Outhouse Loop Trail:
Named for an old privy near the low, west-end of the trail, this intermediate route connects with Gladiator Trail at both ends and is especially popular as a bike ride. The berms (banked turns) on the loop's more easterly side are fun to descend through.
Besides being a mighty fine loop in its own right, the trail makes a useful connection to other nearby trails, including Psycho Ridge and Grinder trails for extended loops back to the lodge. Some beginner riders might prefer to take the two-track roads that lead away from the lodge to access the Outhouse Loop Trail. Others may want to stay on singletrack to get to the trail. There are a lot of ways to get to the loop.
Directions for doing the Outhouse Loop as a singletrack loop in a counter-clockwise fashion. Take the Lodge Loop Trail north and uphill; getting on the trail near the north end of the main parking lot. The Lodge Loop Trail starts to the right of the kiosk, if you are facing the kiosk/facing north.
Shortly, stay right at the first intersection to turn off of Lodge Loop onto Gladiator Trail. At the next intersection stay left to stay on Gladiator where Rip and Tear goes right. After some more pedaling cross Gladiator Creek and a two-track road to continue on Gladiator. Ups and downs bring you to an intersection that is easy to overshoot. Watch for it as you are descending. Make a hard right and climb onto the eastern leg of the Outhouse Loop Trail. At the next intersection of trails take a right to stay on the Outhouse. Enjoy the descent down the west side of the loop. Watch for others, and yield to others who may be climbing.
Share the trails and be nice. Help others have a rewarding experience by being patient and understanding with those that may be less fit or accustomed to the altitude, or who may be distracted by the dizzying sights, sounds and smells found in the Rocky Mountains. Please be kind to the clueless too. With love, patience, and some gentle nudging they may eventually come around to better understanding of our ways; that looking out for others, and taking personal responsibility for your actions, pays meaningful and lasting dividends out on the trails.
Directions to Galena Lodge:
Go north from Ketchum on Hwy 75. The lodge is about a 24-mile drive from town, and heading up, it's on the right side of the highway. Riding a bike to the lodge is an option for strong, experienced cyclists. The highway has a good shoulder until you reach the Sawtooth National Recreation Headquarters/Visitors Center, which is located approximately 8-miles north of Ketchum. From the SNRA Headquarters one can continue up the highway on a bicycle, or riders can get on the Harriman Trail. The Harriman is a wide gravel trail that is open to non-motorized use. It runs from the headquarters to the lodge. Watch for areas of loose gravel along the Harriman Trail.
If you are coming at the lodge from the north, it's about six miles below Galena Summit on Hwy 75. The lodge will be on your left as you are descending from the Galena Summit area.
stay on the Lodge Loop Trail. Follow it down to a two-track road near Gladiator Creek. Cross Gladiator Creek on the road and bear left to gain a trail that quickly arrives at an intersection of trails. Turn right and climb on a section of Gladiator Trail. This will bring you to another intersection where Gladiator Trail meets the low end of the western side of the Outhouse Loop Trail. and look for the trail on the left side at the first intersection to you can take two-track roads there. At the north/far end of the lodge's main parking lot get on the two-track and head upstream. Stay straight and on the main road at the first intersection (where a two-track breaks off to the left to drop down steeply to a log-bridge over Gladiator Creek). Stay on the main road trending up the drainage and after a total of about a half mile you will arrive at another intersection of roads. Here, bear left to take FS Road #192 up toward the Westernholm drainage to get to the low, more westerly side of the trail. The low end of the west side of the loop is not far up this road. Soon, look for the Gladiator Creek Trail crossing the road. Hang a left onto Gladiator, cross the footbridge and you will quickly , or bear right to move toward the eastside of the looping trail