
Originally Posted by
SchralphMacchio
Thunder Mountain is such a short descent, but it’s magic. Especially this time of year, especially at Sunset. I’d recommend parking near the bottom, riding across the highway at Casto/Losee, then going up the bike path and to the top of Thunder, dropping right at sunset.
Disclaimer, I haven’t done Casto/losee, just seen lots of pics, and it looks worthy. We did Thunder on a transfer day so didn’t have time for a bigger loop, but it was perfect for a short ride being camped at Red Canyon.
Casto Losee is super scenic but not super interesting riding. Casto is opened to horses and ATVs and can get quite busy, a lot of the time it feels like riding a wide sandy doubletrack. The views are distracting and the grade is mellow but it's not as much of a classic as Thunder. Going up/down Losee if fun, slightly narrower and lower traffic, equally scenic. Expect lots of strain on your drivetrain as you're riding sand and crossing the creek at least 500 times. Also, you will end up covered in horse shit, and if it's been wet at all the trail damage is truly otherworldly.
406 linked the best loop in that zone I think, up Losee, section of Cassidy trail (fun singletrack) back to pavement, up the bike path, down Thunder. I've done it with an out-and-back to the end of the Cassidy trail (where it meets with the Casto wash), 35 miles and close to 5k of climbing, it's a spectacular day. The horse trains can be a real pain to deal with though, you'll have to let groups of 20+ noobs go by and huff their dust for miles.
"Your wife being mad is temporary, but pow turns do not get unmade" - mallwalker the wise
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