Buzzard Basin 1957.2B

****Abide by any wilderness boundary or use regulations signage you may encounter. This trail is listed open to bikes by the USFS but gets very close to the wilderness boundary.

Be respectful of the hunting camp, which is typically only used during hunting season but is set up during most of the summer.*****

This trail contours above the Hay Park trail and is arguably more enjoyable and rideable. Also, it's a little less 'scorched' in the heat of the summer. There are two distinct sections:

The south section has a well-signed intersection where it leaves the Hay Park trail. It climbs a rocky old road cut that eventually becomes singletrack; some steep climbing and lots of rocky stream crossings, mostly in the dark timber. You eventually come to a hunting camp below the big hill of Buzzard Basin, with views of ponds below. This section is definitely more fun traveling south: fast and rocky.

The north section is narrow singletrack and less-maintained but beautiful. Descend from the hunting camp to the pond, stay left around the pond and then begin a short, steep, hike-a-bike climb up into the aspens. At the top of the climb, the sweet singletrack fun begins - rolling terrain through a lush aspen stand.

Eventually, you'll come to a faint T intersection with a pond below you, take a right and descend to the left-hand side of the pond. It gets a little overgrown and scratchy here. Pass the pond on the left and descend a steep shale bluff (straight down the bluff, don't follow the edge of it to the east), then head left.

More beautiful but faint singletrack will spit you out at a faint and unmarked intersection with the main Hay Park trail at the bottom of a steep climb up to the Hay Park meadow. It's possible to ride the north section in reverse but may be hard to find the intersection. This northern section has some sections that can become a little overgrown in late July and August. Mid June - early July and September are the best times for this ride.

To find this trail while travelling south on the main Hay Park Trail, ride through the big Hay Park meadow, past the second gate. The trail crosses a stream then enters the aspen forest and begins to descend. At the bottom of the descent, the trail takes a slight left turn. At the apex of this turn, go right and uphill; this is the Buzzard Basin Trail. This part of it can be faint and overgrown.