La Grande's nearby playground for mountain biking, running, hiking, horseback riding, and more.
Time yourself on an MTB loop at MERA that requires a bit more fitness and technical skill than the MERA Hot Lap. This clockwise loop starts at the south entrance to the Fast Twitch Trail and winds up the mountain, traverses, and then winds down to connect to the lower trail for a dash back to the start/finish line. If you do this loop with a timer running, you are required to post your time. The course is not currently flagged, but is fairly straightforward to follow.
Notes
This track starts at the Owsley Canyon Trailhead and goes to the Igo Lane Trailhead. It stays high enough that it is usually the first MTB trails that dry out in MERA. Note that the North West section of trails on this map is likely doomed because of Archery Range expansion.
Challenge yourself on a fast MTB loop at MERA and post your time. Only a couple technical challenges exist on this clockwise loop on the south half of the MERA mountain bike trails. You may have to dismount once, but hopefully not if you're in the zone. The 2 creek crossings have bridges. Otherwise, the trail is hard packed and includes stretches to really open up the throttle. Hopefully a horse or cow doesn't ruin your time. Most of the turns are right hand turns that follow major trails. Look for yellow flags to indicate the turns (e.g.
A clockwise route with plenty of turns. Start at the Igo Lane parking, and make sure to take the 2nd trail on the right to get started. The trail loops around, eventually ending up over by skills trail and on skills trail near the very end.
Even though it is still under construction, much of the Super D Trail is now rideable. The track above shows the climb up Mt. Emily road starting at Owsley Canyon Trailhead and then down the Super D Trail, ATV 9, some Fast Twitch and ending at Igo Lane Trailhead. Currently the hand-built section of Super D is off limits because of a cultural study, but hopefully will be open soon. The planned upper section has yet to be constructed. Look for the temporary entrance to Super D on the right after going through the rock slide section of Mt. Emily Rd.
