Now this is a mountain bike ride

[Irulan]

Hubby and I took a day trip up to the American Falls trail, N of Priest Lake in N. Idaho.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3687026787_2fffe66e2b_b.jpg

While not old growth cedar forest, the second growth on this very is very old. The trail is buff single track through cedars and ferns for miles and miles, a very gentle gradient.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3687829744_5046215f95_b.jpg

In places the ferns were chest high, but I don't have pics of that.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3687069531_169a6d19f7_b.jpg

Ferns everywhere
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3687029033_09a8661c2f.jpg?v=0



The trail appears to be quite old and well maintained. There were lots of these nifty boardwalks over the boggy areas.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3687831568_ba754782f6_b.jpg

After 8 miles of the ferns, cedars and boardwalks,
American Falls, Upper Priest River.... 1 mile S of Canada.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3687836890_d34b742428_b.jpg

Upper Priest River
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3687832720_fd9c86178f_b.jpg

Here's our little lunch spot
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/3687035497_baed2287c2_b.jpg

Then back down....whee---yeah!
This trail was very reminiscent of the MRT sans lava

[Reesha]

That's awesome!!!! I'm jealous! Apparently St. Louis has some good trails, but not surrounded by such amazing plant life.

Looks like you had a blast :cool:

[BikeDutchess]

Gorgeous! Looks like a great ride!

[Reesha]

Did you see any bears? And if you did, did you avoid confrontation?! :p

[Mr. Bloom]

Awesome pictures!


That's awesome!!!! I'm jealous! Apparently St. Louis has some good trails, but not surrounded by such amazing plant life.

Looks like you had a blast :cool:

What about at Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest...have you done anything there?

[surgtech1956]

Awesome pics, what kind of camera did you use? Whats for lunch? Nice lunch spot:)

[Trekhawk]

What a beautiful place to ride.
Thanks for sharing the snaps.:)

[crazycanuck]

Irulan, that singletrack looks sweet & inviting :cool: Except for the bears..I'd be freaked out the whole time..

Makes me long for a mtn bike trip back in NZ..no bears..except drop bears :p

[Irulan]

Camera, Canon SD800 point and shoot. I'll post up a few more pics when I am on the other computer.

Bears - no reported activity but in retrospect traveling with bear spray in the backcountry in our neck of the woods is never a bad idea. Black bears are pretty harmelss, they aren't typically agressive. Grizzlys are a different story. They are pretty reclusive however, and tend to hide way up the hills. This are we were in is adjacent to a heavily used mountain lake resort area. I would imagine the trail was very busy on Sat the 4th.

Lunch? PBJ. ;)

[Pan Dulce]

Truly beautiful up here. :D

American Falls trail? I don't think I've been there yet. I'll have to check it out after I get my mt bike built up. Great pictures!

[Biciclista]

In 10 years of roaming northern and southwestern Idaho I saw one bear. And he was running AWAY fast.

These are beautiful beautiful photos, thanks for posting them.

[Aggie_Ama]

Beautiful!

When we went to Red River, NM we hiked a bunch and saw some old bear scat but nothing else. I did see one run across the road while road riding, DH had been there probably 5-7 times and never seen one. He was extremely jealous!

[Reesha]

Awesome pictures!



What about at Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest...have you done anything there?

Haven't been there yet-- still new to St. Louis. Once I have my new mountain bike in hand, I will be sure to explore the Ozarks with other MTB friends. http://lesoftparade.com/boards/images/smilies/th_up.gif

[Miranda]

Those are great pics! Sounds like it was a wonderful ride. Thx for sharing.:)

[bmccasland]

Aw man, and I bet the air was crisp and cool too! (compared to the steamy south) I neeeeed a real vacation!

Irulan, thanks for sharing the photos!

[DDH]

wow, that's beautiful. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Makes me jealous.
Right now all we have around here is a lot of dead brown grass.