Distance: 11 miles

Effort: Difficult

Skill: Technical

Fear: Be Careful

Season: summer

Elevation Low: 7400 Elevation High: 8475

The Hammill Canyon ride is good backcountry single-track. This ride starts from intersection of Herring Creek Road and forest service road 4N12 loop. This is just pass the turn to the Gargoyles rock formations.

The ride up is a gradual climb of 6 miles. This is all nice gravel road, easy climbing. Bloomers Lake is at the top with a nice place to take a break. To find the single-track heading back down look for a trial right over the culvert were the forest service road 4N12 crosses the creek coming from Bloomer Lake.

Once heading down you’re now ready for some fun. This trail meanders its way through some beautiful country. At 2 miles into the single-track you drop down into the valley and should run by a sign that marks the main trail. At a point it becomes tuff to stay on the main trail. If you find yourself taking a wrong turn, stop and mark the right way with a tree limb or something. The only thing this trial lacks is more bike traffic to make the main trail more obvious. No worries they all lead to the same place, Herring Creek reservoir. You come out on the north side of the lake and if it’s a weekend you will see people camping and fishing. This is a pretty good size campground. Follow the 4x4 road out past all the campers and head uphill to your right. You are now back on forest service road 4N1 2. One last hill and your back at the cooler.