Great Big Annadel Loop - Mountain Bike Trail

If you're looking for a long biking trail for your next biking adventure, Great Big Annadel Loop will suit your needs. On average, this biking trail is about 36.6 km long, allowing you to enjoy the maximum benefits of biking in a natural environment. This trail also features an elevation gain and loss of approximately 781 m. It takes you through a dense oak and madrone forest, which offers you a beautiful view as you bike. 

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Great Big Annadel Loop biking trail is a loop, meaning it ends where it starts. Generally, it starts at the Channel Drive parking area. The first section, known as Warren Richardson Trail, rises steadily and gets steeper as you proceed.

The next climb is the Two Quarry Trail, which features baby-head-sized rocks and a few difficult barriers making it quite difficult. When you reach the top, turn right to stay on the Two Quarry Trail. Riding on this section of the trail is quite fun since things are beautiful and mellow.

Turn left into Lawndale Trail, which begins flatly before descending in a delightful, leisurely manner all the way to the road and parking lot. Take the right turn on Lawndale Road for a moderate climb up the road until it splits. Follow the right split and ride on Schultz Road, which passes through the neighborhood.

The environment on Schultz Road is beautiful, but the terrain is rugged due to the baby-head-sized pebbles. Turn left onto Ridge Trail at the next split to continue to Marsh Trail. If you wish to ride on a rough fire road, take the left turn on the Marsh Trail, which leads to Canyon Trail. Turn left onto Canyon Trail to continue down a rugged fire path until you reach the bottom.

When you reach the bottom, you'll find a wooden bridge. Once you cross it, take the right turn to ascend the Spring Creek Trail. This area is quite beautiful and features a lot of foot traffic. As you emerge into the open, maintain right and prepare for the more challenging part of the climb.

When you reach the top of the climb, turn left and then right onto Lake Trail, which is a flat ride along Lake Ilsanjo's north shore. Go left into Louis Trail, which has some rough and steep sections but is primarily a climbing trail.

After a short distance, this trail joins the North Burma Trail. The best way to identify this section is by checking if the soil is red. Riding on this section requires excellent skills. At first, North Burma starts flowy, but it sharply drops when you hit the "T" and turn right. Burma Trail splits into two sections. Take the left turn to return to the parking area where you started.

Additional Trail Features

The Great Big Annadel Loop biking trail has a parking lot located at the entrance, allowing you to come with your car or RV. What we loved most was we didn't have to pay any parking fees. Nevertheless, this parking lot can't accommodate many cars. Ensure you arrive early to secure a parking spot, especially if you plan to bike during the peak season. If you don't find a parking spot, you may use the horse staging area in the main parking area, but you'll have to pay a fee.

There are several restrooms on this trail that allow you to dispose of your waste. If you get tired when biking, you can take a break and rest on the picnic tables.

Great Big Annadel Loop doesn't allow you to bring your dog along. Therefore, this trail is not ideal if you want to enjoy quality outdoor time with your pet.

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views

When biking on the Great Big Annadel Loop trail, you'll enjoy beautiful views, including:

•       Lake Ilsanjo- This biking trail has a beautiful artificial lake known as Lake Ilsanjo, which offers a nice place to stop and rest.
•       Marsh trail- This trail passes through where you may see several plants and wildlife, such as ducks and waterfowl.
•       Wildflowers- Depending on the season, you may get an opportunity to see wildflowers when biking in this trail. Examples of wildflowers growing in the area include poppies, lupine, and California buckeye.
•       Oak woodlands- The trail passes through oak woodlands featuring several oak trees, such as black oak and coast live oak.
•       Redwood Grove- A small section of this trail will take you to a redwood grove where you'll see several healthy redwood trees and a dense undergrowth of ferns.

Recommendations/precautions

1. Bring enough sunscreen to protect your skin from damage if you wish to bike during summer when the sun is too hot.
2. Consider biking during the morning hours when the sun is not too hot.
3. Bring a map to guide you through and avoid getting lost when biking.
4. Carry enough drinking water to protect yourself from dehydration, especially when biking during summer.