Trip Date: September 24, 2019
Red Devil Bike Loop: Sand Creek to Mission Creek to Sand Creek
Sand Creek Bridge
Red Devil Ridge
Lower Devil’s Gulch
Mission Creek
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Lower Wenatchee Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Sand Creek / Red Hill Trailhead at end of Sand Creek Road #7104 (Elev. 1600 feet)
Way Points: Sand Creek Bridge & Red Devil Ridge & Mission Creek & Lower Devil’s Gulch & Red Devil Slope & Sand Creek Bridge (bike ride & bike push)
High Point: Red Devil Ridge hump (Elev. 3600 feet)
Approximate Stats: 13.5 miles traveled; 3100 feet gained & lost; 3.9 hours elapsed.
Related Posts
>>> East Mission Gulch Bike Descent: Beehive Junction to Mission Creek Fork – October 26, 2019
>>> East Devil Bike Loop: East Mission Gulch to Devils Gulch – October 24, 2019
>>> Devils Gulch Bike Descent: Beehive Ridge to Mission Creek Fork – October 21, 1989
Full Trip Report
I was highly motivated to do the Red Devil Bike Loop after reading Andy Dappen’s trip report on the Wenatchee Outdoors website. Andy raved about it, and now I would generally concur with his praise. This mountain bike ride makes a big loop through varied terrain ranging from dry, Ponderosa pine uplands to damp, leafy lowlands. It follows a series of single-track trails, most of which are smooth and well graded. Unfortunately, motorcycles are allowed on all trails, so they suffer from typical motorcycle-tire damage such as ruts, divots, and churned-up rocks in many locations. That aside, the loop makes for a fun and satisfying bike tour.
I started from the Sand Creek / Red Hill Trailhead on a sunny Tuesday morning. Following Andy’s nicely detailed riding directions, I crossed Sand Creek on a sturdy bridge, pedaled up to a trail junction (the first of four key junctions), and then headed right (west) on Red Hill Trail #1223.
The Red Hill Trail climbs steadily up a wooded rib for about 4 miles, passing through a fresh logging area and crossing several logging roads along the way.
Soon after reaching the crest of “Red Devil Ridge,” I came to a junction with Red Hill Spur Trail #1223.1 (1.4 hours + 1750 feet from start). This is the second key junction on the loop.
I turned left on the Red Hill Spur Trail and continued ascending on a big switchback. Within 1/2 mile, the trail reaches a 3600-foot hump on the ridge crest. This hump represents the high point of Red Devil Ridge and the high point of the loop.
The trail runs up and down along the rolling crest for a mile, passing between pine trees and colorful foliage. Views of Mission Ridge and Devils Gulch open up to the southeast.
After crossing over a final ridge hump, the trail begins a long descent into Devils Gulch. This descending trail features a combination of pleasantly smooth and unpleasantly rocky surfaces as it switchbacks down the southeastern nose of Red Devil Ridge.
The 2.5-mile descent ends abruptly at a junction with Devils Gulch Trail #1220 (2.4 hours + 2050 feet from start). In terms of trail distance, this third key junction represents the midpoint of the loop; in terms of elevation gain, it represents the two-thirds point.
Here, I turned left (northeast) and followed the Devils Gulch Trail downhill. Surface conditions are much better along this trail segment, which squeezes between sandstone outcrops on the left and Mission Creek on the right.
After a long mile, I reached a junction with Red Devil Trail #1221 (2.6 hours + 2100 feet from start). From this fourth key junction, a short spur trail leads down to the Lower Devils Gulch Trailhead and parking lot, which could be used as an alternative starting point or as a bail out point (Mission Creek Road could be ridden back to Sand Creek Road).
Turning left at the junction, I started a gradual ascent on the Red Devil Trail as it traverses the northeast-facing hillslope. This segment weaves back and forth across a series of creek channels and spur ridges. At a 2400-foot saddle in the final spur ridge, I took one last look at Devils Gulch before starting a 2-mile downhill run.
My fast and fun descent ended at the initial trail junction, which formally closes the 15-mile loop. From here, I turned right and rolled into the nearby Sand Creek / Red Hill parking lot (3.9 hours + 3100 feet from start). Remarkably, I had not seen another person all day.
Route Maps & Profile
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Photo Gallery
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