What a fun challenging trail, starting with a desert landscape and climbing into a rocky forest along side a creek. Starting with 1000 foot climb with multiple challenging rock fields and water bars. I love this trail for the steep challenging climb and the diversity of trail types. The two loops at the top creates opportunities to change up the trail changing the order and direction you can go.
Red Mesa loop is simpler but reaches to 7400 feet altitude. Through the meadow in the middle, I've seen deer and elk. Clockwise is easier with a steeper climb and gently drop over a longer distance. Counter clockwise, the long climb and shorter drop takes some of the fun out of it. The Plymouth Mountain loop is more challenging with switchbacks. Counter-clockwise, it starts with a steep climb and then rolls along the mountain edge and down switchbacks. Clockwise, it feels more wooded and moderately challenging climbs over rocky path and around swithbacks. The first part through the trees is beautiful.
Once you finish the loops, the drop is a long technical downhill where you unwind all the technical climbs you built up your energy. The wall is the famous portion of this trail. Its not very long, maybe 200 feet, but with large waterbars leading to a boulder field makes it a real challenge. I've heard people can climb it but have never seen it. It would take a talented trials rider to hop up and drive up it. I can ride down it as you drop over ledges catching your chain ring and slick rock you slide down. I feel really good when I make it, you have to just go for it.
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