West Branch

West Branch is a 0.68-mile out-and-back mountain biking trail in Maine, about 2 miles from the town of Bigelow. It's a compact ride for intermediate riders, with a moderate difficulty rating and a mix of natural obstacles that test bike handling skills. The trail is a blue square route, and its short length makes it a good choice for a focused skill-building session or as part of a longer loop in the area. The route climbs from about 1,473 feet to 1,726 feet, with a total gain of 508 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.13 miles in, with a 9% grade. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Long Falls Dam weather station show July highs around 77°F and lows near 55°F, though that station sits about 566 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. East Branch, a cross-country skiing route, lies just 0.1 mile away, and the Inferno and Widowmaker mountain biking trails are both within half a mile. Climbers can find Tufulio's Boulders about 4.5 miles off.