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Colorado Trail / Kenosha To Breckenridge Mountain Bike Trail
Breckenridge, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
14 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 7/30/11 by ckdake |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 33 miles | Global Rank: #Not yet ranked. |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Other |
| Ridden: 96 | Wishlist: 120 |
| Avg. Speed: 5.68 mph | Avg. Time: 4hr 52min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +11,887/-12,497 ft |
Description: Begin at Kenosha Pass trailhead. Best to get an early start if possible, as this trail took us much longer than we thought it would. The trail out of Kenosha is fairly easy and definitely scenic. It has a balance of uphill and downhill, although it does climb more as you get closer to the Georgia Pass area. This section is very lush and can be pretty treacherous when wet as there are many roots on parts of the trail that made for some slow going. Weather is unpredictable here too, so plan for bad weather!
The ascent up to Georgia Pass is more or less an easy climb, although the altitude (you are just above treeline) and strong winds may add some excitement for you. Once at the top, the views on both sides make the climb worthwhile and you will definitely want to bring a camera to record your journey. It is about 12 miles from Kenosha to the top, and may take about 3 hours depending on your ability. Technically, this section was not that hard.
The backside of the pass is where things start to get interesting. Once off the pass, you will immediately hit some great singletrack downhill and the climb up is forgotten. However, after a few miles you will run into some rocky sections of large boulders in the trail that will probably slow you down quite a bit. Roots are quite common in this section as well...and can also take their toll. We ran out of water (we carry 3L Camelbaks) about 6 miles below the pass, so make sure you take a water filter out there!
The CO Trail has been re-routed in one key place, and instead of following the road down for almost the entire length of the trail (as it appears on older maps), it now has a significant climb added in. If you have an up-to-date map, you will see this climb about 10-12 miles down from Georgia Pass. Be prepared as it is about 1000' over 1.5 miles and was quite difficult after having ridden in high altitude and having about 22 miles of trail behind us. It is a long steady climb to be sure, and you will be cursing the CO Trail folks for adding this section in...until you start going down again. This is some of the best singletrack you will encounter on the CO Trail anywhere from this point back to Denver. From the top of this ascent, almost all the way to Hwy 9, there are fantastic descents, easy and scenic forest sections, and just a few short climbs thrown in to keep you honest. Just great riding for the last 10 or so miles.
Once into Breckenridge, it is about a 4 mile ride up the bike path (south) until you get into the business part of town. You can ride to wherever you arranged to meet your friends. Have a nice meal, then jump in the car, head back to Kenosha (approx. 1 hour by car) to get your other vehicle, and call it a day. It took us about 8 hours to do the 32 trail miles...but we had some rain which made things extra slick and slow in a few places. A good weather day might cut that time somewhat. As with most any trail, you will want to bring a good map with you (we used the Latitude 40, Summit County Trails map).
added on August 22, 2004 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Zippety Do Dah in Fruita
Summit Cove/soda Creek Loop in Dillon
Kessel Run in Fruita
Mary's Loop / Horsethief Bench in Fruita
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by kkilton on August 9, 2011
I didn't ride all the way to Breck, just to Georgia Pass and back down for 24 miles of extacy! The views are awesome and so is the trail. You get a little bit of everything on this trail and it's amazing to see the diversity of the trail. We saw a moose and a bear along side the trail. There are quite a few technical sections and not many easy miles on this ride. Make sure you take lots of calories with and plenty of water. I went through my 3 liters on a 72 degree day but didn't run out. The altitude didn't get to me until after lunch rock but then it took it's toll even though there wasn't anymore technical spots.
Similar Trail: Monarch Crest?
reviewed by mwalsh23 on June 28, 2011
I rode this last fall as the aspens were turning. It was beautiful, challenging, & a complete blast. It was a long day in the saddle so bring LOTS of water. There are some technical spots that were beyond my skill level, but most of the ride is quality Colorado singletrack. I rode it on my 29er hard tail. The descent towards Breck was fun but really rough. As a result, I am now a full suspension 29er convert.
reviewed by Haebe04(WSC) on January 24, 2011
Great scenery and great single track
Similar Trail: Other colorado trails
reviewed by mwalsh23 on September 23, 2010
For anyone interested in an epic ride in Colorado's high country, this ride will not disappoint. This is the longest stretch of the Colorado Trail I've ridden. The trail is in excellent shape and winds through pine, aspen, and grassland. The climbs range from technically challenging to lung busting, but not that technical. Starting any ride at 10k' makes for an oxygen starved challenge, but your payoff will be substantial. We rode the route in mid-September and were treated to the full glory of aspens turning. As one who primarily rides a road bike, this route was at my limit of ability. All in all, I am really glad I got to do the ride and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone ready for a back country challenge.
reviewed by RideorDie on June 19, 2009
Great trail with killer decents, views, and enough climbs to keep you honest. Loved it!
