The majority of these photos were taken in September of 2006. The Mileage and Ride Time (RT) figures were taken from my bike computer. Ride Time is time actually moving not total trip time. With rest breaks my total trip time is much longer. There are two photos with the each Mile and RT listing. Unless marked otherwise the first photo is the view forward and the second is the view looking back. Two views for the price of one.

Canaan Mountain is crisscrossed with many trails. I have included information if the trail meets the Loop Road.

The Canaan Loop Road Ride begins at the four way intersection in Blackwater Falls State Park. There is a parking lot near the southeast corner of the intersection. Just south of the intersection is another place to park at the Blackwater Falls Trading Post. This is also the parking lot for the path that leads down to the falls.

Where to Park I prefer parking at the Trading Post. (photo)
Mile: 0 RT 0:00 Blackwater Falls four way intersection. At the intersection head east (right), towards the lodge.
Mile:0.2 Blackwater River Bridge
First photo is looking north up the Blackwater River from the bridge. Second photo looking south.
Mile:0.4 Gentle Trail to Blackwater Falls Overlook A short side trip but walk, not ride your bike to the overlook.
Across the road from this overlook is where the Loop shortcut comes out. There will be more information about the shortcut after Mile 23.
Mile:0.8 Scenic Overlook
Mile:1 RT 0:07 Blackwater Falls Park Road
Mile:1.6 Blackwater Falls Lodge
Mile:2 RT 0:12 Blackwater Falls Park Road
Balanced Rock Trail. Truth in advertising.
Mile:2.3 Pendleton Falls Overlook
Pose Point as seen from the overlook.
Mile:2.8 Road to Lindy Point Overlook Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.
The deer in the park are fairly tame. You can get this close if you're careful.
Mile:3 RT 0:17 Road to Lindy Point Overlook
Mile:3.7 Trailhead for Lindy Point Overlook We will leave the road and bike out the trail to the overlook. The trail is easily bikeable.
Mile:4 RT 0:25 Trail to Lindy Point Overlook

Mile:4.1 Lindy Point Overlook

Mile:4.5 Beginning of Forest Road 13 You can see next to the small parking lot for Lindy Point is where the pavement ends and the Forest Road 13 begins
Mile:4.8 Lindy Run stream crossing
Mile:5 RT 0:40 Forest Road 13
Mile:5.4 Game Road
Mile:6 RT 0:50 Forest Road 13
Mile:6.3 Unnamed Overlook There are stone fire rings here so it must be a favorite camping spot. This is directly next to the road with the overlook just the other side of the trees. The view down into Blackwater Canyon.
Mile:6.7 Second Stream Crossing
Mile:6.8 This section of the forest road surface is nothing but exposed bedrock. The photos don't do it justice. It is steep and far from smooth. The is the worst section of the whole road.
You will see evidence along the side of the road that either the drivers or the vehicles weren't ready for the conditions along here.
Mile:7 RT 1:03 Forest Road 13
There are a fair amount of water filled potholes along this section of the ride. The odd thing is that it hadn't rained for over a week before these photos were taken. I don't know if it's because of the tree cover but these potholes never seem to completely dry out.
Mile:8 RT 1:14 Forest Road 13
Mile: 8.5 Mountainside Trail No. 114
Mile:8.6 Laurel Run Crossing This is the last barrier to vehicular traffic. A car might make it across the culverts but it would be close. After this point Forest Road 13 is easily passable by any vehicles all the way to it's end at Route 32.
Mile:9 RT 1:24 Forest Road 13
Mile:9.4 Plantation Trail
Mile:9.5 Table Rock Trail No. 113 Since the trail out to Table Rock is too rocky for me to bike I haven't included the distance out and back in the Loop Ride. A more skilled biker might not have a problem. I just walked out. It's well worth the trip.

The view from Table Rock

Mile:10 RT 1:30 Forest Road 13 It's all downhill for the next two miles.
Mile:10.4 Small cascade next to the road.
Mile:11 RT 1:36 Forest Road 13
Mile:11.4 Intersection with Forest Road 244. If you were biking the Blackwater Canyon Circle Loop this road would take you to Route 72 and then Hendricks. But for this ride we stay on Forest Road 13.
Mile:12 RT 1:41 Forest Road 13
Mile:12.1 Red Run and the lowest point on the ride. The road doesn't cross Red Run but it will parallel it as we start our climb up Canaan Mountain. We will be going up for the next four miles.
Mile:12.9 Railroad Grade Trail You're not done yet..... Climb Canaan - Miles 13 to 26

All information is presented without any assurance of accuracy. Use at your own risk.
Distance measurements are approximate.
All photos © 2008 J. Watson. All rights reserved.
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