Ditch Day
Flat and easy: follow the Steamboat Ditch west past the Michael D. Thompson Trailhead and into the foothills, then turn around and cruise back.
Your timesno timed runs yet
Ride mode times every run on its own: the clock starts when you roll out of the start and stops at the finish, with splits at each marked spot. Leave Ride mode on between laps and it re-arms when you're back at the start. Times stay on this phone.
Right now at the trailhead
Get the GPS file
Scan with a friend's phone, or tap below. Then open it in your ride app.
- iPhone: tap Download, open it from the Downloads bar, then Share → Trailforks, Strava or Garmin.
- Android: tap Download, then open the file and pick your app.
- Garmin: or drag it into Garmin Connect → Courses → Import on a computer.
https://bsqrd-designs.com/dirt/ditch-day/
Getting there
Park at Steamboat Ditch access, Woodchuck Cir
Woodchuck Cir at Plateau Rd, Reno, NV
- Street parking where the ditch road meets Woodchuck Cir. Do not block driveways. Or park in the Washoe County Michael D. Thompson Trailhead lot at the west end of Woodchuck Cir, which the ride passes about 1 mile in.
- Start and finish are the same spot. Follow the cue sheet and the arrows on the map.
Cue sheet
| 0.0 | Steamboat Ditch Traildirt road via Michael D. Thompson Trailhead · Turnaround | 8.7 mi |
| 8.7 | Back at Steamboat Ditch access, Woodchuck Cir |
Know before you go
- Nearly level the whole way: the trail is the service road along a working irrigation ditch, so the climb figure above overstates it (the ditch hugs a steep hillside, which reads as up and down in the elevation data). A great first dirt ride, and fine on a gravel bike. Turn around early for a shorter day.
- The ditch road belongs to the ditch company and the public is allowed on it. Stay on the road and keep out of the water.
- Do not turn onto the Hunter Creek Trail at the Michael D. Thompson Trailhead. It is closed to bikes and climbs toward the Mount Rose Wilderness.
- The start is about 5 miles from the UNR campus (straight-line distance measured on the map), a short drive.
- Busy with walkers and dogs on weekends. Ride slow and pass with a friendly heads-up.
Ride smart
- Water: plan on about 1 L for this ride. There's none on the trail.
- Signal is spotty. Tell someone your route and your time back.
- Emergency: call 911 and say "Ditch Day ride, parked at Steamboat Ditch access, Woodchuck Cir, Reno, Nevada", plus the coordinates from Locate me.
- Wildlife: give horses, burros and anything with horns room, and never feed them.
- Stay on trail. Desert crust and mountain soil take decades to heal.
Report a problem or share a photo
Washout, closure, new fence or a missing sign? Got a great shot of a junction? Send it. It goes straight to Ryan; photos he approves show up on this page with your credit.
Trail photos
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End ride?
Turn calls, the timer and your recording stop when the ride ends.