Sandpoint, ID

A good friend and I were sitting around realizing that we are getting older and we are no where near the shape we used to be in. So what to do to get back in shape as well as have fun while doing it? The answer for us was easy…. Mountain biking. Though we had both been off the bikes for a while it was something we had done in years past. So as they say, once you learn you can never forget. If only that were the case with your muscles!
We started off on the road hitting Ontario and taking that up towards Syringa Heights Road. The first part of this climb is brutal, where not very long it is pretty steep and the only reprieve you get is after you have merged onto Syringa Heights from Ontario. From there we took Upper Syringa Heights Rd till we hit the trailhead.

After a very short but needed rest we took off to finally get our wheels on dirt. The hard-pack trail was lined with vegetation and it honestly feels like the trail wraps around you as you enter it.

The trail works it’s way up the hill slowly so even to a bunch of out of shape guys it was an easy climb, and even a little downhill before another harsh uphill climb that is very steep with a few well placed rocks that make it even a little more challenging. The plus side to this part is that the climb is rather short even if it feels like it never going to end while you are on it.

From this point the ride starts to pick up pace as we start the downhill portion. The trail curves around sharp switchbacks and divides itself up between some technical rock gardens and over roots that lend themselves to providing some air time before the next big turn. As we headed down the trail there were often times things got hairy. There are a few locations where you have to quickly turn your handle bars sideways to make it in between the tight trees. My friend didn’t quite make it through one set stopping himself against the tree rather quickly, the same tree no less I had just made it through at the cost of the side of my hand crunching against it.

The rock gardens got more technical till we reached the bottom of the hill and started up a little rise. Once again the climb was fairly short but right before the top of the very steep incline is a huge root section followed by a rather large half buried boulder. At this point we of course rocketed up this crazy section, carrying our bikes and not trying to ride it. The trail continued on with little dips and climbs all the while maintaining some very good technical sections.

The highlight of this trip has to be the view overlooking the Dover bridge and bay right before taking a fast fire road out through a springtime meadow. This brought us out onto Lower Syringa road and it was a quick ride back to Ontario and then home. The total time only took a little over an hour so it works for a nice ride after work or even cutting out over the weekend for a short time.