Trail Overview
This trail climbs over 1,200 feet and drops 100 feet across just over 4 miles, creating a sustained and challenging ascent from Smith Peak Lookout Road 1S16 to Jordan Creek Road. The sandy surface varies from one and a half vehicles wide to single vehicle width, surrounded by dense forests that sometimes create a natural canopy of trees overhead. The route runs along shelf roads throughout much of its length, offering periodic glimpses of the valley below and the surrounding hills and mountains that provide scenic rewards during the demanding climb. Several spots along the trail provide opportunities for dispersed camping, making this suitable for overnight adventures in the forest environment. Washboard sections appear along the way, creating vibration and requiring speed adjustments for comfortable travel. The final mile section closest to Jordan Creek Road transitions to a shelf road configuration with more rocks mixed into the sandy surface, requiring increased caution and attention to vehicle placement as the terrain becomes more technical near the terminus.
Difficulty
This trail receives a difficulty rating of 2, indicating easy conditions. However, the significant 1,200-foot climb, ruts reaching up to 12 inches deep, off-camber sections, washboard surfaces, and shelf road configurations with exposure create technical challenges throughout the route. The narrow width, ranging from single vehicle to 1.5 vehicles wide, combined with the rocky sections near Jordan Creek Road, requires careful navigation and ground clearance despite the easy rating.
