The Silver City Ranger District is pleased to announce the Signal Peak Challenge mountain bike race is set to take place Labor Day Weekend, September 3-5, 2016. Signal Peak and Meadow Creek Roads and trail systems will be used for the event. The U.S. Forest Service permitted event will kick-off Saturday afternoon with a guided group ride of the course. A group BBQ will be held for racers, volunteers, and families at 6:00 p.m.Saturday evening. The Signal Peak Challenge race is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. A Beginner, Women’s Cat 2 and Long Lap courses that are 5.6, 19.4 and 22.4 miles long will be held. The event will conclude Monday with a guided ride along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail above Skates Canyon. Camping for the event will be along dispersed sites on the lower portion of Signal Peak Road and portions of Meadow Creek Road.
The Silver City Ranger District recently opened Signal Peak Road and portions of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that were closed after the Signal Fire in 2014. Fire crews, small timber operators and partners cut hazard trees along the road and trails this past summer. Downed trees along the Signal Peak road are available for free use firewood so vehicles may be present along the road while these events take place. Forest users are asked to be courteous of all uses on national forest lands.
The Signal Peak Challenge has been permitted with the Gila National Forest since 1991 and has been an important event for the community. The Forest Service recognizes the importance of this event to provide economic opportunities for area businesses and supports the partners and bike community that is sponsoring the event.