Trail Overview
The north end of Trail 17 starts off of FS Road 10547 across from a dispersed campsite, at a gate and pinch point. The trail goes south through a wide forested corridor. The north half of the trail is very easy, being straight, smooth, and fast, with no obstacles, but watch out for a couple of shallow mud puddles. When it meets up with the paved road, the trail goes left towards the intersection with FS 10, which makes a short loop off of this trail. Stay on FS 17, and wind through the lodgepole pines until it meets up with the southern intersection of FS 10. The last mile of trail on the southern end is more technical, as it becomes steep and rocky. There are large embedded boulders in the trail, loose round rocks that can ping you around, and roots diagonally across the trail. You descend steeply down a rocky hill, cross a shallow stream, then climb back up another technical rocky hill. After that, it smooths out and rides through a few meadows until it meets up with FS Road 10420.
Difficulty
The majority of this trail is very easy, but there is a technical rocky section near the south end that makes this a moderate trail. The first 2.7 miles from the north entrance is smooth, straight, and easy. There is a short section of steep and rocky hills below the southern intersection with Trail 10 that is more suited to experienced riders.
