It was a great day, despite showing up a bit late. Rauch Creek is about an hour more driving distance than Paragon, at least from my house in Jersey. I don't recommend going the 78 to 81 route. 78 is a constant washboard in both directions.
Paragon is gone and that's too bad, but life goes on. RC is a very good place to wheel. Plenty of terrain to do serious damage, if that's what you want. Lot's of upper intermediate, lower intermediate, and just plain easy trails. New trails are being cut all the time.
Geology is very similar to Paragon with "hero rocks". Large, and grippy. Not many water crossings, although they have a tank trap or 2 to really ruin your day. Well marked, but you need to read the signs. If you can't read, I can't help you. The provided trail map is pretty accurate and the rating system is similar to Paragon, but less conservative. Maybe I'm just getting soft as I enter my twilight years.
The majority of trails we ran had a good amount of tree cover, so you didn't get the feeling that you were in the desert all day, with the exception of the "Rock Creek". I still am amazed at this "trail". It is a glacial deposit about 1800 feet long and 40 to 60 feet wide of boulders. Pick a line and go.
Way cool, but I didn't run it yesterday.
In short this is a very fun place to wheel. And since it has recently become the only game in town, we are going to make it work.
Paragon is gone and that's too bad, but life goes on. RC is a very good place to wheel. Plenty of terrain to do serious damage, if that's what you want. Lot's of upper intermediate, lower intermediate, and just plain easy trails. New trails are being cut all the time.
Geology is very similar to Paragon with "hero rocks". Large, and grippy. Not many water crossings, although they have a tank trap or 2 to really ruin your day. Well marked, but you need to read the signs. If you can't read, I can't help you. The provided trail map is pretty accurate and the rating system is similar to Paragon, but less conservative. Maybe I'm just getting soft as I enter my twilight years.
The majority of trails we ran had a good amount of tree cover, so you didn't get the feeling that you were in the desert all day, with the exception of the "Rock Creek". I still am amazed at this "trail". It is a glacial deposit about 1800 feet long and 40 to 60 feet wide of boulders. Pick a line and go.
Way cool, but I didn't run it yesterday.
In short this is a very fun place to wheel. And since it has recently become the only game in town, we are going to make it work.