Boring, muddy. A preferred hike, accessible from the same trailhead, is described below. Olmstead Loop Trail is an 8.6 mile loop crossing gently rolling hills and pastures west of Cool. It’s used mainly as a horse trail and mountain bike course. The loop may be run either direction, although most choose counter-clockwise. There are some muddy spots that can discourage hikers into midsummer(when it’s generally too hot to hike anyway). I’ve hiked, run and biked the trail; it’s best in fall, when highs fall below 80 degrees and the ground’s mostly dry. As a hike, it can be boring — and frustrating too, when trying to cross some of the muddy bogs, especially near the 8 mile point as you close out the loop. A better hike is to take the road west until you reach the end of the pavement, then traverse switchbacks down to the river. The out-and-back hike is 7 miles, and a lot more interesting than Olmstead Loop. The nearby Cool Ranch & Feed Supply has maps printed on bandanas that show local trails not found in most trail guides or online. Try em out!
