Dark Hollow

Dark Hollow

	Dark Hollow
Location:	Utah
Nearest Town:	Parowan
Directions to Trailhead:	Take Brianhead exit on I 15. Procede up canyon. (This canyon has 13% grades, do not take trailers. It is about 14 Miles up to the top. Go to Brianhead Peak and follow the crowd
Trail Description:	Highly technical the first 6 miles. Single track with numerous rocks and trees. A few streams to cross so plan on getting wet and muddy.
Trail Length:	11 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack & Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Extreme
Web Link:	http://brianhead.com/summer
Submitted By:	kean

Dennis N Romano from Las Vegas, NV Date: August 21, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: Climb to the top of the peak, follow the signs. Other recommended trails in the same area: Bunker Creek
Review: I have been riding this trail for 10 years. I am sad to say that the trail is in horrible shape. The Dixie National Forest Park Service and the bike shop personnel should be ashamed of themelves. They are quick to brag how wonderful Brian Head is but are not doing anything to keep the trails open. I even mentioned it to several bike shops and got the impression they could care less. Dark Hollow is a technical downhill not recommended for the advanced rider. The intial drop off is very challenging and can be painful. The ride is great except for the mess left by the lumber industry. Throughout the middle part of the ride the trail is covered with logs that are of course for the most part unrideable. After this section the trail is clear but still steep, technical and exciting. The singletrack is fairly short and then ends on a fire road. This section is okay as far as dirt roads go.	Overall Rating:

SKIPMOTO from CANYON COUNTRY , CA Date: July 15, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: BRIANHEAD PEAK- 11,500 FT. DOWN TO VERMILLION CASTLE- 4,500 FT. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!! Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: THIS IS THE BEST TRAIL FOR YOUR BUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOTS OF ROCK, ROOTS, AND RUTTS. 99% DOWNHILL FROM THE SIGN ON DOWN. WHEN YOU GET ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THERES A FORK THAT GOES TO HENDRICKSON LAKE. IF YOU GO THAT WAY IT WILL TIE BACK INTO THE FIRE ROAD THAT DARK HOLLOW DROPS OFF ON TO. THIS IS BY FAR MORE TECH. THEN THE OTHER ROUTE. BUT THEN YOU MISS A NICE LITTLE WOODEN BRIDGE GOING OVER A STREAM. A GOOD PLACE TO STOP FOR A SNACK OR TWO.TAKE YOUR PICK, THERE BOTH AWESOME!!!!!!!! THE FINAL LEG IS A FIRE ROAD THAT BOTH ROUTES WILL TAKE YOU TO. THIS IS A GOOD WARM DOWN WHERE YOU CAN LET YOUR BRAKES REST AND SEE JUST HOW FAST YOU'LL LET YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKE GO. ALL AND ALL, ANY ADVANCED RIDER SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT. NOT TO DEMANDING BUT LOTS OF FUN! BLOWHARD IS ALSO A LOT OF FUN , BUT DARK HOLLOW IS THE CRONIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NUF SAID.	Overall Rating:

Big Al from Ogden, Utah Date: October 9, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: I'm not going to Brian Head again, I want some loops. You can make several loops at Navajo Lake, and also at Red Canyon (Thunder Mountain, Loosee Canyon). I'm only going to these places next time.
Review: This trail is well representative of the bad direction MTB is going. Simply put: Shuttle/lift riding screws up great trails. You get too many fat ass, inexperience riders who are trying it for the first time. They're proud of how much blood they shed (on themselves) and screw up the trails by skidding ruts all the way down. I couldn't believe how screwed up and eroded this trail was. That's what happens when you don't have to earn the uphill!!!!	Overall Rating:

Tony from Las Vegas,NV Date: September 14, 2000 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Georg's Bike shop is by far the best and down to earth shop there. Bring them a good beer!!! Other recommended trails in the same area: BLOW HARD, BLOW HARD, BLOW HARD!!!!!
Review: I have ridden Dark Hollow numerous times. The logging this year (9/00) has been brutal. Definitely do the Hendrikson lake route or try "old" dark hollow for some real technical fun. Georg's bike shop can give you very detailed maps of the routes. Not for beginners, try Bunker Creek before you do Dark Hollow	Overall Rating:

Puzman from Wallingford, CT Date: August 2, 2000 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Did this as a link-up with the Louder Ponds loop. Adds about 10 miles and about 4 of those are climbing. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: A nice trail, but not as nice as Bunker Creek. The singletrack up top is great and more of a technical challenge than Bunker Creek, but the views aren't as nice (unless you add in the Louder Pond linkup, which I highly recommend- really a nice loop), and the fireroad and pavement sections are hot and boring.	Overall Rating:

Tom from Portland Or Date: October 5, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Start at the top. Other recommended trails in the same area: Left fork of Bunker Creek if you want to actually pedal your bike.
Review: It's all down hill. Not much of a work out but alot of fun anyway. Lots of steeps and rocks all the way down.	Overall Rating:

dave from vancouver, bc Date: September 22, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: Blowhard, bunker creek.
Review: I rode this trail with a stiff fork. Don't do this. I got so mad I pushed a tree over, beat up both my friends, and snapped my bike in half. Blow hard was way funner and more scenic. I think this trail is slightly overrated, I've done better.	Overall Rating:

