Evan, I took your track, uploaded it to bikeroutetoaster.com, then re-downloaded the track from bikeroutetoaster.  That seems to fix odd things with gpx files that ridewithgps doesn't like. 

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18320659

Here are a few thoughts I have on the mega loop. 

Starting point- I think Camp Nelson might be a better place to start. Good car camping there, a lodge, and a small store. Then you would start and end the ride with 2 great trails--start with Nelson Trail climb and end with Bear Creek descent).  Or if you are driving from the east, Kennedy Meadows would be a good starting point. 

I wonder if there is a way to get from Lower Peppermint Campground to 32E29?  I don't see anything on the map connecting Peppermint Falls trail and 32E29, but maybe there is a way. I don't know, I haven't explored that area. Then you could skip a good amount of pavement (this would also skip Johnsondale resupply, but maybe that would be ok if starting in Camp Nelson, and McNalleys Restaurant and Kernville would not be far away). 

I bikepacked Whiskey Flat to Packsaddle to Rincon in early April 2015.  I rode in the northbound direction.  The southbound direction you are proposing would be a much better direction than the way I rode it, but all 3 of those trails have some hard slow stuff in either direction.  Those 3 trails together will take a lot longer to ride than it looks on the map. Overgrown trail, sandy conditions, etc.  I don't think Rincon to Old Flume Trail would be any easier though, so I don't have any suggestions there.   

Going up Cannell Trail would be fine once you got to the top of the plunge.  That is a 5,000 climb over 10 miles. This climb would be an ass kicker, but the trail is in good shape so it would be a doable hike.  The Tenmile climb on the Colorado Trail is only a 3,600 climb over 8.5 miles and it was pretty much all walking for me.   

Beach Creek would probably be fine going uphill, but after riding up the Cannell Plunge, I think I would prefer riding up the fireroad. 

Going up Jackass Peak Trail would be hard.  I think I would favor Granite Broder Trail over to Albinita Trail to get up to Jackass Peak. 

I rode Bitter Creek Trail in the downhill direction in early November of this year.  It is a total sand pit. I rode it one week after a pretty good rainstorm and it still was sandy. You would need a fatbike to have any fun going down that trail.  It is a shame because it is the only legal dirt option between Fish Creek Camp and Kennedy Meadows.  Maybe that trail hardens up in the springtime after the snow melt?

After that I haven't rode any of the stuff between Kennedy Meadows until the route reaches the Kern River again. I will say that Keyesville Trail to Kern Canyon Trail to Badger Gap was really amazing when I rode it. 30 miles or so of all nicely graded singletrack with very little HAB.  But Mill Creek Trail looks like a ripping downhill too. 

I am tentatively thinking the weekend of May 26, 2017 to get out there and do a big ride.  Hope we can meet up then! 

Wow, this ride would be a beast! I can't really see much detail on the jpeg, if you want to send me the gpx file, ill see if i can get it to work in ridewithgps.

I was able to ride the Rey Fire burn area last week. The fireroad in the burn area has some erosion and minor rock slide issues, but is in pretty good shape overall and rideable.  Camuesa Connector Trail is riding very well and has held up well from the recent rain storms.  Only 50% of Camuesa Connector Trail actually burned. A really big storm could cause more erosion and damage, so I will still leave this area as  "to be determined" until early March.  I did not ride Santa Cruz Trail. I have seen reports and photos of major rock slides and other erosion on this trail.  This makes sense because Santa Cruz Trail is a much steeper trail.  I will check it out on foot at some point, but I am 99% certain Santa Cruz Trail will not be part of the route for 2017.  So to summarize, the 2017 proper route will follow the 2016 route and but instead take the fireroad instead of Santa Cruz Trail.  Since that change shortens the route even more, the Santa Barbara frontcountry singletrack section from the 2014 and 2015 route will likely be brought back as an optional way to end with a time bonus of 5.5 hours: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12619311 

There will be no change to the 2016 tour route. 

Here are a few photos of the burn area.

The longest dry stretch is Ventucopa to Gilliam Spring.  There is a spigot at Selby Campground, but it can run out since the water tank there is filled up by the BLM periodically, so it can run dry.   I like skipping the out and back ride to Selby anyways.  I think I carried 6 liters for that stretch this year and had a half liter to spare when I got to Gilliam Spring.  

Well, I guess I was correct the first time!  The forest service just opened up the entire Rey Fire burn area to public use as of yesterday.  I have no idea what the current condition of the singletrack(s) are in that area, but I will find out soon.  If the singletrack(s) in that area are too damaged, the fireroad will work fine as an alternate route.  

Evandog, here is the loop I was thinking. It is a much bigger version of the figure 8 loop I posted here a while back:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18008615

Upper Tobias Trail is currently pretty good, so that is included, but lower Tobias is avoided and instead head north to Johnsondale for re-supply.  Another option there would be Pup Meadow trail and then over to Johnsondale via the fireroads in that area.

Summiting Sherman Peak is included. Both times I rode up Sherman Pass Road I summited Sherman Peak.  After a 6000 ft climb up the pavement, another 500 ft climb to top out on the summit feels like good achievement.  The trail up to Sherman Peak is not the best though and it is a time suck. A faster option would be Sherman pass trail down to Trout Creek trail. 

This could be a pure loop and not a figure 8 if you took one of those steep jeep trails off the pavement up to Sherman Peak instead, but those trails look like a gnarly hike a bike to me.  Never tried them. 

This loop would be a solid ride, but I still like the point to point better.  You would not get to see any Giant Sequoia Trees on this loop route, and there is more time spent on pavement.  A shuttle from Camp Nelson to Kennedy Meadows would take about 90 minutes if Sherman Pass Road was open.  Not too bad, but yes, more logistically difficult.   

