This is actually one branch of the "Sweeney Creek" trail area. See that post for more information. I have separated the trail posts for ease of access to the information. Park at the same place. At .79 miles in on the doubletrack, the trails separate. Keep to the right for the Grouse Mountain ATV/Half Moon Ridge portion. Keep to the left for the North Sweeney Creek. There is some confusion as to the naming of these trails. Having crossed Sweeney Creek, the trail is called "Grouse Mountain ATV" until it comes to the place on the ridge where motorized vehicles are no longer allowed. Once it goes past the ridge overlooking Half Moon, it is called on most old maps "Sweeney Creek Pack Trail." Even though it never reaches or looks at the actual Sweeney Creek. (That's in a different drainage.) It is now a loop with the east portion going along the ridge overlooking Half Moon and Fayette Lakes. On newer Forest Service maps, the entire loop is called "Grouse Mountain Trail."The east portion (old Pack Trail) has been re-routed and cleared as of October, 2019. The purpose was to avoid numerous stream crossings and put the trail higher up on the hillside. Forest Service has done a super job.
(Click on the top photo for enlarged images. Some photos courtesy of Teisha Preece.)
Here is a link to a 3 minute video showing some of this area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SovO_fsIxY&feature=youtu.be
 |
| Parking area. The first is graveled and graded with a great view of Half Moon Lake. The 2nd area has been used for parking in the past, but as of August, 2017 has been "rocked" off. The pink line is a rocky trail from the parking lot. The blue line is a "short cut" along the road. |
 |
| Parking area with the view of Half Moon. |
There are several ways to ride this portion. It can be done as an "up and back" up the ridge, up the forest or as a "loop".
 |
| This is a track of our ride on October 14, 2019. We parked at Kelly Park and rode the connector trail. Total mileage=14. Maximum elevation=9,442'; Ascent/Descent=2,240' Trail conditions=60% soft dirt; 20% rocky road; 20% moderately rocky on dirt. |
 |
| This was our track on October 12, 2019. We parked at Half Moon Overlook and rode up to where the trail excavating crew had stopped. Total mileage=about 10.5. |
 |
This is track of a ride on the Ridge trail on August 16, 2017. We were on a Backcountry Horseman deadfall clearing project and spent several hours clearing trail. Mileage here=7.6. Trail conditions: 75% dirt/grass, 15% moderately rocky, 10% very rocky. However, a barefoot horse in reasonably good condition can do it. Our horses were barefoot on this ride. They got a bit tender on the little rocks near the end. |
 |
| Getting ready to cross Sweeney Creek on May 22, 2017. This is about 1 mile in... taking the right turn off to the Ridge trail. |
 |
Crossing Sweeney Creek, May 22, 2017. Occasionally, in May or June, this part might be too high to cross safely. It was fine on July 14, 2018.
Creek Crossing on October 12, 2019
|
 |
| Heading up the Ridge trail. May 27, 2017. |
 | ||
Half Moon overlook on May 27, 2017.
Where the forested area begins just past the place where motorized travel is prohibited.
 
This is a view of lower Half Moon.
The yellow arrow shows where we parked.
There is some riding through sagebrush on a double track.
However, it quickly turns to forest.
This shows the beginning of the "new" trail.
    
Looking north from Split Rock Meadow. The Old trail goes to the right, the new one to the left.
   
This shows a connector trail to the Old trail and the "Ridge" portion of the Loop.
Going up the "Old" trail , August 2017.
 
View of Half Moon and Little Half Moon.
 
The views here are stunning.
   
The forests could come out of "Lord of the Rings."
 
We encountered some snow on our October 5th, 2017 ride. (Old trail)
Old trail stream crossing, October 5, 2017.
An example of the deadfall and boggy meadow that the New trail avoids.
   
On the "Loop", the trail disappears in some places.
 
Just a heads up! We encountered a black bear and cub when riding the entire loop on August 16, 2017 in the spot shown in the photo above. The photo below shows where they were digging grubs when we frightened them off. STAY NOISY AND AWARE!
 
Photo taken July 14, 2018. The Sego Lilies were in full bloom--thousands of them.
  |
