Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Loowit #216: Castle Ridge - Sheep Canyon Trail
USFSLand Manager
Details
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Riding AreaMt. Saint Helens
Cougar, Washington -
Difficulty Rating
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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Trail UsageBiking Primary
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DirectionBoth Directions
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingModerate
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eBike Allowed
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Global Ranking#103386 in Mountain Biking
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Local Popularity5 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 5 in Trail Running
- 5 in Hiking
Few trails capture more completely the range of effects of the 1980 eruption than this section of the Loowit Trail. Along this route you will discover views of mudflow-scoured river valleys, blast- singed trees, miles of blown-down forest, and views of newly created lakes. Observe this raw landscape and see how the familiar features of the Cascade Range were formed.
Walk out onto a huge boulder and enjoy an impressive view of the headwall of the South Fork of the Toutle River. Scan the horizon for outstanding views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Margaret, Mount Rainier and Johnston Ridge. Also enjoy a view of Coldwater Lake which was formed as a result of the 1980 eruption.
The trail descends to the South Fork of the Toutle River. Here you can see that this once well- forested valley was transformed into the skeletal remains of ash- covered logs and shattered stumps by the fury of a fiery blast of fragmented rock and the abrasive action of a raging mudflow. From the heart of the blast area, the trail descends into the Pumice Bowl and crosses via ford the South Fork Toutle River and climbs through a subalpine environment to panoramic views as it traverses the ridge.
Local Trail Association
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Northwest Trail Alliance
(nw-trail.org) Please consider joining or donating to the local riding association to support trail development & maintenance.donate to earn trail karma!
More Stats for Loowit #216: Castle Ridge - Sheep Canyon bike trail
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Altitude change685 ft
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Altitude min3,242 ft
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Altitude start3,952 ft
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Altitude end4,637 ft
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Grade3.416%
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Grade max-56.662%
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Grade min82.969%
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Distance climb2 miles
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Distance down2 miles
- view trail stats
- Unknown
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
The intendid direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
- Access Road/Trail
- White
- Green
- Blue
- Black
- Double Black Diamond
Trail Report Status
- Clear / Green
- Minor Issue / Yellow
- Significant Issue / Amber
- Closed or Major Issue / Red
- Land Owner Overlay
- Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
- BLM (public)
- USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
- State land
- Indigenous
- Military
- Unknown
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Dry
- Very Dry
- Map Markers
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Photo
Directory Listing
Riding Area
TTF
Parking
Viewpoint
Information
Warning
Directions
Water Fountain/Source
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Loowit #216:... Trail Reports
Trail reports are used to indicate a trails current condition and inform builders and other riders about any issues on a trail.
Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 0 rides
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- 0 rides
Photos
Routes with this trail
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+ 1
vummartin
(Oct 4, 2016 at 13:40)
Videos
Nearby Trails
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