Eleven Mile - Martin Creek

Total Miles
6.2

Elevation

2,717.13 ft

Duration

0.75 Hours

Technical Rating

5

Moderate

Best Time

Summer

Trail Overview

The Eleven Mile - Martin Creek single track is a 6.5-mile long trail that starts on the north end of the Custer Motorway. The trail goes through a dry alpine terrain, with tight turns through the trees, little rocks and roots in the trail, and tiny stream crossings. There aren't any singularly significant obstacles or ledges, but you'll need to constantly be ready for big embedded rock surfaces and exposed sections of narrow side-hilling. The trail isn't overly narrow, which keeps it at moderate difficulty, but there are constant rocks and several root obstacles that add some difficulty. The northern end goes through a burn area, with tons of downed trees, on wide-open mountainsides with no shade coverage. Many downed logs have been cut in the beginning, but farther south, uncut logs on this trail must be ridden over and under. Some are elevated above the trail that you'll have to duck for. This trail could be pretty grueling in the early season before the logs are cut or after a big windstorm that results in more downed trees. The first half of the trail is a constant climb up 1,700 feet and gets up to a viewpoint out over the mountain range from a mountain top covered in sagebrush. The second half of the trail is an equally long descent. It side-hills down on a narrower path with loose rock and small switchbacks. Near the south end, it drops into a denser forest with more shade next to a creek. The trail is still full of small rocks and roots. It goes through an excellent pinch between a rock and a tree. Be prepared for tight maneuvers between log debris and more enormous embedded rocks. Overall, this is an enjoyable ride with good challenges, and it doesn't look overly trafficked, so you likely won't see many other riders. It ends after 6.5 miles and turns into an ATV trail, although the ATV trail is more like a continuation of the single track. This trail is open 7/1 - 9/30.

Photos of Eleven Mile - Martin Creek

Eleven Mile - Martin Creek
Eleven Mile - Martin Creek

Difficulty

This trail is intermediate difficulty due to the trail being constantly full of little features that keep you on your toes, like consistent rocks and roots that make it tricky to get a flow going. You constantly have to pay attention, plus have experience for a few moderate obstacles like bigger roots, and many downed logs. The difficulty of this trail could increase significantly depending on the amount of new downfall.

Technical Rating

5

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

Access Description

The north trailhead is off of the Custer Motorway, which is a dirt road that takes you north from Sunbeam on Highway 75. There are lots of dispersed camping sites along the Custer Motorway. Make a loop with Peach Cinnabar for a more challenging day ride, and check out the Custer Ghost Town and the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge while in the area.

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