Manastash Ridge Southside Ride

Overview

This ride is a great XC loop with approximately 24 miles of total trail including Chest Pains, the trail on the north face of Manastash Ridge. <br><br>After a quick start along Hippies Use The Side Door, turn left onto Frisky Donkey. This is a narrow, twisty, fun, cross-country singletrack through sagebrush lands and rocky canyons. From south to north (as mapped), it gains about 400 feet.<br><br>At the end of Frisky Donkey, continue onto Rum Punch. This short but steep connector heads through some open sagebrush. From the end of Rum Punch make a quick loop south on Pine Oasis and Gunsmoke, looping back to Rum Punch. This time take a left at the end of Rum Punch to take Pine Oasis north.<br><br>Next up is a quick run on Cougar Bait and Mrs. Robinson followed by a short section of Gnomenclature to connect to Chin Biter. This is a super fun descent starts by dropping through a beautiful canyon and then passes through sage brush. There are great views from the top with its link with Gnomenclature. <br><br>The "backside" trails are a great rolling trail network. They are beautiful in spring with balsamroot plants everywhere, and fast and dry sagebrush riding in the summer. This is a newer network and keeps getting better every year.

Trail Stats

Photos

Parking for Manastash Backside trails. Look for the trail behind the shot up "Fiber optic" sign shown here.

Parking for Manastash Backside trails. Look for the trail behind the shot up "Fiber optic" sign shown here.

Rowdy sections and mellow sections on Frisky Donkey

Rowdy sections and mellow sections on Frisky Donkey

Climbing Mrs. Robinson headed to Chin Biter

Climbing Mrs. Robinson headed to Chin Biter

It's still the desert. Never seen rattlers but nice bull snakes around. Admire but please leave them be. They just want to eat.

It's still the desert. Never seen rattlers but nice bull snakes around. Admire but please leave them be. They just want to eat.

Pine Oasis

Pine Oasis

Rocky and rough! Clifford connects Chest Pains to the Backside trails.

Rocky and rough! Clifford connects Chest Pains to the Backside trails.

rocky sections come fast and often

rocky sections come fast and often

Manastash Ridge looking northward towards Mt Stuart

Manastash Ridge looking northward towards Mt Stuart

Rollin smooth baby

Rollin smooth baby

Rolling down Chin Biter toward Umptanum Ridge

Rolling down Chin Biter toward Umptanum Ridge

Hoar Frost on Pine Oasis. Trails can be ridden when frozen but avoid when wet and soft. Ruts last years in this soil.

Hoar Frost on Pine Oasis. Trails can be ridden when frozen but avoid when wet and soft. Ruts last years in this soil.

Rolling down buff and fast Gunsmoke. This trail defines desert singletrack in the K Valley.

Rolling down buff and fast Gunsmoke. This trail defines desert singletrack in the K Valley.

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