Trail Overview
Prairie Mountain is a 2.3-mile out-and-back gravel road ascending the west side of a 5,656-foot peak of the same name. The first quarter-mile of the trail serves as a driveway for local residents; please exercise courtesy and respect when passing through this section. At mile 1.5, the road features a partial washout with undercutting on the right side, as shown in photos 4 and 5. Wide vehicles may experience difficulty navigating this section. The road continues for an additional 0.8 miles before ending at Gravel Creek. A large washout, shown in photo 7, has made the road impassable beyond this point. Prairie Mountain is accessible year-round.
Difficulty
Prairie Mountain is a narrow but easily navigable trail. The most challenging section is the initial washout, which requires careful line selection and moderate suspension articulation. The trail is seldom used; visitors should bring a chainsaw for clearing windfall and expect pinstriping from overgrown vegetation. Snowfall will increase the difficulty of this trail.