Tripoli Rd. between Mt. Osceola Trail and Livermore Rd.

[marty]

Hi all,

I am thinking of doing an Osceola loop in the future, starting at Livermore, up the Greeley Ponds Trail, across the Mt. Osceola Trail and then taking Tripoli Rd. road back to Livermore.

My questions are:
1. Is the section between Mt. Osceola Trail and Livermore paved?

2. If so, is it in good condition? I am thinking of doing the road stretch by Razor Scooter, except perhaps the really steep sections.

Thanks,
Marty

 

[Hillwalker]

Dirt road

I have cached a mountain bike at the Breadtray Ridge TH and then ridden down to Livermore. Downhill all the way. The road is only paved part of the way so riding a razor would be a little hairy. It is also pretty steep in gradient.

 

[marty]

Thanks Hillwalker! No sense killing myself. I will either bring my mountain bike or walk it.

Marty

 

[TDawg]

Tripoli Road is paved from right around the height of land in Thornton Gap to the Livermore trailhead. I'd say it is in decent shape, there are lots of bumps and some spots where the pavement is crumbling. Downhill all the way, a bike would be safer than a razor scooter but maybe not as fun?!?!

 

[Mike P.]

For the hiking part of this trip, I prefer going up from Tripoli Road Vs. going up the steep climb up East Osceola.

 

[BLE]

Be Careful

People will be driving both directions on the road all day. It is particularly hard to see at specific spots when driving west in the afternoon due to the lower sun level. Don't assume that drivers can see you (or anything else for that matter) in certain spots when you come 'down' Tripoli in the afternoon.. ( I would always slow down as if in a blizzard at such spots )

Just an FYI

 

[DrewKnight]

Agree -- not really scooter-friendly

Unless you're Tony Hawk, the paved section of Tripoli Road from the height of land down to the Depot Camp parking area at the Livermore Road probably isn't scooter material. It is generally lumpy and specifically bumpy and broken up in a lot of places, and not very suitable for small urethane wheels. There are also some pretty steep sections, and, as several people wisely pointed out, there is a good bit of traffic with a number of blind turns.

I ride the lower section of the Tripoli Road a couple of times a week on a front suspension mountain bike, and you can get up quite a head of steam -- then have to scrub it off fast -- if you let things roll. Spotting a bike -- even a road bike -- up at the Osceola parking area would make for a fast, fun trip back to your car.