Darrell McMillan from Round Mountain, NV Date: September 8, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Go to Brian Head Sports and arrange a shuttle. Ours cost $20 for 2 people and $5 for each additional person. The best option is to have them follow you down the mountain and park your car and catch a ride back to the top. That way your car is waiting for you at the end of your ride. Other recommended trails in the same area: Blowhard Mountain is even better, although it's only 7 and a half miles long. Thunder Mountain in Bryce Canyon is about an hour away and is easily the most awesome trail I've ever ridden, plus it's a loop.
Review: This trail is really great. It's fairly steep and technical right off the top but eases up pretty fast. It's got a lot of rock in it and is hardly ever smooth, but dropping 5300 vertical feet is awesome. It took us about an hour and a half to ride to the bottom and we had one beginner with us. The scenery is great in a lot of places, although there are quite a few messes from the logging. The trail is well marked and navigation is a no-brainer.	Overall Rating:

Eric from Layton, UT Date: August 16, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Follow guide book. Other recommended trails in the same area: Blowhard is a much better downhill.
Review: One of the most over-rated rides I've ever done. A couple good sections, but mostly bone jarring. Might be fun on a full downhill bike, otherwise more painful than fun.	Overall Rating:

Tom from SLC, UT Date: August 13, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a year
Recommended Route: same as described Other recommended trails in the same area: Thunder Mountain, Casto.
Review: As most other reviewers have said and as I stated in the Bunker Creek review, a great ride if all you need to be happy is to rip downhill. Wasn't there long enough to make or find a loop. Other destinations around the Red Canyon area are better for cross-country types.	Overall Rating:

webber from st. george Date: August 4, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: go to Brian head peak and follow the trail signs Other recommended trails in the same area: blowhard trail
Review: Great downhill trail! I agree with many of the others, it would be better if the gravel road were ST, but it was still great. One of the more fun trails to ride for the adrenaline rush. The singletrack was great, I'm going back next week!	Overall Rating:

Ken Cox from Las Vegas, NV Date: August 1, 1999 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Georg's bike shop at Brianhead is a great shuttle. Worth the cost. Other recommended trails in the same area: Bunker Creek
Review: If you want little uphill and all downhill this is for you. Can get real slippery after a rain, watch out for numerous tree roots and rocky sections. Rode it 5 times over three days. I sure would like to see the trail lengthened as half of the ride is a combination of fire road and the highway down into Parowan. Tons of fun though! I can highly recommend both forks of the Bunker Creek trail also. There is more uphill but it is also a great trail.	Overall Rating:

Vaughn Smith from Denver, CO Date: July 20, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: As stated previously, jump off from the top of Brian Head and follow the signs for Dark Hollow. Other recommended trails in the same area: Blow Hard, Bunker Creek Right Hand. ...all of BrianHead singletrack is sweet.
Review: Beautiful trail, some great scenery. Nice alpine meadows, aspen stands. Nice generally narrow singletrack. Some areas are quite rocky. 5 of our 10 riders that day got flats. A few minor creek crossings, depending on the time of the year. Mosquitos were out and about early July. The Boy Scout Camp Loop that takes off to the left a mile or two down from the top is quite fun from my recollection 4 years ago, but this time there were signs up proclaiming it was currently closed due to ongoing logging operations. Don't know if that section is toast or not. Farther down Dark Hollow, I rather enjoyed the wide open fireroad drop to the parked car, but I agree it would have been even more fun if it were singletrack dropping us all the way down there. Would add at least another 3-4 miles of ST. In general, real sweet. I hope to do it again.	Overall Rating:

JD from Grand Junction, CO Date: July 20, 1999 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Down Other recommended trails in the same area: If you want real technical in that area, try Blow Hard.
Review: Mildly technical near the top. Other than that, a screaming downhill. I wish there had been more singletrack. It seemed like all of that altitude lost on the fire road was wasted.	Overall Rating:

SDH from LAS VEGAS Date: July 19, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: PAY $12 BUCKS AT GEORGES BIKE SHOP AND CATCH THE SHUTTLE TO THE TOP OF BRIAN HEAD PEAK. GET READY FOR A 6000 FOOT DROP 15 MILE ALL DOWNHILL RIDE. THE SHUTTLE WILL PICK YOU UP AT THE BOTTOM. Other recommended trails in the same area: BUNKER CREEK - NOT AS EXTREME BUT JUST AS GOOD.
Review: BRING BIG SUSPENSION, DISC BRAKES, SHIN GUARDS AND A FULL FACE HELMET. FOR SERIOUS DOWNHILL THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS. LEAVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND AT HOME. VERY STEEP, TIGHT AND TECHNICAL. SOME SECTIONS ARE VERY ROCKY, MY HANDS WOULD PUMP-UP UNTIL I GOT DISC BRAKES.	Overall Rating:

kean from salt lake city utah Date: July 6, 1999 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: if you don't have suspension don't take this trail Other recommended trails in the same area: Left fork bunker Creek. This is more of a single track and cross country ride. Not much cross country but there is a little. Watch out for the trees...
Review: Fun but hard on your bike and bones. Extremely techinical. Bring bug spray. Have good brakes. I wore out a set of new breaks on my Gary Fisher in 1 weekend.	Overall Rating: