CO single tracks

[Lizzy]

Hey!
I'm going to Colorado for a week in July with my bikes! I got a day or two for mt biking and am thinking of riding the CO Trail from Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass.
Just wondering if anyone here's done that and if so is it a good one? (good as in awesome mt views and exciting and not too technical...I'm a rookie). Or, if there are any other wicked single tracks that cannot be passed up? There's so many to chose from!!! (not restricted to any particular range, as long as it's in CO!)
Thanks!

[indysteel]

I know nothing about CO singletrack, but as flatlanders, DH and I struggled a bit on a recent mountain bike trip to Canyonlands in Utah at 5k feet. How hard do you anticipate it being riding for you to ride at 9k+ feet? I would, in the very least, give yourself some time to acclimate to the altitude before embarking on the ride and recognize that it's likely going to be challenging aerobically, even if the technicality of the trail itself is okay for your skill level.

[sarahkonamojo]

You might be restricted by fire and air quality. Kenosha Pass is fine right now, but things change daily. And biking in smokey conditions is no fun. Colorado has its own brand of single track. If you are truly a rookie, you might look for specific beginner rides. Buffalo Pass comes to mind. But the ride is through a burn area.
Kenosha Pass is beautiful.

[solobiker]

You might be restricted by fire and air quality. Kenosha Pass is fine right now, but things change daily. And biking in smokey conditions is no fun. Colorado has its own brand of single track. If you are truly a rookie, you might look for specific beginner rides. Buffalo Pass comes to mind. But the ride is through a burn area.
Kenosha Pass is beautiful.

I agree. I have done Kenosha..there is a fair amount of climbing involved so if you ride it bring your climbing legs and lungs. :-)

There are some real nice parts of Buff Creek if you hit up the CT trail.

[Tri Girl]

I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully (fires and weather permitting), at the end of next month we will be camping near Leadville for a few days prior to climbing Mt. Elbert (our first 14'er) and we were going to ride bikes for a couple days prior to help with the acclimation.
I've decided on doing Hagerman Road up to Hagerman Pass. I think I'll be much more comfortable climbing jeep roads/forest service roads than riding singletrack. Our singletrack here in the flatlands has me nervous enough with the descents- I can't imagine the terror I would have to endure trying to descend some actual mountain trails. ;)

Has anyone ever ridden Hagerman Tunnel Trail or the road?

[sarahkonamojo]

Oh, yes, sorry Buffalo Creek.
I have ridden Hagerman both sides of the pass and to the tunnel. The road is steep but doable. The west side is less steep and/or bumpy. There will be traffic. The railroad grade to the tunnel is fun as well. (On the east side.) It is a railroad grade, so not steep. There are some detours that take a little more effort.
If you are looking for mellow rides, old railroad grades are mostly good. The midland trail sections can be a lot of fun. Lots of this type of riding near Colorado Springs, but sadly not recommended this year.
S

[Tri Girl]

Thanks! :)

[jessmarimba]

I agree. I have done Kenosha..there is a fair amount of climbing involved so if you ride it bring your climbing legs and lungs. :-)

There are some real nice parts of Buff Creek if you hit up the CT trail.

I just rode Colorado Trail from Buff Creek today...that's my happy place. Favorite place to ride around here.

[e3rdpower]

We're going to be in Telluride from July 25-Aug 8th with the mountain bikes. I've been looking for resources about trails online and for books, but haven't seen anything yet, so if anyone has suggestions I'll gladly take them. As flatlanders we will definitely be suffering from altitude.

[jessmarimba]

We're going to be in Telluride from July 25-Aug 8th with the mountain bikes. I've been looking for resources about trails online and for books, but haven't seen anything yet, so if anyone has suggestions I'll gladly take them. As flatlanders we will definitely be suffering from altitude.

There's a bike shop in town that was able to provide me with maps when I was there. You can ride on the mountain in the ski resort area (usually) or there's a nice long rails-to-trails path along the river if you're interested that can take you a few towns away, and there's a bunch of singletrack out of Mountain Village if you take the gondola over. Or if you really want to climb and climb and climb and then descend for forever, some folks ride the jeep road to Bridal Veil Falls. But I'd probably just hike that :)

[e3rdpower]

There's a bike shop in town that was able to provide me with maps when I was there. You can ride on the mountain in the ski resort area (usually) or there's a nice long rails-to-trails path along the river if you're interested that can take you a few towns away, and there's a bunch of singletrack out of Mountain Village if you take the gondola over. Or if you really want to climb and climb and climb and then descend for forever, some folks ride the jeep road to Bridal Veil Falls. But I'd probably just hike that :)

We're actually staying in Mountain Village, so that will be perfect. We hiked Bridal Veil last time we were there in the summer, it's beautiful :)

[Veronica]

We rode out of Telluride on our tour and climbed Last Dollar Pass (10,600 feet) the first day. It's a beautiful climb, lots of views. It's basically a dirt road, so not very technical.

http://tandemhearts.smugmug.com/Travel/Telluride-to-Moab/i-gKhp6Fd/2/L/WRT-07-L.jpg

This is the view at 10,400 feet. :D

Veronica

[Catrin]

We rode out of Telluride on our tour and climbed Last Dollar Pass (10,600 feet) the first day. It's a beautiful climb, lots of views. It's basically a dirt road, so not very technical.
....

This is the view at 10,400 feet. :D

Veronica

Beautiful! The nice thing about it not being technical is you could actually spend a little time looking at that wonderful scenery :)

[Lizzy]

Buff Creek looks really beautiful! There's a few reviews on Singletracks. Telluride also! That picture, Veronica, is AMAZING! I've only done midwest single tracks (nothing too epic as far as inclines) and I'm also hoping the ride will help me acclimate for some mt climbs.

[e3rdpower]

We rode out of Telluride on our tour and climbed Last Dollar Pass (10,600 feet) the first day. It's a beautiful climb, lots of views. It's basically a dirt road, so not very technical.

http://tandemhearts.smugmug.com/Travel/Telluride-to-Moab/i-gKhp6Fd/2/L/WRT-07-L.jpg

This is the view at 10,400 feet. :D

Veronica

Gorgeous! Maybe after we've been there for a week or so and acclimated a little bit we can give that a try :)

[Tri Girl]

Well we didn't do Hagerman Pass- but we did the Twin Lakes loop near Leadville. Although the lake was really low, it was still immensely beautiful.

I'm sure for locals that's a trail you do when you don't really want a workout, but for us flatlanders, it was an acutal *for real* mountain bike trail with some climbing (not like the sandy flat trails around home we call "mtn bike trails"). At home, it's the roots that get me- but there it was the sharp, pointy rocks that got me. ;)
It was amazing!! I had to walk up some parts and walk down some parts, but I had a blast! We crossed a river at mile 7, and although I tried to ride across the shallower part, the deepest part was over my knees so I walked the bike through that.

You mountain people are SO lucky to have access to such beautiful rides. Imagine how strong I would be if I had that terrain to ride in all the time. I can't wait to go back!
Here are some pictures from our ride. So incredibly breathtaking!

[Veronica]

Beautiful pictures. Glad you had so much fun!

Veronica

[indysteel]

Gorgeous photos! It looks like a fabulous place to ride. I'm jealous!

[Catrin]

Just beautiful, thank you for sharing!

[jessmarimba]

Ok now I need to go ride there. Hmm...when can I plan this...

[solobiker]

Once my back feels better I think I need to get there one of these weekends.