I would be curious what you had in mind for the loop.  One area I have not yet explored is the area south of Isabella Lake (Piute Mountains, Remington Ridge, etc.)  Looks like some good possibilities over there. 

Thanks, any help scouting out alternate routes would be awesome.  I have a few ideas in mind, but need to make sure the connections will work.

I spoke too soon :-(

The Rey Fire burn area was originally supposed to re-open on December 1st, but that did not happen. I am now hearing anywhere from 4 to 12 months before that area re-opens.  There are some alternate routes I will explore over the next few months!

Vote counted! 

As far as the routes for this year is concerned, I don't expect any big changes for 2017.  In 2016 there was an 85% finish rate, which hopefully meant it was challenging, but not a death march.   

The recent Rey Fire burned a decent chunk of the route this summer, but the burn area is expected to open back up in a few weeks and I will get back there to check it out! 

Mike, I agree.  It can get in the high 80s or 90s by late May in the lower elevations.  Miles 93 through 124 would be much better in the early morning or late evening, and that would definitely be part of the strategy.  The first time I rode Kern River Trail it was entirely at night, and its not overly technical, so its pretty safe to ride at night.  Keyesville, Kern River Trail, and Badger Gap trails all combined are almost 30 miles of really great singletrack and not to be missed. 

Evedog, your loop idea sounds more interesting than the loop I had in mind. I havent yet explored the area you are referring to. As you know, the routing possibilities here are endless! 

Just fyi, 3 trails that are in terrible shape right now are lower tobias, bitter creek, and summit trail. These should all be avoided until they see some serious maintenance. Bitter Creek will probably always be bad. It is just too sandy and sloppy.

I've made a few more trips to this area in the last two years, and I feel like this point to point route from Kennedy Meadows to Camp Nelson (simply called "Kennedy to Nelson") highlights all the good trails and unique sights of this area.  I have a loop route too, which I will post here soon, but this point to point is definitely better.

Here is the map, complete with description, photos, and waypoints!   The only parts I have not ridden yet are miles 8-16 and miles 170-191, but judging by the map, these sections should be mostly rideable. I would appreciate any info on those sections if you have ridden them.    

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17787528

I am going to give this ride a go in May of 2017. I will probably give myself 4 days to do it at a more mellow pace.  Who else is interested???  

Matt from Truckee has put together a good Tahoe loop route.  He has a FB page about it.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=ride%20the%20tahoe%20rim&ref=eyJzaWQiOiIwLjU1NDg5ODk0NTI4MzQ1ODciLCJxcyI6IkpUVkNKVEl5Y21sa1pTVXlNSFJvWlNVeU1IUmhhRzlsSlRJd2NtbHRKVEl5SlRWRSIsImd2IjoiYmVlMDlmOTNmYTczMmNmYTU5YTFjYjZkOWY0NTBkMzg5MjQyNGU0OSJ9

The Rubicon Jeep Trail is really hard so starting in south lake is highly recommended to get the hard part out of the way first.  Then the last two days will be epic.  We started in Tahoe City and that left the Rubicon Jeep trail for the last part of our ride, which was not the right way to do it.   Blog here: http://bikepacker.com/tahoe-rim-recon-part-i/

Matt, Those 3.0 tires must have served you well in the Bodie Hills.  Plus size tires are pretty much a requirement for this course.  I spent 3 hours to walk 5 miles on the first day on the way to Bridgeport.  My 2.2 Maxxis Ardents were not cutting it. 

I just noticed the Owens Fire on Facebook.  This doesn't look good!  Hopefully they can put this out fast! 

I am all packed and ready to go and as long as I don't have any work emergencies that come up,  I plan on being at the group start on Saturday for the "easier" route.  307 miles and 36,000k climbing looks pretty beastly for the "250".  It looks like riding well over 100 miles for the first day is an absolute must if you want to finish in 3 or 4 days.  I doubt I will make it to Bridgeport in time for a hot meal, so I think I will just skip that resupply and keep going.    

I rode to the summit of White Mountain 2 months ago and got a taste of what this area has to offer.  I have backpacked a few times near Bishop as well so I have no doubt this will be a beautiful route.  

Who else is in? This thread is pretty quiet!  

Hikeabike is going to make fun of me, because I always say I do not give a damn about my "time", but I think I actually beat 9 full days by 40 seconds!!!   I am counting the time it took me to get from the Waterton Trailhead Sign to the Junction Creek Trailhead Sign.   

Point #5 received at: 01:43:47 PM (MDT) 07/21/16

Point #672 received at: 01:43:07 PM (MDT) 07/30/16

I am out this year, but just wanted to say good luck to everyone.  With Spruces Trail getting some maintenance last year, it should be smooth sailing!  This is an amazing route with many surprises.  Don't let the mileage fool you!   

A few things from last year that might be useful-   

The water spigot that worked last year at the park off Bryce Woodland Drive is actually inside the park (it is not the spigot that is right along Bryce Woodland Drive. That one was dry.)

The Quality Inn Bryce Canyon at 3800 US-89, Panguitch, UT 84759 allowed us to eat breakfast for 10 bucks last year.  It was all you can eat. A great option if you descend Thunder Mountain in the morning and are coming through that part of the route between 7 to 11 am or so. 

Nice work Eric!  I was out on an adventure this weekend, so unfortunately I was not able to meet up with you guys for a beer at the finish line.  Looks like you had a solid ride though, congrats to you both on the finish!

On the subject of Five Ten Shoes,  I am now about to buy my 3rd pair.  My first pair were Impacts. Those were durable but heavy.  My current pair are Aescents, those are light but only lasted me about 10 months.  Anyone have any experience with the Impacts?  I am thinking those might be the right shoe.