US191, Sage Creek Rd(sh) by Bicycle - Velo

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US191 - Sage Creek Rd(sh)

There is great gravel biking to be done on the maze of roads all around the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The majority are smooth, hard dirt, great for aerobically efficient gravel biking. On these two approaches the elevation high point is really a figurative low point. That is - the canyons are, to most eyes - more interesting than the summit area. But this summit point is the fastest way to tie these two adjacent approaches together, though there are probably others, that are closer but much slower going.

1.START-END SOUTH:jct Flaming Gorge Loop Rd - Sage Creek Rd
2.jct with Flaming Gorge Alt Loop Rd, heading north
3.profile turns left and uphill, staying on Sage Creek Rd, and not Ramsey Ranch Rd
4.TOP, US191 - Sage Creek Rd(sh), 7490ft
5.profile turns left down Firehole Canyon Rd
6.Firehole Canyon Rd crosses a small branch of the reservoir

Approaches

From South. the profile starts at a desolate junction near the reservoir on FR17. From here most of the picturesque access points to the lake are to the north. Flaming Gorge Rd, leading all around the east side of the reservoir climbs gently to an obvious, and even signed junction.

Both options at this junction continue on CR33, and the profile heads east away from the lake. Staying right at the next fork, the route follows a winding canyon upwards. Curiously the canyon is getting wider stream upwards, with more gentle hills on the horizon ahead. You might think you are going downstream into a valley, but instead we are heading upstream onto a less eroded plateau. The next intersection requires a left up a steep hill and is also signed, but the name "Sage Creek Rd" is nowhere to be found on the sign. If unfamiliar with the area, there is a danger of mistakenly taking the previous left onto a much smaller track. At least that's what I did.

The grade on Sage Creek Rd is extremely variable and some portions of it are a kind of matrix pavement, because otherwise tires on any vehicle could not get enough grip. The junction with US191 cannot be seen before getting there, and it's the highest point between these two consecutive plateau approaches. From the high point the Uinta Mountains form a thin white line on the western horizon.

From North. (described downwards) US191 is practically flat heading north, descending. The road follows an ever so gentle ridge, and just in case you are not experiencing first hand the fierce never Wyoming winds, there are extensive snowfences along the route that help visualize the blowing chaos in winter. A good six miles of straight pavement separate Sage Creek Rd from the next turnoff back down to the reservoir on a good fast also paved road. A sign points the way down Firehole Rd.

Down here is the other high point, located at a low point. A very scenic descent leads into an area of spires and monuments. The road reaches a point of lowest elevation along a branch of the lake, a short distance before reaching the Firehole recreation area complex.

cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow

Pictures inline are of the Sage Creek Rd approach; the ones in the slide show are of the Firehole Canyon approach.

Dayride with this point as highest summit

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED

( < US191 Little Mtn s(u) | US191 - Firehole Canyon(sh) > )

US191 - Sage Creek Rd(sh) , additional out and back: CR33, partially down from its jct with US191 > down CR33 Flaming Gorge Rd > Firehole Canyon turnoff > CR33 south <> partial out and back in Sage Creek Basin to an overlook > jct with CR36 <> out and back to next summit point o CR33 Flaming Gorge Rd and extra partial out and back from its top towards the lake >> CR36 > Sage Creek Rd east with short detour > US191 north > back to starting point on CR33: 46.0miles with 3250ft of climbing in 4:55hrs (garmin etrex 32x m6:25.05.20)
Notes: again windy and cool verging on cold, but great light for pictures