Packed clay ridges on the South edge of Little Valley

Summer 2022, Middle Spinal Tap was newly constructed and was still soft. After two winters of settling, and lots of wheels now, it will be nicely packed.

Aid Station #2: Valley Crossing will be right here. You can make out the cow trail climb near the middle left of the image.

Spinal Tap Trail 50 Miler & 60km

This amazing 18-mile downhill trail is the signature center of both distances. After years of engineering, permitting (2017-2019), and then several furious years of construction (2020-2023), utilizing countless paid and volunteer people hours, the Spinal Tap trail was completed September 2022. Come experience the inaugural running of this amazing new route in 2024.

Both the 50 Miler & 60km will start together at 5am in the dark, and will travel the same route until Aid Station #5: Bottom of Spinal Tap (about mile 36). Below describes the Spinal Tap Trail loop. 50 Mile runners will also need to reference the 25km route to complete their distance.

* 60 km (37.8 miles). 7326 feet or 2233 Meters (time limit 13 hours)
* 50 Miles (83.7km) 9737 feet / 2968 Meters (time limit 18 hours)

Pit Toilet at Aid Station #3, at the top of Spinal Tap

Bike cattle guard

Trail #052 climbing out of Little Valley. This photo is from 2017 when 50 milers came down 052 just that one year. In 2024 you will be going up this trail.

The sign as you start on the Middle Spinal Tap Section, at Aid Station #4: Middle Spinal Tap

60 KM Route Description

Section 1: CC Road (1.3 miles uphill)
From the Lion’s Park, pass under the freeway and continue straight on up the gravel Civilian Conservation Corp (CC) road for 1.3 miles. This dirt mountain road was created by the Civilian Conservation Corp during the Great Depression. Interesting fact, Ken Isbell, who this race is held in honor of, actually oversaw teams of workmen on this road when it was first being constructed 80+ years ago.

At about 1.1 miles you will see green markings for the 10km to exit the road, but continue past this a short ways curving to the left until you see red markings and a sign to exit the road. You will exit the road, in the dark, at a “No Motorized Vehicles” sign that blocks a small recently closed / abandoned ATV trail.

Section 2: Abandoned Trail and Kiln-It Trail (0.6 miles)
Since you are not motorized, pass the sign and continue up this small trail in the dark. You will connect to the Kiln-It trail right where it connects with the Big Red trail - kind of a quad junction. Stay left and follow Kiln-It to the top of the draw - here briefly following the green marked 10km route. Continue straight (slightly left) on the Green (10k) & Red markings across the top of the draw and drop down the rocky trail #103.

Section 3: Trail #103 & LIttle Valley (2.7 miles)
After the short rocky descent, you will be in a gravel streambed for several hundred yards. You will cross the Faulty Trail & Aid Station #8 in the dark, which will not be operating, but there will be water for you to use if needed in the dark early AM. At this point, stop following green 10km markings and go back to red only, and continue on Trail #103. After a minutes or so more in the streambed, Trail #103 turns right uphill and starts a rocky climb. At the top of the climb (about overall mile 2.5 into your run), the ATV road forks. Follow Trail #103 to the right. Just past this junction (20 yards or so), you will cross the Faulty Trail again, but continue on the ATV trail as it drops down a bit and turns West (to the left) along the edge of the canyon. Follow Trail #103 until it drops down into Little Valley (about mile 3.8). The trail may cross the dry streambed at the bottom of Little Valley a couple times as you work your way gently uphill to Aid Station #1: Trail 052 at mile 4.6.

Section 4: Trail #052 (about 4 miles)
Fill up your supplies fully at Aid Station #1 for the good climb ahead, and then climb up and up about 3 miles until Trail #052 starts a rapid descent into a little high mountain valley below.

Section 5: Valley Crossing and the Cow Trail Climb (about 1.3 miles)
At the bottom of Trail #052 you will cross the little valley and a small stream cross-country, which stream s usually dry by September. Check in and resupply at Aid Station #2: Valley Crossing before starting the ½ mile climb on a cow trail up to the remote ridgeline Trail #506.

