Mountain Bike Rides

From beginner trails to advanced rides, sandpoint, idaho has a mountain biking adventure for every rider.

⫸ GOLD HILL (FS TRAIL #3)

LENGTH:  11.5 MILES
ELEVATION GAIN:  1500′
DIFFICULTY:  STRENUOUS
TECHNICAL:  YEP

DESCRIPTION:  A FANTASTIC SINGLETRACK CLIMB WITH 20+ SWITCHBACKS LEADS TO A LOOP RIDE AT THE TOP BEFORE YOU ENJOY YOUR REWARD OF A 1500′ SINGLETRACK DESCENT TO THE PARKING LOT.

TRAILHEAD:  DRIVE SOUTH ON HWY 95 TO LIGNITE RD.  TURN LEFT AND CONTINUE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS ONTO BOTTLE BAY RD. CONTINUE 4 MILES TO THE TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT ON THE RIGHT.

THE RIDE:  THE 3.7 MILE CLIMB UP GOLD HILL TRAIL #3 STARTS THE MOMENT YOU LEAVE THE PARKING LOT.  RIDE AS MANY SWITCHBACKS AS YOU CAN AND THEN TRY TO DO BETTER THE NEXT TIME.  THIS IS A POPULAR TRAIL.  WATCH FOR HIKERS AND DOGS AS YOU NEGOTIATE THE VARIOUS IMPEDIMENTS TO YOUR UPWARD PROGRESS.  GREAT VIEWS ALL THE WAY UP SO BE SURE TO STOP AND ENJOY THEM.  WHEN THE TRAIL FINALLY SPITS YOU OUT AT THE TOP, TURN RIGHT ON THE ROAD, FS#2642, AND FOLLOW IT ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO THE END.  YOU’LL FIND A SINGLETRACK TRAIL AT THE END OF THE ROAD THAT WILL DROP YOU, AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE, TO FS#2642 AGAIN.  TURN LEFT AND CLIMB THE ROAD BACK UP TO THE TOP OF TRAIL #3 FOR YOUR FUN 1500′ DESCENT BACK TO THE PARKING LOT.

⫸ MINERAL POINT - LOST LAKE LOOP (FS TRAIL #82)

LENGTH:  2.1 MILES (ONE WAY)
DIFFICULTLY:  MODERATE
TECHNICAL:  YEP

DESCRIPTION:  BEAUTIFUL SINGLETRACK TRAIL HIGH ON A RIDGE ABOVE LAKE PEND OREILLE.

TRAILHEAD:  DRIVE SOUTH ON HWY 95 TO SAGLE RD.  TURN LEFT AND CONTINUE 7 MILES WHERE YOU TAKE THE RIGHT FORK IN THE ROAD TO GARFIELD BAY.  WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE LAKE WATCH FOR THE ROAD HEADING UP THE THE HILL TO THE LEFT (NOT THE CAMPGROUND ROAD)…USUALLY THERE IS A MINERAL POINT SIGN.  GO UP THE HILL ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND TURN RIGHT ON FS RD #532.  DRIVE 3 MILES TO FS RD #532A.  STOP, LOOK LEFT AND YOU’LL SPOT THE ACCESS FOR THE LOST LAKE LOOP.  TURN RIGHT ON #532A AND CONTINUE A SHORT WAY TO THE PARKING AREA.

THE RIDE:  THIS IS A POPULAR TRAIL.  WATCH FOR HIKERS.  THE TRAIL STARTS AS A WIDE GRAVELED TRAIL TO THE MONUMENT AT MINERAL POINT.  FROM THERE IT NARROWS INTO A NICE SINGLETRACK RIDE THROUGH CEDAR AND PONDEROSA FORESTS WITH SOME STUNNING VIEWS OF THE LAKE AND THE GREEN MONARCHS.  AS YOU NEAR THE END YOU’LL ENJOY A HIGH OVERLOOK OF GREEN BAY, THE TERMINUS OF THE TRAIL AND A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE A DIP IN THE LAKE BEFORE HEADING BACK.  WHEN YOU RETURN, CONTINUE DOWN #532A TO THE TRAIL ACCESS YOU SPOTTED ON THE WAY IN.  THE LOST LAKE LOOP IS AN EASY LOOP OF APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MILES THAT IS NOT AS WELL TRAVELLED AS MINERAL POINT BUT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND YOUR RIDE AND POSSIBLY SPOT A MOOSE OR OTHER WILDLIFE NEAR THE LAKE.  YOU’LL EITHER EXIT AT THE SAME POINT YOU ENTERED OR ON RD #532 DEPENDING ON THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ON THE LOOP.  IF YOU END UP ON THE ROAD RIDE IT BACK TO THE JUNCTION WITH #532A TO FIND YOUR WAY HOME.

⫸ PINE STREET TRAILS - SHERWOOD FOREST

LENGTH:  VARIES
DIFFICULTY:  MODERATE/STRENUOUS
TECHNICAL:  YEP

DESCRIPTION:  THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF LOCAL LANDOWNERS & CYCLING PATRONS AND AMAZING TRAIL BUILDING BY SOME DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, THIS NETWORK OF TRAILS PROVIDES A WONDERFUL SINGLETRACK OPPORTUNITY THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT.

TRAILHEAD:  FROM THE STORE…TURN LEFT ON CEDAR ST.  GO 5 BLOCKS TO 5TH AVE AND TURN LEFT.  GO 3 BLOCKS TO PINE STREET AND TURN RIGHT.  IN 2 BLOCKS TAKE THE RIGHT HAND FORK IN THE ROAD TO CONTINUE ON PINE.  FOLLOW PINE ST FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES.  AT THIS POINT PINE ST MAKES A 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT.  DON’T TAKE IT.  THE SIGNED TRAILHEAD PARKING AREA IS JUST TO THE LEFT OF THIS CORNER.

THE RIDE:  THERE IS NO DESIGNATED ROUTE.  JUST GO EXPLORE.  MOST OF THE TRAILS LOOP BACK ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.  IF YOU COME TO A DEAD END JUST TURN AROUND AND TRY SOMETHING ELSE.  LOTS OF DOGS, WALKERS, AND RUNNERS ON THE TRAIL TOO.  RIDE AWARE.

SPECIAL NOTE:  THESE TRAILS ARE LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.  PLEASE RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ADJACENT LANDOWNERS BY NOT TRESPASSING.  ALSO, DON’T JEOPARDIZE THE RIGHTS GRANTED TO US BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS BY ABUSING THE PRIVILEGE THEY GRANT US FOR RIDING ON THEIR LAND BY DOING STUPID THINGS, AKA:  NO LITTERING, NO FIRES, NO PARTIES, ETC.

⫸ OTHER OPTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE AREA:

FARRAGUT STATE PARK
SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT
ROUND LAKE STATE PARK