MOUNTAIN BIKING: Silvia Ridge Loop

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Description

This loop takes just about an hour and can be ridden either way, both directions will include some great downhill or push a bike sections (Hamby Hill and Pine Winder). The trails are somewhat documented on maps that may be available from the City of Montesanon Forestry Department (Pine Winder excluded). The Lake Silvia area also includes a great loop of the Silvia East Fork trail, Cougar Ridge and back either the West Fork trail (old RR spur following the creek--can be mud bog from ATV use) or back on the X-line to the A-line dumping you out in the middle of the Silvia Ridge trail. Have fun, buy a State of Washington season parking pass (it is revenue enhancement time in our state managed resources) and I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Directions

From the small town of Montesano, take third street up the hill from Pioneer into Lake Silvia State Park. Proceed into the park over the bridge. Ride West along the lake, cross over the damn and follow Lower Silvia Creek Trail down the valley, across Silvia Creek and back towards the lake. There are three ways up Hamby Hill, I prefer taking the third entrance you come to on the uphill side from the main trail. Take one to extend this loop with much more single track or proceed back to the lake on main trail. At the top of Hamby hill follow the logging spurs (A-1400) out to the main logging road (the Montesano A-line). Head right down the hill and at the crest of the next hill keep a close lookout for the start of Silvia Ridge trail in deep forest. Follow this perfect deep woods single track along the ridge (crossing two small spurs) until it opens out onto a wide intersection. The Silvia Ridge trail continues on down the hill but that section has just been destroyed (Winter 03) by a commercial thinning operation (this is a multi-use City of Montesano managed forest). At this intersection follow the major spur (b-300) to the right past a locked gate through the forest until you crest a hill opening into a very large clearcut. Stay to the right (left is another out, but a poor choice) down the hill across the clearcut and back to another crest as you near the lower timber line. The next single track section called Pine Winder (Pine something, no sign) begins on the left from that crest and winds down and across the ridge utill it dumps you just inside the treeline on to the Silvia Creek trail. Hang a left and return to the Lake from which you began.