Section 6: Trail #506 & #508 (about 4 miles)
Follow the ridgeline ATV Trail #506 for about 1 mile. Here you actually cross the Spinal Tap Trail (DO NOT take Spinal Tap now; you must summit White Pine Peak first!). But don’t fret, you will be back to this spot on Spinal Tap shortly. Continue on Trail #506 which changes to Trail #508 about here, as you drop down slightly.

There are two cattle gates as you start onto Trail #508. If you come to a closed gate, you will open it and pass through. It is your responsibility to reclose these two gates if they are closed when you get to them.

Past the gates, you will be running parallel and just below the Spinal Tap Trail as you continue to climb on up the mountain.

Section 7: CC Road and White Pine Peak Ascent & Descent (about 5.4 miles)
At about mile 14.7 into your run, ATV Trail #508 connects to the high mountain CC Road. There will be a water drop here. Continue uphill on the CC Road. Be mindful of possible ATV or truck traffic on this open road. If you have crew coming to Aid Station #3, remind them to drive very slowly if there are runners present. Follow the CC Road uphill about 3 miles. There is one major road junction, where you take the right-hand turn.

At about mile 16.8 you hit Aid Station #3: White Pine Peak for the first time. From here you will continue up towards the telecom installation atop the mountain at 10,200 feet. The final ascent & descent will be a mix of a dirt road, then following off-trail flags, and finally a rough dirt road the last little bit. At the summit, grab a rubber bracelet confirming your achievement, and then return down the way you just came back to Aid Station #3. It is about 2.3 miles round trip to the treeless summit.

Aid Station #3 is located at the top of the Spinal Tap Trail, just below White Pine Peak. There is a cement pit toilet here, and the Forest Service informed us they are scheduling to replace/upgrade it this fall (2024) - so hopefully this is finished by race day.

Leaving Aid Station #3 the second time, you begin your 18 mile Spinal Tap Trail descent!

Section 8: Upper Spinal Tap Trail (about 9 miles)
On this amazing groomed trail, zoom on downhill. You will cross the CC road after about 2.7 miles, where there will again be a water drop if needed. Several more miles and you will cross Trail #506 you were on earlier.

There are a couple bike cattle guards to cross in this area. Continue on down the Spinal Tap Trail until you hit the main Paiute ATV Trail/Road #1, where Aid Station #4: Middle Spinal Tap will be located. Refuel and refill your liquids here, as the temperature will probably be rising later in the morning, and as you lose elevation and you have some distance to go.

Section 9: Middle Spinal Tap (about 5 miles)
After an initial relatively flat section overlooking the valley far below, the trail will cross over another bike cattle guard and pass through a striking Pinion forest, before starting several steep descents. At a couple spots the trail splits very briefly for bikes with easier or more adventurous options. You can run down either you choose, as they reconnect. Once down closer to Little Valley, you will run on packed clay ridges. There is a very slight climb back out of Little Valley before you get to Lower Spinal Tap. You will see the One-in-a-Pinion trail merging with Spinal Tap in this area. You will cross the remote ATV Trail #84 (25k route), where there will be another self-serve water drop here, in case you need a little extra to get you through the last 4 miles of Spinal Tap.

As the Spinal Tap Trail is open publicly for fast moving downhill bike riders, be attentive, and step out of the way to let the bikes pass if you encounter them.

Section 10: Lower Spinal Tap (about 4 miles)
Here you pass through a magical red-rock section of Earth! There are several steep technical drops for the bikes over these 4 miles. You may either navigate the steep straight descent, or take the easier route around at each. The surface is mostly packed clay, with some slick-rock sections. You will drop down into an old motocross track next to town at the bottom of Spinal Tap. Follow markings on the ground about ¼ mile, heading towards the visible freeway underpass, on to your final Aid Station #5: Bottom of Spinal Tap.

Section 11: Frontage Road to Finish (about 1.2 miles)
After checking in at your final Aid Station, 60km runners follow the frontage ATV trail paralleling the freeway about 1 mile to the North to the next freeway underpass where you started the day. Pass back under this underpass, and finish back at the Lion’s Park where you started this epic day!

50 Mile runner, at Aid Station #5, you now begin following the blue flagged 25km route towards Dairy Canyon.