on this and all trails.

Access Info

From galena lodge head over to the west side of the highway, directly across from the lodge's sunny deck and bike shop. Drop down to follow the two-track road across the small footbridge crossing the Big Wood River (creek-like this far north) and quickly arrive at a road-like intersection near the proprietors' cabin and employee yurts. Turn right to head up Northwood Trail. Northwood parallels the highway. Stay right/straight on Northwood where several trails branch off to the left. After about 1.6 miles Northwood Trail intersects with a short spur trail that goes right to cross the creek-like Big Wood River. This little spur heads up to the Crosscut and Old Toll Road trails. Stay left/straight to get on the Big Wood Loop Trail.

Climb. Keep climbing. After you crest you will pass through some fun stuff where some options for getting some air exist - if all is clear ahead and below. Watch for others climbing up.

Descending, you will come to an intersection which is technically the end of the Big Wood Loop Trail. The trail is not a complete loop, but a variety of loops can be formed off of it, by utilizing the various options found at this intersection. To the left is the top/north side of Enid's Trail, which leads back to the Northwood Trail and connection to the lodge. To the right you can get on Enid's Cutoff, which also leads back to the Northwood Trail and the lodge. Also to the right is an option to get on the lower/south side of Enid's Trail, which drops to the south and down to the Titus Trail, which can be taken down to the lodge area.