Bear Creek Tr943 to Mount Clifty Tr947
Overall: 6
Aerobic: 7
Technical: 6
Steepness: 8
Flow: 5
Singletrack: 100%
The Ellensburg Washington Bear Creek Trail to Mount Clifty Tr947 rely on a rugged section of Manastash Ridge Tr1388, creating a challenging CW loop ride.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 21.5mi
Ascent
Intense
Elevation Change
TH:3100'
Avg Ascent:7100'
Ascent Incline
16%
Duration
Avg: 5hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
popup
USFS
FR1911 and FR780 are an alternate way to get to the Manastash Ridge Tr1388 ridgeline, shortening the ride by a few miles.
The first 5.5mi of Bear Creek Tr943 could be used for a moderate 11mi (2900' ascent) OAB ride.
The first 3.5mi of Bear Creek Tr943 would be rated as an Easy trail, and could be added as a diversion from a Pyramid Peak Tr941 ride.
Ding: Constant Orv traffic has rutted these trails, especially Manastash Ridge Tr1388, forcing many of the ascents to be hike-a-bike. The trail surface is often washed out, sandy and rocky, making it difficult to stay on the bike during the many brief ascents along the ridgeline.
Steepness: The last 1.5mi of Bear Creek Tr943 is a 16% grade. There is a tough detour near Cub Creek Tr943A, with .5mi of 15% grade, as the trail wanders off and back onto the ridgeline. Manastash Ridge Tr1388 includes a steady 15% grade Blazed Ridge ascent.
Bear Creek Tr943 crosses the West Fork Bear Creek several times, so should be avoided in the Spring and after heavy rains.
Legos Tr942 could be used to extend the Bear Creek Tr943 to Mount Clifty Tr947 loop, and is an easier way to get to Manastash Ridge Tr1388 than by using Bear Creek Tr943 or the forest roads.
Legos Tr942 to Bear Creek Tr943 creates a moderate 15mi (4300' ascent) CW Loop.
Although Pyramid Peak Tr941 merges with Legos Tr942, that loop would include climbing back out of the North Fork Little Naches river valley, to the Green Pass ridge.
Better to use FR1913 and FR784 to start a Legos Tr942 ride.
Not drawn on the map, Pyramid Peak Tr941 nears FR1903 it is possible to ride over to the road from the trail, limiting the fireroad use for this ride.
Directions: SR410 to FR19 to FR1905 Four Meadows campsite. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
sometimes biking is hiking
- TH: If starting from the Four Way Meadow campsite, ride Pyramid Peak Tr941 north, towards Bear Creek Tr943. Pass the South Fork Tr946 intersection on the left at 1mi.
- 2.5mi: Cross FR765 then after crossing FR1911, go right onto Bear Creek Tr943 and begin the ascent. Pass FR780 on the right at 5mi, and pass the Cub Creek Tr943A intersection on the right at 5.5mi.
- 6.8mi: After a steep climb past several knolls, switchback descend to Blowout Creek, followed by a 1.5mi steep (mostly hike-a-bike) ascent to Manastash Ridge Tr1388.
- 8.7mi: Pass the Legos Tr942 intersection on the left then, just short of the ridgeline, go right onto Manastash Ridge Tr1388 at the intersection with Blowout Mountain Tr1318. Ride around a ridgeline knoll then descend and pass the Cub Creek Tr943A intersection on the right at 10mi.
- 12mi: Regain the ridgeline, then pass the FR780 intersection on the right, followed by 3mi of slowly descending but rugged ridgeline riding, with some hike-a-bike sections caused by Orv use.
- 16.3mi: After a steep traverse to Blazed Ridge, reach the ridgeline and pass the Blazed Ridge Tr1333/Greek Creek Basin Tr1321.2 intersection on the left, continuing along the ridgeline to the right.
- 17.3mi: After a brief climb past the Mount Clifty Tr1321.1 intersection on the left, reach the Mount Clifty Tr947 intersection and go right. The first 1mi of the descent is on the ridgeline, then the trail reaches a knoll and descends to another knoll. Pass FR764 at 18.6mi, then switchback around a third knoll, passing and crossing FR764 several times, starting at 19.3mi.
- 19.9mi: At the final knoll, descend straight off the hill to the TH, passing FR1905 at 20.7mi, and several other times before reaching the TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Bear Creek Trail 943, Cub Creek Trail 943A, Manastash Ridge Trail 1388, Mount Clifty Trail 947, Pyramid Peak Trail 941, Legos Trail 942, Greek Creek Basin Trail 1321.2
Area
Pacific Crest Trail 2000, Blowout Mountain Trail 1318, Blazed Ridge Trail 1333, Mount Clifty Trail 1321.1, Sand Creek Trail 963, South Fork Trail 946, Yellow Jacket Trail 963B, Middle Fork Trail 945
Campgrounds
American Forks Campground, Cedar Springs Campground, Cottonwood Campground, Crow Creek Campground, Halfway Flat Campground, Hells Crossing Campground, Indian Flat Campground, Jungle Creek Campground, Kaner Flat Campground, Little Naches Campground, Lodgepole Campground, Pine Needle Campground, Pleasant Valley Campground, Sawmill Flat 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
