Mesa Trail

The Mesa Trail is a loop off of Eagle Trail that provides some great views of Great Valley. Although it has some climbing, the relatively smooth surface and gradual grades make this a great trail for everyone. The trail is fun in either direction. This description is for hiking the trail counter-clockwise. It starts from a flat section of Eagle, well marked. The trail curves around a hilltop for a while until it starts a descent through some recent new growth. This is the biggest grade on the loop, and thus it's best to do it downhill. Soon it crosses an old logging road and does a few up and downs until it joins another old logging road. This road is on a steep sidehill that affords some great views of the valley, especially when there are no leaves on the trees. The old logging road gives way to a section of sidehill singletrack. Soon it will be time to gain back that elevation you lost, but this is done in a gradual way with a series of long switchbacks each with a gradual climb. Eventually you reach the top which is a broad plateau (and hence the mesa name). Then the trail descends slightly on a nice bench cut to rejoin Eagle Trail.