Trail Overview
The overall environment of the Pole Creek Spur offers a steady climb through beautiful, dense evergreen forests that eventually open up to reward you with expansive, breathtaking views to the East and South. Starting right near the closed gate on the main Pole Creek Road, this route takes off to the right and immediately begins its winding journey into the trees. As you progress, be sure to stay left when you reach the primary fork. The road climbs steadily up the mountainside, utilizing a series of well-placed, sweeping switchbacks that make the elevation gain smooth and scenic. Along the edges of the path, you will spot several large, neatly cut logs resting on the shoulders to help outline the route. The track ultimately concludes at a large, spacious dirt turnout. This serves as the perfect natural turnaround point, as continuing past this clearing leads directly into private property clearly marked with no-trespassing signage.
Difficulty
This trail earns a mild 2 out of 10 difficulty rating, with the road surface primarily consisting of packed dirt mixed with sections of loose, scattered cobble. While much of the lower trail is wide and well-graded, the main challenges arise as you climb the steeper switchbacks. These inclines feature patches of loose, chunky rocks and minor embedded stones that can slightly reduce traction on your ascent. Additionally, you will navigate over some very shallow, minor rutting forming in the center of the track, as well as small debris that has tumbled down from the dirt cut-banks. To ensure a smooth ride, simply maintain a slow, steady momentum while climbing the rocky grades, and be mindful of your outer tires when passing the large cut logs lining the shoulders.
