Long Canyon

Long Canyon is one of our local "epics". There's great riding in the N Idaho Panhandle but it is not in any guidebooks. I have heard about this ride, but always the 40+ mile death march-all day-epic version. It turns out that if you shuttle vehicles between the two trailheads, it turns the ride into a doable-for-mere-mortals backcountry ride of 19 miles

You leave a vehicle at the bottom and then drive back up to the upper trailhead at 5700'. Then it's a two mile hike-a-bike to the pass, up to about 6700. After that, the trail descends via over 40 switchbacks down to the valley. Long Canyon is roadless, so it is a premier wilderness destination with filled with old growth cedars. Once you are off the ridege, the trail rolls through the old growth for miles and miles and miles, with many creek crossings. The day is spend eating and riding punctuated with creek crossings. I had the best day in a very long time. :-)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...55746067_o.jpg

Hike a bike, for real
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...0/P1020104.JPG

top of the pass
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...2/P1020106.JPG

lots of rocks at the top of the descent
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m...020111edit.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...020116edit.jpg

I wasn't kidding about switchbacks. Something "clicked" for me on this ride and I did better than ever on them
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p...020123edit.jpg

Much of the trail looks like this
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/IMG_1165.JPG

Always bring your water filter
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...70186451_o.jpg

There were about 5 crossings like this
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--...87607125_n.jpg

The trail is well maintained. There were really nice boardwalks over the boggy areas.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...20136-edit.jpg

DH took lots of photos of me. :-)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R...20134-edit.jpg

and more creek crossings ( note to self, bring sandals next time)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...2/P1020141.JPG

Almost done - view of the Kootenay River
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...20144-edit.jpg

Wow! That looks amazing. And how awesome that your technique on the switchbacks clicked!

That looks beautiful!

Veronica

Great photo's.
Idaho has some super riding ,I wish I would have taken up Mt. Biking way earlier, it's hard trying to make up lost time. LOL
So many trail and not enough time.