reviewed by chaserbra on October 8, 2007
kick f***in ass trail great decents and brutal climbs i rode this trail the middle of june at the top of the first decent there was still 4 feet of snow so i would recomend a july ride very epic bring lots of water and grub
reviewed by shane_anthony77 on October 2, 2007
Great ride I was in Breck last weekend for a conference and got a chance to ride on friday and this trail came highly recommended. I actually parked at Dredge Boat Trailhead off of Tiger Rd. rode the road to colorado trail and took dredge boat trail back to my car. Great loop ended up being about 25 miles. Great singletrack!
reviewed by gschocker on September 24, 2007
Awesome ride. We had friends drop us off at Kenosha Pass. Great scenery and some awesome climbs. Dropped to Highway 9 and pedaled to my place in Frisco.
Similar Trail: Monarch Crest
reviewed by utedude on August 14, 2007
I took this trail from the top of Georgia pass to Breckenrildge and overall found that it was not all it was cracked up to be. It was like any other summit county trail with sharp rocks and hairpin turns. Regardless, there was still some sweet singltrack but not of the caliber of trail near crested butte, telluride, and even the front range. I had a badly bruised and bleeding wrist through the boulder field section so I am judging it would have been more fun without it. However, the constant worry of puncturing one or both of your tires on one of the sharp summit county rocks is not fun. I was also surprised at how little the trail was maintained and marked. Overall, i liked the trail but it was not great like I have heard.
Similar Trail: Barney Ford to Moonstone, Peaks trail, any summit county trail laden with sharp rocks!
reviewed by BobinConifer on May 13, 2007
Great ride with everything Colorado is known for... Including inevitible late afternoon t-storms. I started this, with a few of my regular Denver biking buddies, as a typical Kenosha-Georgia pass out and back but when we got to the top of Georgia we decided to see what the DH to Breck was like. We were all in pretty good shape except for D.N. who broke a rib on the climb. So we gave it a shot. The single track down is beautiful and not too heavily travelled. The boulder fields trail is a blast (except for D.N.) and made my triceps feel like they were on fire. Overall this is a fun ride but there really isn't any spectacular feature that stands out. Although arriving in Breck for a break on a sunny patio is just fine with me...
Similar Trail: Agate Creek
reviewed by bonkedagain on June 27, 2006
Wow! What a fantastic trail! If you are into epic cross-country rides with lots of screaming downhill then you have to ride this. Like everybody says, the climb is pretty easy, the views are fantastic, and the downhills are the best. Well worth it to set up a shuttle (just over an hour drive from trailhead to trailhead). You could also ride this as an out-and-back to Georgia Pass, which would be really fun, or go up Tiger Road and join in where the trail crosses the road. But, you really don't want to miss the downhill from Georgia Pass to Tiger Road -- it is just too fun.
Similar Trail: Monarch Crest
reviewed by JJonas on July 12, 2005
An excellent part of the CO trail...The singletrack coming out of Kenosha pass is very scenic as it rolls through old aspen groves with wonderful views of South Park and Mt Guyot. Once you cross the road to Jefferson Lake, the climbing begins. Only a couple of spots where you have to get off the bike, but mostly an uneventful climb. As was described above, the CO trail off the top of Georgia Pass is great until it crosses the Jeep path and gets very rocky and rooty. Once you reach the creek at the bottom (Middle Fork of the Swan Ck I think), the tough section is over and you've got the option of following the dirt road (which turns into Tiger Run Rd) back to Breckenridge or continuing on the CO trail. The next section of the CO trail is a good balance of up and down, and only lasts a couple of miles before you reach another road. Once you cross this second road, the climb begins...and although its not technically difficult, it's still tough because of the miles under your belt. Once at the top, the fun begins...I think the quality of this section of trail has diminished...There is now quite a few sections through the switchbacks that have been rutted out and turned to washboard...I hope you have a good suspension system to s*** up the trail...Overall a good epic ride.
reviewed by schwingletrack on May 25, 2005
This trail is amazing..done it a couple of times, kicked my A** both times. But the scenery is killer espically in sept..and oct when the huge stands of Aspen are orange and yellow..so cool.
Similar Trail: Buffalo Creek/Pine Valley
reviewed by mudhunny on August 2, 2004
This trail is easily one of the most scenic in Colorado. The route starts at about 10,000 feet and consists of relatively gradual climbs. You'll ride through thick aspen groves, dense pine forests, grassy meadows with incredible views, and everything in between. Add this trail to your wishlist right now, you gotta do it. Some technical and rocky sections and some rooty parts as well. Lots of weekend traffic so plan your trip for an off peak time for optimal enjoyment. You can turn around at FS Road 401 to make it a 12 mile round trip or at Georgia Pass for a 24 mile trip. The trail to the south of Kenosha Pass is open to bicycles as well.
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