Quartz Creek Tr5
Overall: 7
Aerobic: 8
Technical: 7
Steepness: 8
Flow: 5
Singletrack: 100%
Quartz Creek Tr5 is a continuation of Lewis Rvr Tr31, with more intense terrain as the trail approaches Boundary Tr1.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 23.2mi
Ascent
Intense
Elevation Change
TH:1780'
Avg Ascent:7200'
Ascent Incline
11%
Duration
Avg: 5hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
The trail gets much tougher beyond the Snagtooth Tr4 TH, with cliff exposure and increasingly steep terrain.
Check with the forest service for trail conditions, as there may be excessive treefall and maintenance is not always timely.
Several great loop options, depending on climbing ability and desired ride length.
The CW lollipop loop uses Boundary Tr1 to Summit Prairie Tr2, crossing Quartz Creek Ridge then using Quartz Creek Butte Tr5B to return to Quartz Creek Tr5.
A near-epic CCW loop with Boundary Tr1 and Snagtooth Tr4 creates an aggressive 27mi ride, with 9000' climbing, crossing some steep Boundary Tr1 terrain.
The 31mi (9400' climb) Quartz Creek Epic Ride consists of a CCW loop with Boundary Tr1 to Craggy Peaks Tr3 to Blue Lake Tr3A to Wright Meadow Tr80 and back to the TH.
This ride crosses Dark Mountain, Hat Rock, Yellowjacket Pass, Craggy Peak, Blue Lake, Wright Meadows, with a bit of Lewis River Trail to cool down.
Bring food and water, start early and consider camping..
Directions: See Map. NW Forest Pass required right at the TH. Start at the Lewis River Campground, near the Lewis River Horse Camp. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
technical terrain
- TH: Easy climb for the first six miles, to the Snagtooth Creek area.
- 6.3mi: Start of much steeper climbing, to the Boundary Tr1 ridgeline. Dangerous cliff exposure and narrow trail demands some attention. This section sometimes includes significant treefall and some hike-a-bike.
- 9.6mi: Go right on Boundary Tr1, then climb 1000' to Summit Prairie.
- 11.2mi: Go right onto Summit Prairie Tr2, with a fast descent and climb along the Quartz Creek Ridge.
- 14.4mi: Start of a 3mi steep (2000') descent to Quartz Creek Butte Tr5B and FR9075.
- 17.3mi: Trail crosses FR9075, then comes back to the road again. Take FR9075 to Quartz Creek Butte Tr5B, then descend 1000' in 1.75mi to Quartz Creek Tr5.
- 19.2mi: Go left onto Quartz Creek Tr5 and return to the TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Quartz Creek Trail 5, Quartz Creek Butte Trail 5B, Summit Prairie Trail 2
Area
124 Trail, Falls Creek Trail 152, Lava Butte Trail 200, Lewis River Trail 31, McClellan Meadows Trail 157, Oldman Pass Trail 154, Paradise Trail 153, Snofoot Trail 150, Speed Trail 31E, Terminator Trail 159, Valley Ski Trail 151
Hiking
Blue Lake Trail 3A, Bluff Trail 24, Craggy Peaks Trail 3, Cussed Hollow Trail 19, French Creek Trail 5C, Snagtooth Trail 4, Snyder Pasture Trail 80A, Spencer Butte Trail 30, Stabler Camp Trail 17, Wildcat Trail 25, Wright Meadow Trail 80
Campgrounds
Lewis River Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
