Are you up for an adventure on a secret trail? For some reason, the Buck Crossing Trail has been abandoned, as the trailhead signpost on the road is knocked down with the sign missing. The beginning of the singletrack has no indicator a trail is there, but when you're on it you'll be convinced that, in fact, a trail is there...at least most of the time. Because it isn't used, it is grown in occasionally and disappears at times, but there is plenty of evidence that humans and cows know it exists. There is some apparent trailwork taking place in the form of cutting logs and leaving rock cairns and signposts, so at least you don't have to get off your bike much if you can follow the trail. Certain sections are very good and then others need a bit of work.
It's all good fun until you reach the creek crossings. Upon the first crossing you enter a very difficult and mostly unrideable stretch. You have to navigate the crossing of several streams and marshy meadows. The trail is too rocky to ride. Once you spend 20 minutes getting through this quagmire, the riding gets better and you soon begin to join up with ATV tracks coming from the Horse Lake Trail. The route here is just shown to there, although the trail continues on to the Lake Fork Trail. The doubletrack of the Horse Lake Trail is good to use to climb out.
Trail Notes
- The Buck Crossing Trail begins of Road 66, 1.5 miles east of Twin Lakes Campground on an unmarked road on the right.
- 0.4 mi., this is probably the official trailhead, as the road ends when reaching the (dry) creek. Loop for a post across the meadow to begin the trail.
- 1.4 First stream crossing at Cabin Creek.
- 1.6 Pass a directional sign on a tree reading Buck Crossing and pointing left. Soon Elk Creek and then Big Elk Creek will be crossed.
- 2.8 Crossing of Aspen Creek. There is some good riding through the section before and after this creek.
- 3.2 Begin picking up some two-track ATV trails
- 4.0 Reach the intersection with Horse Lake Trail. Turn right.
- 7.2 Arrive at the Horse Lake Trailhead, just off of Rd. 66.
