Chaffee County, Colorado
Anyone interested in accessing breathtaking scenery, historic ghost towns or spectacular geological formations from a bike will love the Upper Arkansas Valley.
The Monarch Crest Trail is the most popular ride in the area with good reason. It has sensational views of the Rockies, twelve miles of single-track connect to another 28 miles of single track on the Rainbow Trail with about 1000 feet of climbing and 3800 feet of descent, all at elevations of 11,000 to 12,000 fet. For a map and a better trail description, see www.monarchcrest.com
The trail is part of the Colorado Trail and passes by a couple of drinkable springs. There is a shorter option of riding down Marshall Pass Road to reach highway 285. Another option is the Agate Creek Trail that ends near Sargeants.
Those interested in a more leisurley ride will enjoy a guided tour beginning in the historic mining town of St. Elmo, and winding downhill past waterfalls and the Chalk Cliffs to the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort.
There are also plenty of rides in the middle-ability range. The Midland Trail runs just east of Buena Vista, along an old railroad grade through rock canyons, near the Arkansas River, and past stunning views of the Sawatch Range and Collegiate Peaks.
To access the Midland Trail, park one vehicle at the Arkansas River footbridge at the east end of Buena Vista's Main Street. Drive another vehicle to the Shield's Gulch trailhead, by driving just over five miles east of Johnson Village and turning left onto CR 315. The trailhead is about a half mile from the highway. Your ride will be 5.5 miles with a little climbing.
The Lenhardy Cutoff is a more ambitious ride of 15.7 miles. Leave one vehicle parked in Buena Vista and drive another vehicle eight miles northeast of Johnson Village to the intersection of U.S. 24-285 and CR 309. The ride starts on CR 309 on the west side of the highway.
The Marshall Pass Road is a great ride for families or those getting their first taste of mountain biking. The trail follows an abandoned railroad bed with no more than a 2-percent grade to the top of the Continental Divide. An especially beautiful ride in the fall, bikers wind past numerous stands of aspen and can view spectacular vistas with panoramic views of the Sangre de Christo mountains.
Riding trails exist along the Sawatch Range on CR 270 and CR 272 toward Brown's Creek or Raspberry Gulch. Farther south, beautiful bike trails are found outside of Poncha Springs.
For a spectacular view of many of the valley's Fourteeners, take the Washout Road Loop. To go the full 15.3-mile loop, travel from the Poncha Springs Town Park to U.S. 285. Continue past the intersection of 285 and U.S. 50 .7 mile, where U.S. 285 turns right. Turn right at this intersection and head up for a short climb. At 1.7 miles, turn left toward the mountains on CR 140. Continue west to mile 3.6. Make a right turn on CR 250. At 6.4 miles is a marker for FSR 5630 on your right. At mile 8.9, the road drops down into the actual Washout Drainage. Do not attempt this ride during imminent rain storms. At mile 10.8, turn right onto 285 and begin your trip back to Poncha Springs.
Salida offers great mountain biking just outside of town on Tenderfoot Mountain. Ride from downtown Salida out Colo. 291. Turn right on CR 153. Continue past Sand Lake and turn right on CR 175, then onto CR 176, called Spiral Drive. The ride up Tenderfoot will give you great views of the valley and surrounding mountains.
Several trails take off from Spiral Drive. The first trailhead on Tenderfoot Mountain is 1.9 miles from First and F streets in downtown Salida.
If you continue on Spiral Drive another half mile, you'll find a four-wheel drive road to the left.
Another half mile up Spiral Drive, you'll find the start of what local bikers call the Sunset Loop. This ride heads east from Tenderfoot Mountain in a fairly steep climb and eventually loops back around to CR 175.
For more information and maps, pick up the free Mountain Bike Guide to the Fourteeners Region at a chamber office, or any local business that distributes them.
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