Stafford Creek #1359

Out and back on Stafford Creek. The trail is open to bikes up to the Wilderness boundary. Uphill is a grind, technical and rocky, and steep enough to be work. DH is faster, but very rocky.

Overview:
Beautiful singletrack trail along the Stafford Creek with a relatively steady 9-10% grade that climbs up to Navajo Pass. From Navajo pass the next mountains to the north are the breathtaking Stuart Mountain Range. Consider leaving the bike at the pass and hiking up the very steep Country Line Trail to Navajo Peak for an even better 360 deg view.

The first (lower) part of the trail features forested canopy and fairly rocky/technical areas, making for a real challenge in the uphill direction, and a lot of fun concentration in the downhill direction. The trail eventually buffs out a bit into some fairly smooth and flowy singletrack (very fast on the downhill), and then finally you break out of the canopy and into a treeless, almost martian steppe-like zone of volcanic rock and dust.

The trail is 5.8 miles one-way up to the top, and could be ridden back down to where you started for a total of 11.6 miles. The Stafford Creek trail could be linked to several other trails in the area. Standup Creek trail to the west would seem to be the best option, however that trail is steep, very overgrown with brush in many places, has lots of tight switchbacks, lots of rocks and numerous walk-your-bike creek crossings (in short - I don't recommend it). Standup Creek Trail joins with the Bean Creek trail (haven't been on it). At the top of Navoho Pass the Stafford Creek Trail joins with the County Line Trail no. 1226.1 (steep and primitive) and the Cascade Creek Trail no. 1217 (haven't been on it).

Access Info

Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead parking lot (or $5 fee which can be paid at parking area in an envelope).

From Hwy 970, take Teanaway Rd west (travel 7.3 mi)
Continue straight on N Fork Teanaway Rd just after the road bends north after Teanaway Mercantile (travel 5.8 mi)
Bear right onto NFD Rd 9737 (travel 1.3 mi)
Bear right onto NFD Rd 9703 (travel 2.5 mi)
Trailhead parking area is on the right (47.36645, -120.80266). There is a pit toilet here. Trailhead itself is across the road to the north.

Note that the last two NFD roads are gravel, then dirt. The gravel road is smooth and low-car friendly. The dirt road has some potholes and rough spots, but still drivable with a low-slung car.