Trail Overview
Jolly Mountain is a rugged and rocky single track through the Wenatchee National Forest. It starts just across from the Salmon La Sac Sno-park, which is a great place to stage for this trail system. The trail starts climbing immediately, and it will gain over 4,000 feet over the 6.7-mile route. The first two miles are extremely rocky, dug out and troughed, with loose boulders in the ruts that you have to ride over. This portion of the trail is extremely chunky and steep in spots. The dirt is loose, and it is difficult to maintain momentum over all the rocks and roots. You will make tight turns and switchbacks through the rocky section. After about 2 miles, the rocks decrease, but the trail becomes shelfy and narrow, side-hilling around the mountainside.
There is a bridge with a bench over Salmon La Sac Creek, if you need a break at the midway point. There are some steep climbing sections as you approach the intersection with Sasse Mountain, and about four tight and steep loose silty switchbacks. These switchbacks will require great pivot skills to ride smoothly; otherwise, there is space on each corner to turn your bike around and approach the switchback straight on. After Sasse Mountain, the trail continues as a more gradual ridgeline trail with fewer technical features, just riding atop the mountain at high elevation with scenic views. The final mile up to the summit of Jolly Mountain climbs several moderate switchbacks. In order to reach the summit, you have to ride up several steep embedded rock layers. There is more exposure as you reach the top. Finally, you are rewarded with 360-degree views from the rocky ridge top. The trail then continues south as Yellow Hill #1222.
Difficulty
This is an upper intermediate difficulty trail due to technical switchbacks, steep spots, exposure, and very rocky terrain. The first two miles on the west side are full of loose rocks and boulders and root ledges. The majority of the switchbacks are in the east half, as it ascends to the summit of Jolly Mountain.
Access Description
The single-track motorized trails in the Teanaway drainage are extremely challenging, with narrow paths along cliffs, rocky sections, and steep terrain. Because the area is environmentally fragile, riders are asked to travel in groups of five or fewer and use trials tires instead of knobby rear tires. Please ride responsibly and tread lightly.
