Amazing singletrack, killer views, and lung busting elevation - what more could you ask for? Portions of the Colorado Trail are off limits to bikes so you'll need to detour around each of the 6 designated wilderness areas. Many day trip routes are available and connecting trails abound.
I got shuttled up with a few of my conworkers who were biking this route. I ran all 21.45 miles and it’s not easy. there is a creek so having a water filter is what you need and want. it does it hot as you drop down and the climbing is insane. go with a group and stay with your group. cause once you’re out there you’re on your own until gusty rest point, from there you have about 2.5 miles left until the fire road.
| ThankGreat trail, absolutely beautiful. Couple punchy ups, but otherwise beginner friendly. Glad I rode it.
| ThankOfficially, most of this ride is Segment 3 of the Colorado Trail (Little Scraggy Trailhead to FS Road 560).
| ThankA demanding trail at elevation with over 3400' of climbing, an average grade of 6% and a maximum grade of 35% (as you approach the 9 mile marker). It is also part of the Continental Divide Trail and a major portion of the legendary Monarch Crest Ride.
| ThankThis is a true epic ride, yes in the Monarch Crest league. Absolutely brutal day of climbing, but the best down hill section of any of the epic trails I've ridden in Colorado. Scenery is stunning, trail is amazing, this is a must ride! The trail that they added at the 20mi mark is a brutal sustained climb that would take a special breed to clean, but the down hill afterwards is spectacular. Might be my new favorite trail in Colorado. Lots of water and food!
| ThankGreat trail. A little climbing a little technical and beautiful views
| ThankI did the entire trail from Silverton to Durango on a bikepacking trip. CT is an epic trail with monster hike a bikes and beautiful views.
| ThankRode out and back, starting from the South Platte THD. It is certainly a rigorous climb the first mile and really the first 5 miles. A very good workout. After you cross the dirt road (Raleigh Peak Road) at about 6 miles heading west, the ride mellows out a lot the rest of the way to the Little Scraggy THD. The return ride (west to east), is a cruiser with just a couple of shorts climbs worth noting ... and A LOT of nice downhill. Definitely some good payback for all your work riding east to west. If you are only going to ride this segment one way, it would definitely be west to east. Also, the trail west of Hwy 126 is really not worth riding imo. Much of it is basically a dirt road with lots of sand. I would just start from Hwy 126. All in all, this is a nice ride and worth the drive and time.
| ThankOld school horse trail sh*t show. It's part of the CTR so you ride it but don't go out of your way for it.
| ThankVery good portion of a larger route and perfect section for a whole day epic ride. Classic Colorado ride, where you moving either up or down over rocky terrain.
| ThankThe first section is punchy but then once it levels out, the singletrack is flowy and sweet! Turn around once you hit the lakes, because somewhere beyond that is Wilderness. Unfortunately, there's not a sign telling you where the Wilderness boundary is, so best to turn around at the lakes.
| ThankWhile the singletrack's actually in pretty great shape, this trail just isn't worth the effort. It's essentially a hike-a-bike almost all the way up, and while part of the descent is ripping and fun, a long portion of it is so steep, the trail is so narrow, and it's so exposed that I found I really had to ride the brakes to stay in control... so much so that I could smell my brake pads burning!
| ThankWhat I rode of this section of the Colorado Trail was a two-way back-country ride on a hiking trail with few technical features although it does twist and turn. Very pleasant forest and back-country feel.
| ThankThe portion of the Colorado Trail between Camp Hale and Copper Mountain is an absolutely fantastic section of the Colorado Trail! The singletrack is ripping, the climbs are tough, and the high alpine riding is unparalleled! My favorite part is getting to traverse between Searle Pass and Kokomo Pass, spending a significant amount of time way above treeline. Highly recommended!
| ThankThe portion of the Colorado Trail between Camp Hale and Copper Mountain is an absolutely fantastic section of the Colorado Trail! The singletrack is ripping, the climbs are tough, and the high alpine riding is unparalleled! My favorite part is getting to traverse between Searle Pass and Kokomo Pass, spending a significant amount of time way above treeline. Highly recommended!
| ThankRode from the top of Monarch Pass and down Fooses. Relatively quick shuttle ride, 15-20 min or so probably. Monarch's a good warmup, and the Fooses downhill is pretty amazing. Steep, loose, rutted drop-in up top (with epic views), and it stays fairly steep for a while on tight, rooty singletrack. Gets picky for a while, then opens up through the forest, extremely fast, great dirt, occasionally very rocky and semi-technical, but mostly just fast and fun.
| ThankThanks Johnnymac. Fred has done the same thing to other highly-rated trails as well--not sure why. Anyway, don't worry--ratings only count once per person.
| ThankSince these guys are trying to ruin this trails rating...
| ThankGood
| ThankBeautiful segment of Colorado Trail. Like most CO trails, this one is the same rocky, steep and breathtaking views 360*.
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