[cocheese]

I'm thinking of taking a day this week and ride this loop. I have lived here for 5 years and this will be my first time on the trail. I'm just getting back into biking after an 8 year hiatus due to an injured knee. Would the Dungeness/Gold Creek be a good lop for me? How about the riding conditions this time of year? Seems like it would be dry enough, especially after yesterday and today. Nice and warm in WA!!!

 

[Monte]

I'm thinking of taking a day this week and ride this loop. I have lived here for 5 years and this will be my first time on the trail. I'm just getting back into biking after an 8 year hiatus due to an injured knee. Would the Dungeness/Gold Creek be a good lop for me? How about the riding conditions this time of year? Seems like it would be dry enough, especially after yesterday and today. Nice and warm in WA!!!

Should be awesome, we rode it over a month ago, some blowdowns on Dungeness. Gold Creek was clear all the way to just before the creek crossing at the end, and that's clear by now I would think.

Monte

 

[Borneo]

Yeah, go for it. May actually be cooler over there.

Skip the bottom of Dungeness and ride up the roads to 3 o'clock ridge and drop that trail to Dungeness about halfway up. Better route.

 

[gearz]

Yeah, go for it. May actually be cooler over there.

Skip the bottom of Dungeness and ride up the roads to 3 o'clock ridge and drop that trail to Dungeness about halfway up. Better route.

Huh? How could riding up a road be better than singletrack?

Lower Dungeness is a challenging climb but is the far better route. IMHO of course. The singletrack is beautiful. The road is a road.

 

[Borneo]

Gearz, I was thinking of Cocheese just getting back into biking shape.
Though, I DO prefer the road up to 3 o'clock and down that trail to Dungeness.
That lower section is just painful and only Pinch Flat would love that piece...

Dropping 3 o'clock is pure joy and you miss it by climbing all the way up Dungeness.
That road section ain't so bad anyways.:thumbsup:

 

[cocheese]

I hear you both. I might keep the "pain" to a minimum to begin with. Plus, I'm on a 29er SS, which is hurting my knee pretty bad. I'm beginning to think that I should not have been so ambitious to start! My body is rebelling!!! Geared FS would probably be more appropriate.

Thanks for the info guys. I'll head over there and let you know how the ride goes.

 

[Skookum]

Enjoy! i consider that trail a definate once a year trail. The initial hike a bike is what keeps the ride from being over the top cool, but you do get to stop at a cool viewpoint off the trail. i've never ridden the forest road up before, that'd probably be a good route for an XC shuttle.
But the overall moss bed hobbit forest feel of Dungeness, coupled by the unique benched singletrack cut right in the side of the steep ridges of the Olympics in the Gold Creek trail make for a great run. It's not big on mileage or elevation but it is an ass kicker, save some strength for that descent.

 

[nhodge]

how long is the road ride to 3'oclock ridge from dungeoness trailhead?
thanks-norman

 

[K.C.]

It is about 4/4.5 miles. Last week I drove up the fire road to the 3 o'clock Ridge spur, stashed my bike, pack, and bike shoes, and drove back down to the lower trailhead and parked. I then ran the 3.5 miles or so up to my bike, and rode the remainder of the Dungeness-Gold Creek loop. I think it is faster to run that section than ride it.