Missing Links Trail

The Missing Links Trail is a 2 mile mountain bike only section of the Bull Gap Trail.

Driving 

– Option 1: If you are mountain biking from Mount Ashland down to Lithia Park and including Missing Links in your ride… Don’t drive, take the shuttle from Mountain Adventures. Or have your personal driver drop you off at the ski lift area – that’s a 45 minute drive from Ashland Plaza.

– Option 2: Drive to Four Corners From Ashland Plaza head south on Siskiyou towards the University.   Pass the University and continue to the light on Toleman Creek Road and turn right.  Now you have 15 minutes uphill, into the mountains, 1/3 paved and 2/3 unpaved. There is a dirt ‘Y’ intersection where you will veer right and in less than a mile. Boom.  Parking lot. Time? 30 minutes.

Parking

– The great Four Corners gravel parking lot can hold 50 cars parked Coachella style. Luckily, there are usually only about 6.

The Trail

– If you are mountain biking down the Bull Gap Trail, 3 or 4 miles down there will be a split where you can veer left and bail off the trail to the Mount Ashland Fireroad, or veer right and that begins the Missing Links trail. There is a decent sign right there that declares the beginning of the trail. It would be easy to think that Missing Links Trail is just the last 2 miles of the Bull Gap Trail. I would know, that’s what I thought for many years.

The alternate route to the beginning of Missing Links is from the Four Corners parking area. Ride up the Fireroad for 2 miles. It starts off really steep, but then just settles in to being kinda steep. You will pass 3 or 4 connector trails on your left where Missing Links “communicates” with the Fireroad but keep peddling.  If you’ve hiked the Eastview Trail, you might notice passing the unmarked entrance to that trail on your left. And, soon after that, you will see the sign on your left… “Bull Gap Trail!” That’s right, the words “Missing Links” don’t show up on the Fireroad. A little too “secret-y” if you ask me. The official beginning of the trail, with a very nice sign, is 100 yards in.

Now the perfect part. Best. Mountain bike. Downhill. Ever. That’s my opinion and I’m an admittedly weak mountain biker. There is one point where the trail kicks onto the Fireroad for a few yards, but then it quickly slips back into the woods. And in no time you are back at the Four Corners parking lot. From here…the Catwalk Trail will be calling you, but your Mother-in-law tired-of-watching-your-kids might be too, so choose wisely.