Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Loowit #216: Castle Ridge - Sheep Canyon Trail
USFSMaintainer
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 AllowedNo
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Global Ranking
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 mountain 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
Loowit #216:... Trail Reports
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Photos
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