Hard Guy
Fun
Tech
Views
Traffic
Shade
Usage
Biking, Hiking
Dogs Friendly?
Yes
Length
4.9 mimiles
ElvElevation
2139'
Rating
Hard Guy is hard. But like your daddy taught you, anything worth doing is hard. When you’re tired of the little loops close to town and you want to get up into the upper foothills, Hard Guy is your ticket. It’s one of the best ways to reach the Ridge Road. Settle in, because Hard Guy is a steady 5 miles and 2,000+ feet of climbing. It’s all smooth, fast singletrack, though, and after every steeper section there’s a nice little plateau that allows you to rest. Popular with bikers, hikers, and super fit runners.
Recent Trail Reports
October 15, 2022 at 7:30 pmIt's riding real nice downhill right now. Some sand, but surprisingly not too bad. Note that, if you are approaching the upper trailhead from upper 8th Street, the Forest Service has completely rerouted the section of the Ridge Road from the 8th Street junction to Eagleson Summit, due to a major logging operation, so it's a slightly longer approach now but not quite as steep. Since they re-graded it, thankfully all of the major ruts are gone.
May 4, 2020 at 3:40 pmA great ride today. Creeks are passable and trail is dry all the way to the road.
April 24, 2020 at 7:51 pmRode on 4/22, didn't see snow until the Ridge Road.
April 29, 2019 at 9:59 pmCan confirm previous report that HG 100 % clear to the top. Looped it starting from Corrals to Scott's and over BRR. BRR definitely still snow covered from the cabins northward, but easily rideable/walkable in the morning when it's still frozen. Best to do south to north though.
April 22, 2019 at 8:53 amClear to the top. Creek at bottom will get your feet wet. Ridge Rd is snow covered so tough to make loops.
February 1, 2019 at 11:52 amMud towards the bottom. Snow at the top.
May 16, 2018 at 4:22 pmHard guy was in ideal shape today. It's still very green toward the top, with multiple types of flowers and trees in bloom.
It’s riding real nice downhill right now. Some sand, but surprisingly not too bad.
Note that, if you are approaching the upper trailhead from upper 8th Street, the Forest Service has completely rerouted the section of the Ridge Road from the 8th Street junction to Eagleson Summit, due to a major logging operation, so it’s a slightly longer approach now but not quite as steep. Since they re-graded it, thankfully all of the major ruts are gone.
A great ride today. Creeks are passable and trail is dry all the way to the road.
Rode on 4/22, didn’t see snow until the Ridge Road.
Can confirm previous report that HG 100 % clear to the top. Looped it starting from Corrals to Scott’s and over BRR. BRR definitely still snow covered from the cabins northward, but easily rideable/walkable in the morning when it’s still frozen. Best to do south to north though.
Clear to the top. Creek at bottom will get your feet wet. Ridge Rd is snow covered so tough to make loops.
Mud towards the bottom. Snow at the top.
Hard guy was in ideal shape today. It’s still very green toward the top, with multiple types of flowers and trees in bloom.
Hiked up Hard Guy from Dry Creek/Sheep Camp – dry all the way to the top. Patch of snow on Ridge Road.
Hiked up Hard Guy from Corrals and it was perfect, all the way up until the first tree at tree line, snow melt is running down the trail making it muddy. But i imagine the weather we’re having this week should take care of the last I’d the snow!
Rode HG to Ridge Road this morning. Very minimal snow patches on Hard Guy at this point, almost an all clear. No mud. Ridge Rd was icy