Trail Overview
Upper Mount Clifty is a short but advanced single track with severe exposure but incredible views. The trail is 1.8 miles long, connecting North Ridge to Manastash Ridge. The trail starts off from the north entrance with a steep climb through the trees, with a few moderate blunt root ledges, until it gets to the open ridgeline. The trail is narrow and exposed, but you are rewarded with fantastic views of jagged rock outcroppings and mountain peaks. Segments of trail stay on top of the ridgeline, while other segments side-hill, traversing across the hillside. There are often small rocks in the trail, and a few spots with embedded rock layers and small rock faces that you have to ride over. There is one large obstacle after about .7 miles that is an off-camber and steep rock face with several ledges, covered in loose dirt. It continues climbing steeply with loose dirt and a few more rockier sections. One of the most exposed sections is shortly after that, where there is a rock wall lining the trail on one side, and a pretty sheer drop-off on the other side, making it a high-consequence zone where riders need to use caution. After a mile, the trail starts descending through the trees, with less exposure, and descends down through several moderate switchbacks that are pretty smooth and wide.
