(Editor Note: this is a link of the 3 loops in the Weaverville Basin Trail System that all use Bally Road as the trailhead).
The Weaverville Basin Trail System (WBTS) was established in 1986 with the intention of circumnavigating the small Gold Rush town of Weaverville, California with an intricate network of 50 miles of diverse trails. Local enthusiasts have poured 100's of hours into creating and maintaining these single track gems. The WBTS project is still ongoing with upcoming plans (2020) for additional expansion and further linkage. These trails were home to the World Endurance Mountain Bike Organization (WEMBO) 24 Hour Solo World Championships in 2015 and see mixed use by hikers, runners and mountain bikers alike. The annual LaGrange Classic Mountain Bike Race is a regional favorite. Local trail running legend Roxanne Woodhouse is piecing together a 50k trail race here with hopes of a successful first launch in 2021.
Weaverville is located in Northern California in Trinity County. Nestled at the foot of the beautiful Trinity Alps Wilderness, Weaverville provides direct access to the plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities in this vast and remote alpine landscape situated between the Californian coast and central valley. Weaverville offers many historical attractions while maintaining it's simple and quiet atmosphere.
The Trinity County Resource Conservation District (RCD) has published THIS MAP which identifies 5 different trail loops. 3 of these share a trail head off of Weaver Bally Road while the other 2 share a trail head at the East Weaver Campground. Each loop is a bit different in it's distance and vertical gain. When combined, they form unique challenges that are attractive to local talent and have the potential to draw attention from regional runners looking for a bit of fun and diversity with their more routine routes.
This route, the Weaver Bally Road Loops 1, 2, 3 Link Up, is a combination of all 3 of the Loops accessed from the trail head off of Weaver Bally Road. The WBTS map calls each of these the Weaver Bally Road Loop 1...2...3.... On the map they are identified by the colors green, yellow and orange. The green loop, Weaver Bally Road Loop 1, involves a portion of the yellow loop (Weaver Bally Road Loop 2). The orange loop, Weaver Bally Road Loop 3, involves it's own unique portion as well as the full yellow loop (Weaver Bally Road Loop 2). See map for clarification.
To access the trail head, travel west on Main Street out of Weaverville. Almost immediately after leaving downtown look for a right hand turn (north) onto Weaver Bally Road. Travel approximately 1 mile north on Weaver Bally Road to a solo information kiosk with a map of the WBTS. Park here. To the west is the Mackenzie Gulch Loop (part of the Weaver Bally Road Loop 3 - orange). To the east is the connector for both the Weaver Bally Road Loops 1 & 2.
This route is setup such that you start and end each of the 3 loops at the trail head kiosk. It doesn't matter which loop you do in which order and which direction you choose to go. Simply cover each loop completely before starting the next. For example, you could:
-Leave the trail head kiosk going east and run the Weaver Bally Road Loop 1 (green) clockwise and return to the trail head kiosk.
-Leave the trail head kiosk going east again and run the Weaver Bally Road Loop 2 (yellow) counter clockwise and return to the trail head kiosk.
-Leave the trail head kiosk going west and run the first part of the Weaver Bally Road Loop 3 (orange) clockwise, return to the trail head kiosk, run west and do the second part of the 3rd loop counter clockwise.
What's most important is that you create your own version of this link up and have fun!
Most of this link up is on single track trail with a diversity of surfaces from buttery smooth to hard packed rutted with some rocks and roots thrown in for added challenge. The uphill is just steep enough to spike the heart rate and the down is the perfect angle for going fast. Overall, it's a well built and maintained trail and very enjoyable.
When your done grab a beverage at the Trinity Country Brewery, take a stroll down historic main street or get a coffee to go at Mamma Lamas. Locals are friendly. Terrain is abundant. Trails are worth the travel.
Submitter: Nate Smith
