MTB- Ossagon Trail

Distance: 18.5 miles
Climbing: 1347 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Start: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Orick

Updated June 15, 2020

I road this loop recently and found it more challenging than it used to be.  Where the Ossagon trail meets the Coastal trail, the route is very difficult to find due to multiple elk trails and lack of maintenance.  Also, the Ossagon hike/bike-in campsite is no longer maintained for camping.  Just a warning that the route may turn into an adventure.



Original Post
This popular mountain bike loop has a lot variety. It travels through old growth redwood forest, coastal Sitka spruce forest, prairie, and along the beach. The route travels along 6 miles of paved roads before turning to 5 miles of singletrack and 7.5 miles of gravel/dirt roads. The riding is not very technical, but a lot of fun, especially the Coastal Trail which has some fast twisty singletrack. There are areas of special interest such as a cool waterfall, Fern Canyon, and Gold Bluffs beach. You can't avoid getting wet because there are several creek crossings and a particularly troublesome swampy area along the beach. If you choose, you can also camp out along the way.

To get to the start head 40 miles north from Arcata to Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway. Go approximately 1.2 miles and turn left and park near the visitors center. You may be lucky to view a herd of Roosevelt Elk grazing in Elk Prairie.

• 0- Head north on Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway
• 5.68- Turn left on the Ossagon Trail
• 7.38- Cross the creek and take the first trail left, which is the Coastal Trail.


• 7.42- Take the first trail left through a swampy area.


• 7.75- Continue straight at the West Ridge Trail intersection.


• 8.75- Stop to check out the cool 100 foot waterfall.


• 10.11- Stop to check out Fern Canyon. Bear left to stay on the trail.


• 10.36- End of the Coastal Trail and beginning of Davidson Road. There is a bathroom located in the parking area at the end of Davidson Road. Continue approximately 4.8 miles along Davidson Road until you turn onto the trail back to the Elk Prairie Campground.


• 15.17- Left onto "bicycle/jogging" trail. The trail is an old road that has overgrown into fast singletrack.


• 16.25- Straight over the bridge and continue on dirt road.


• 16.97- Left on road


• 17.2- Right on road


• 17.35- Go through the gate and turn left proceeding through the second gate. Follow the signs back to the start at Prairie Creek Redwoods visitors center.

Click on the map to see a larger view or print it out. The trails are well marked and the map has the major turning points marked for reference.

Schoolhouse Peak Lookout

Distance: 38 miles
Climbing: 4546 feet
Dificulty: Moderate
Start: Orick 

Updated:  June 15, 2020.

Bald Hills Road has been upgraded with more pavement.  Now, only the last 2.3 miles are gravel to the lookout.  I still recommend a gravel bike to tackle the gravel road, but it could be completed on a road bike with tough tires if you are patient.  

A more challenging and fun ride is to start at the Prairie Creek Redwoods Visitor’s Center and incorporate the Davidson trail and Lost Man Creek trail.  For this route you would need a gravel bike or a mountain bike.  You have to ride on Highway 101 just over a mile to reach Bald Hills Road, but the route includes more gravel and trail.   

Original Ride Description:

The Schoolhouse Peak lookout is a great biking destination. It is a 38 mile out-and-back from Orick. I recommend you park in Orick at the Redwood National Park "South Operations" center office building. This ride does not require a complicated route sheet because there are only two turns. Head north on Highway 101 for 0.75 miles and turn right on Bald Hills Road. Restart your computer at the beginning of Bald Hills Road. Ride approximately 17.75 miles up Bald Hills Road and turn left onto the lookout road. There are many side roads along the way, but they are all gated, except for the one fork just past the Elk Camp fire station, where you stay right. You simply stay on the main road all the way up to the lookout. Along the way there are spectacular views from the road. During the climb up Bald Hills Road you will travel through old growth redwood and Douglas fir forest, natural prairies, and oak woodlands. The tallest tree in the world is located in the Redwood Creek drainage below Bald Hills Road. The park has been conducting broadcast burns to try to maintain the open prairies and oak woodlands. For more information, check out their website: http://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm You will need a cyclocross, touring, or mountain bike with wide tires to be comfortable on the gravel roads. Thirteen miles up Bald Hills Road the surface turns to gravel. This results in a total of 10 miles of gravel road riding. I completed the ride on 32 mm smooth tires, but I would have been more comfortable on 35 mm or wider knobbies. The first 2.6 miles of the ride are steep. The road grade exceeds 15% in many locations, so I advise appropriate gearing for your fitness level.

• 0- Start the climb up Bald Hills Road.
• 2.57- Lady Bird Johnson Grove, bathroom, and hiking.
• 9.89- Elk Camp CAL FIRE station. Stay to the right at the road fork.
• 13- Start of gravel.
• 17.75- Turn left to get to the lookout.
• 18.21- Lookout

Click on the photo for a larger view. The park had conducted a prescribed burn to maintain the prairies and oak woodlands, which often get invaded by Douglas fir seedlings. View Larger Map