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Trail Description:
Dead Dog Loop and it's off-shooting trail, Ben's Switchbacks, is an incredible opportunity to see the Bookcliff Mountain Range and the entire Price valley and get some singletrack time under your belt.
Dead Dog Loop is the fourth trail developed by Fuzzy Nance and the Price Area Singletrack Society. This loop takes place atop one of the highest mesas on Wood Hill. You can start from the bottom and head up the gnarly Ben's Switchbacks (advanced riders or walkers only) or start from the oil pump pad and wind up and around the bridges and teeter-toter. Once on top, the view in incredible and the singletrack is sweet.
The Dead Dog Spine is intense and only riders with advanced technical skills should attempt this section. It is also recommended that riders beware of storms. The spine has been known to receive many lightning strikes each year and the cross winds can make this section extremely dangerous. There is no shame in walking this section.
Since this trail is one of the newest, it is definitely underutilized. The local terrain is powdery and sandy and without constant riding this trail tends to be soft. Navigation can be tricky through the real soft stuff and slow-steady pedaling is key to staying on the bike.
The trail utilizes the road for crossings and to get from section to section and a map is essential.
How to get there:
In Price, take 100 North (heading east) will turn into Cedar Hills Road as it turns north. Take this to 800 North, turn right (east). At the end of the pavement, just past the cemetery, you will turn north onto the oil road.
The strong-hearted may start from here and ride the 3 miles up the dirt road. There is one steep climb at the beginning. Or you can drive up the dirt road. Turn right at the first road past the large oil/gas refinery plant. Follow the road around to the fork in the road, take the left road. This will end at a gas pump pad. Park here. The trailhead will be on the southern end of the pump pad. This section invlovles a fairly steep, rocky climb around the mesa.
An alternative is to ride back down the road you drove up about 1/3 mile. On the eastern side of the road will be the trailhead for Ben's Switchbacks. Riding up this is for the "sick" advanced riders.
Everyone else can drive all the way to the top. Follow the road past the oil/gas refinery plant, past the first road on the right. Turn right on the second main road and follow it up and around the back-side of the mesa. At the top park near the cattle guard and the trail meanders around (a map is essential).
Additional Notes:
Maps available at the local bike shop, Bicycleworks, 640 E Main, Price. The trailheads are not vey
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