The Lakes Loop is a great training ride in the weeks before the Mountain Lakes Challenge. It incorporates all of the really hard parts of the MLC and still gets in roughly 50 miles and 4000+ feet of cumulative climbing. It is also great in the weeks before the MLC becuase the seasonal temperatures are usually pretty comfortable at that point. In summer this loop should be started early as both Dead Indian Memorial and Green Springs are long exposed climbs. Both are quite uncomfortable in the sun when it's 90 degrees. Both climbs are long and challenging. Dead Indian is nearly 13 miles with some steep sections especially in the second half. Green Springs is really a very steady climb, rarely steeper than its 6% average grade. Stop for lunch at the Green Springs Inn if you'd like, this is an optional turnaround point at most club rides. If you choose to continue food, water and restrooms are available at the Hyatt Lake Resort. Because half of the ride is above 4000 feet in elevation, this ride is not always an option in late fall & winter.

The Loop can easilly begin at just about anywhere in Ashland. Club rides usually start at the Roasting company. Continue from there to HWY 66. You can ride the loop either way. The traditional route climbing Green Springs is probably a little easier; it spreads the elevation gain into a long hard grunt up Green Springs, a section of steep undulations on Hyatt Prarie Rd and another 500 feet on the east side of Dead Indian. Climbing Dead Indian first climbs most everything in one very long hard climb. Follow the Howard Prarie/Hyatt Lake Road between the highways and enjoy the exciting descent back into Ashland.

Traditionally the ride starts at the Roasting Company, but Lithia Park or Ashland Middle School among others would make excellent starting points.

Neither Dead Indian Memorial Hwy or the Green Springs Hwy get a huge volume of traffic but the traffic is consistent. Green Springs has a shoulder for some of the ride but generally the loop has no substantial shoulder. The Hyatt Lake/Howard Prarie stretch is never that busy but there is regular tourist/fishing traffic. Pavement is universally good on this loop. Dead Indian can is heavily gravelled during wet and winter months.