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Bear Creek/Methodist Mountain Loop Mountain Bike Trail
Salida, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
4 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 12/2/07 by Grizzattack |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 18 miles | Global Rank: 1472 |
| Tread: Other | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 11 | Wishlist: 8 |
| Avg. Speed: 4.8 mph | Avg. Time: 3hr 20min |
Directions:
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Description: From beautiful downtown Salida head east on US Hwy 50, gently descending on a good shoulder for 3.7 quick miles. Turn right (south) onto CR 101 and begin climbing on a well maintained dirt road. Pass a large pullout, cross a cattle guard and enter USFS lands after 3.2 miles. At the cattle guard, CR 101 turns into FR 101; the road becomes rugged and the climbing becomes fierce. Continue on FR 101 for 2.7 miles, staying straight at all intersections, crossing Bear Creek and finally reaching the Rainbow Trail Trailhead. Turn right onto the Rainbow Trail and start enjoying some fine singletrack. The trail climbs out of and descends into several small drainages maintaining an elevation of ≈ 9,000 feet. After 6 miles of terrific singletrack, you reach a trailhead at the junction of the Rainbow Trail and FR 108. Turn right and descend on the rugged and steep FR 108. After 1.6 miles your route turns into a graded and improved CR 107. Shortly after CR 107 turns into pavement and continues to descend for 3 miles, turn on the afterburners! Finally you reach US Hwy 50.
Description: From beautiful downtown Salida head east on US Hwy 50, gently descending on a good shoulder for 3.7 quick miles. Turn right (south) onto CR 101 and begin climbing on a well maintained dirt road. Pass a large pullout, cross a cattle guard and enter USFS lands after 3.2 miles. At the cattle guard, CR 101 turns into FR 101; the road becomes rugged and the climbing becomes fierce. Continue on FR 101 for 2.7 miles, staying straight at all intersections, crossing Bear Creek and finally reaching the Rainbow Trail Trailhead. Turn right onto the Rainbow Trail and start enjoying some fine singletrack. The trail climbs out of and descends into several small drainages maintaining an elevation of ≈ 9,000 feet. After 6 miles of terrific singletrack, you reach a trailhead at the junction of the Rainbow Trail and FR 108. Turn right and descend on the rugged and steep FR 108. After 1.6 miles your route turns into a graded and improved CR 107. Shortly after CR 107 turns into pavement and continues to descend for 3 miles, turn on the afterburners! Finally you reach US Hwy 50.
added on November 18, 2007 by 
NEARBY TRAILS
- Rainbow Trail/ Silver Creek To Hwy 285 (silver Creek Loop) in Poncha Springs (8 miles away)
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by amgilles on January 26, 2010
I know what you are saying and people like you are fine. I just wish some of the other people that don't believe in sharing the trail would think about it for a minute.
reviewed by Goo on January 26, 2010
@ The person below me: Is this really the most appropriate forum for such a comment? While the offending person was a mountain biker in question, I still think not. If a moderator could take care of this, that would be awesome. But that's still a good word to us cyclists: respect other users of the trails. Personally, I like to be cool with everyone.
reviewed by amgilles on January 26, 2010
Hey I just wanted to let you all know that these trails are open to dirtbikers as well and even though you don't much like it that's the way it is. Stop your complaining and quit trying to close everything to us. The next beligerant biker I come up to on the Rainbow Trail is going to hear plenty about the stupidy in this. We have every right to be there too so just deal with it!
Similar Trail: Go find one that you've already closed to dirtbikes and enjoy that one and quit complaining.
reviewed by skibum on December 16, 2007
This is one of the better sections of the Rainbow Trail. Unfortunately, it is a bit wide, but it's still a fun rolller coaster with occasional good views. While it's a good loop from Salida, that requires a lot of highway and dirt road riding. This is one case where I actually prefer an out-and-back by parking at the east end of the singletrack (it helps if you have a vehicle with some clearance, but I did make it in my minivan).
TRAIL TAGS
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