Forbidden Fruit Trail #159
| Status: |
Partial |
| Difficulty: |
Advanced |
| Use: |
Mt Biking |
| Length: |
1.05 miles |
| Start: |
6,606' |
| End: |
6,393' |
| Min: |
6,393' |
| Max: |
6,755' |
| Gain: |
292' |
| Loss: |
-505' |
// track pieces: 189, // elevation pieces: 189
Forbidden Fruit Trail #159: Roll the trail on your first passing to check out the trail's new features. It was re-built in 2021 and contains features that will be new to even those who are experienced with the trail. It is an advanced level, one-way, mountain bike-only trail with large jumps and big berm-turns.
Wood River Trails Coalition - Thank you for helping to get this trail built, for adopting it, for partnering with the KRD and others on its reconstruction in 2021, and for its maintenance over the years!
The trail needed a re-fresh, and Justin Blackstead (KRD Trail Superintendent) had an idea to make the trail more approachable to a wider audience. He came up with a plan to give the advanced, higher portion of the trail a needed updating, while creating a new, lower beginner stretch of flow trail for those new to the sport. The new, lower section would also help provide a useful introductory flow trail to adaptive-bike users.
Design/build services on the 2021 constructions were led by local builder
Brain Vaughan and his crew members Jess Simon and Tristan Greaves at
Titus Trails.
This trail description describes the higher, more demanding portion of the Forbidden Fruit Trail.
Forbidden Fruit is a one-way, mountain bike-only flow-trail. It is located in the lower end of Eve's Gulch, and accessed off the Eve Gulch Trail portion of the 146 Trail. The trail starts with 300 ft. of climbing that puts you at the top of the 'flow' portion of the trail.
Fruit features big berm-turns and large jumps with multiple roller-sections that allow you to test your appetite for air. Areas of the trail may contain loose gravel or downed trees that have come onto the trail since its last round of maintenance. It is always a good idea to start with a slow lap; rolling down the trail to inspect its condition and to know what to expect on your next lap.
The Forbidden Fruit Trail was originally proposed in 2010 and built in 2011 as a result of collaboration between the Ketchum Ranger District and the Wood River Bicycle Coalition (the group has since changed its name to the Wood River
Trails Coalition). Renee Catherine of the Ketchum Ranger District was instrumental in getting this project off the ground and going. The trail got a needed boost when a great trail builder,
Duncan Mackenzie, happened to pass through the valley in 2010. He somehow found out about the project and volunteered to help. He scouted the region that Renee had in mind and then put his ideas to paper; coming up with an exciting conceptual design for the trail. Soon, Renee and Duncan were brainstorming, and from there a concrete proposal was developed.
The final design of the project got an added lift when some outstanding designer/builders were hired on for the construction of the route. Experts in the initial 2011 build included Salinas, Colorado builder
Tony Boone and Auburn, California builder
Randy Spangler.
The 2011 construction was largely funded by a recreational grant from the USFS, and through the fundraising efforts of the Wood River Trails Coalition. Forbidden Fruit Trail is an example of the benefits brought through collaborative efforts between trail advocacy groups and Federal land management agencies. It demonstrates just how effectively a project can be conceptualized, planned for, designed, built, and maintained for the the needs of its intended users.
Because of Adams Gulch's proximity to Ketchum, its concentrated network of excellent trails, and multiple access points, the Adams Guylch area is easily the most popular hiking and biking destination in the valley. Keep that in mind when you are accessing, and especially egressing, the Forbidden Fruit Trail, and other trails in the drainage. The drainage is popular, so remember to slow down on the way out. Watch for others, slow down and say hi. Help keep everyone's experience a good one. Thanks!
The Old Adams Gulch Road Trail/Eve Gulch Trail #146 is open to motorcycles and e-bikes from May 1 through Nov 30 of each year. All of the other trails in Adams Gulch, including Forbidden Fruit, are designated as non-motorized and closed to ebike use.
*For more detailed descriptions, topo maps, and information on the history, geology, and wildflowers of the Wood River Valley pick up a copy of Exploring Sun Valley online or find it at one of several local shops.