Deer Creek Canyon Park
4/30/10
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*5/1 Update: This report is from a 7:30am ride. I did the same ride at noon today. Although many of the areas were dryer than Friday, the patches of mud were deeper and longer. So if you're going to Deer Creek Canyon Park go early before the frost melts for the day.
You will find this trail to be in rideable conditions as long as you don't mind a little water, most of which is avoidable as long as stay near the edges. As you head up the Plymouth Trail from the main parking lot it is for the most part bone dry. It is a little rough due to people using it when it was muddy but overall it isn't bad. You will find your first of many creek crossings prior to the first steep ascent. As you continue up the Plymouth Trail you will find that there are many seasonal creek crossings and areas where the creek is running down the trail. In most instances, even where the creek is running down the trail, you can ride the edge to stay dry. The technical steep sections as you approach the stairs are in good shape, no worse than they were last fall at least. The first 100m after the stairs you will find one of the wetter protions of the trail but it is rocky enough that you won't leave tire marks. After that it is clear sailing up to the second trail junction with the Plymouth Mountain Trail. You will find a couple creek crossings as you continue to climb up to the Red Mesa Loop. The last 200m before the trail junction you will find your 2nd really wet portion of the trail. Once again this is mostly avoidable on the climb but is slightly harder to avoid on the descent. Riding the Red Mesa Loop clockwise you will find moist but clear sailing to the top. Your first descent you will find a couple snow crossings but nothing major. The only trouble spot is on the descent you will find an EXTREMELY muddy section next to the retention pond. I would suggest walking around it. The Plymouth Mountain Trail is also in very good shape with one muddy section in the middle of the steep ascent, (riding counter clockwise). There is a little water running on the trail at the top of the steep climb but the trail is wide enough so that most of it can be avoided. Continuing on the Plymouth mountain trail will find a little water but nothing too bad. The descent back to the parking lot is fun as ever but you will find that some of the water is little harder to avoid on the way down.
Overall I think the trail is rideable but you will get a little wet in spots. If you ride early be carefull as it is still cold enough at night that many of the rocks and water bars are icey.
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