Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 1.6 miles one-way |
| Starting Elevation |
7200 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+600 feet one-way (uphill direction) |
| Navigation | Road and marked trail |
| Time | Up to full day (based on combining with Gooseberry Road) |
| Season | December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Pinecrest |
| Start | This is a bypass tour that connects mileage points 6 and 9 of the Gooseberry Road to Burst Rock Junction tour.
The Gooseberry Trailhead is located at the Dodge Ridge Ski Resort parking loop. Follow Dodge Ridge Road to the one-way loop of the ski area parking lot. Follow the loop to the ski area lodge and turn around as though leaving. From the lodge it is 0.3 mile to the Gooseberry Trailhead. The trailhead will be on the north (right) side of the road. |
Description
The Zig-Zag tour and Rock and Roll tour bypass sections of the Gooseberry Road to Burst Rock Junction tour. You can mix sections of the Gooseberry, Rock and Roll, and Zig-Zag tours to create a custom tour with great variation.
About one-third of the Zig-Zag tour follows roads; the remaining two-thirds requires care to follow the marked trail as it zig-zags.
The Forest Service's map recommends skiing down Zig-Zag. Here it is described going up because it is easier to follow the markers in this direction because you are going slower.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Note: The Pinecrest Nordic Ski Patrol has marked many backcountry ski trails in this area. Where applicable, the numbers and name of the trails are given in brackets. Visit their website to download a map showing all the marked trails or obtain a map at the Summit Ranger District office at #1 Pinecrest Lake Road near the junction with Highway 108.
Waypoint 6 to 15
Miles: 0.0 - 0.6
Elevation change: +250 feet
From the junction of Gooseberry Road and the Zig-Zag trail (6), which is located 1.6 miles from the Gooseberry Trailhead, leave the main road and follow the lessor road to the southeast (right) for 0.6 mile until you reach a sharp turn to the north (left) (15). In this section there are three road junctions; in all cases take the north-most (left or straight) road.
The road ahead is a small logging road and not obvious, but you will know when you are near because (a) you will have your first glimpse of a groomed downhill ski run just before reaching the turn and (b) you will very quickly enter the groomed ski run if you don't make the turn. This is the first zig in the zig-zagging trail that lies ahead. [#12 Zig-Zag]
Waypoint 15 to 16
Miles: 0.6 - 1.0
Elevation change: +50 feet
Turn north (left) and follow the small road and marked trail (the road quickly dwindles away) for 0.4 mile until you reach a sharp turn to the south (right) (16). The only way you will see this turn or any of the others ahead will be by carefully following the markers. [#12 Zig-Zag]
Waypoint 16 to 9
Miles: 1.0 - 1.6
Elevation change: +300 feet
Carefully follow the marked trail as it zig-zags for 0.6 mile to the southeast until you reach Gooseberry Road (9). [#12 Zig-Zag]
