Basecamp Colorado is Glenwood Springs Colorado

Bear Creek is often thought of as one of the best singletracks in Colorado. It is built on an abandoned irrigation ditch, so it is level (once you get there) and travels around the rim of the west end of Glenwood Canyon. This is an 18 mile loop from town, will climb 2000 ft., and will take you through tall pine forests. 8 miles uphill, 9 miles level singletrack, and 2 miles technical downhill on Scout Trail. This is mostly ridden in a clockwise fashion. Go south out of Glenwood and turn left on County Road 115, Red Canyon. This will be a dirt raod that turns to chip and seal further up. You can access this by riding south on the River Bike Trail and then following old Highway 82. When the road flattens out on Spring Valley, stay to the left and then take County Road 120 to the left. Head uphill until you reach the parking lot on the right, 1.5 miles. There are some shortcuts here, you will get where you need as long as you head uphill. Take either of the dirt roads at the back of the parking lot and stay to the right. This is the trail to Hubbards Cave. This is a dirt 4-wheel drive road and is maintained by the local 4 wheel drive club, garbage pick-up? The road will be up and down but basically still going uphill until you hit the gate at the top of the hill. Head downhill and take the left as soon as the road starts back up hill. (If you go straight you will go to hubbards Cave.) The trail now is and old road that is grown over and trees have fallen over, there are some forks to the left but stay on the main road. You will come to a big Grove of Aspen trees with a spring to your right, look for the watercress. After this, within 200 yards look for thesingletrack taking off up and to the left. Voila, Just stay on the single track. When you break out above Glenwood Springs you will intersect Scout Trail, downhill will take you to town and the top of 8th street. Technical downhill. This is a popular trail for hikers and bikers and dogs. Please be alert and let hikers know you are coming.Photo Tour

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The Status of this trail system is pending the sale of this Ranch.

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Lookout Mountain is a road to the top of the mounatin to the east of Glenwood Springs. This was built to erect a tower at the top of the mountain. For a biker this will be an 8 mile up hill from town on a maintained gravel and then dirt road. At the top of the maountain you can link to Scout Trail, a 4 mile single track descent. At the top of the mountain you will look south past Sopris, Daly and see the Big Burn at Snowmass. Go south out of Glenwood and turn left on County Road 115, Red Canyon. This will be a dirt raod that turns to chip and seal further up. You can access this by riding south on the River Bike Trail and then following old Highway 82. When the road flattens out on Spring Valley, stay to the left and then take County Road 120 to the left. Head uphill until you reach the tower around the front of the mounatin where the road ends. Look for the picnic table and trail head on the left. The top part of Scout Trail can be rutted, be careful. Hikers use this trail so let them know you are coming. This is a popular area for students and their trucks, but not much four wheeling really. Pack your trash out. Paragliders use this area for staging.

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The Transfer Trail leads to the hills to the North of Glenwood Springs and will take you up to the Flattops.. It begins from Travers Road, off Rt. 6 between Glenwood Springs and West Glenwood. Go west under the tram and take a right, a quarter mile up you will see a road to the right with the trail head sign. The first part of this is a maintained gravel road used heavily by the Glenwood Caverns and quarry trucks. At the first saddle where you can look into No Name the road turns into a rocky four wheel drive road heading North. This raod will be a long solid uphill. 9 miles will get you to Windy Point. Those who make it will catch one of the best views in Colorado looking into the No Name Drainage. At this point the road flattens out all the way across the Flattops.At various places along the way you can get views south to downtown GS, west to West Glenwood, and east to No Name. This is a popular four wheel drive road as some place can be a little technical. There are some forks but they all lead to the same place as long as you head up. Another good view is the Oasis Creek Overlook on the drainage to the west. Going down this road from Windy Point will offer the biker to have the funnest downhill in the state. There are many rollers on straight, downhill, smooth dirt that one catch good air. Avoid this road when it is raining, it is steep and slick.

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This is also called the Jeanne Golay trail in honor of Glenwoods' Olympic Cyclist. This is 3 miles all gradual uphill, maintained dirt road ending at the cross. This is the hill where Glenwoods first ski area was located and you are basically going up the old service road. Then when they decided they needed more snow they moved it higher on the mountain, before creating Sunlight Ski area. You can still see the remnants of the old ski lift. The switchbacks offer beautiful views of Glenwood Springs and the Raoring Fork Valley. For good riders you can follow the single track down the ridge of the mountain. Look for the signs. This is a tight single track and is difficult to clean it. Red Mountain is popular with hikers and dogs. To cet here cross the Roaring Fork on 8th Street Bridge and turn right at the light. Then take your first left and then veer to the right uphill at the next right and go around the gate. A lot of early summer bear encounters and minor car traffic as Adventure Paragliding Uses this as their base.

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Taking this route from top down is an enjoyable down hill cruise with some short uphill sections and some outstanding views of the area. It is mostly in lodgepole pine forest and has some meadows. Bikers yeild to hikers, hikers yeild to horses.Keep your speed down and ride safely. As this is important Elk habitat do not ride before June 21st annually to avoid disturbing calving elk. The trail will make a great mountain bike trail loop for either direction. There is no water available along the trail so plan accordingly.

Directions from Carbondale: Take Hwy. 82 five miles north of Carbondale to Cattle Creek and follow signs stating Cottonwood Pass. 1/2 mile past summit of Cottonwood Pass turn right on Red Table Road 514. In about 10 miles turn right on to road with sign saying: "Locked Gate 6 mi." Parking lot is 200 feet ahead. This secondary road beyond parking lot is 4WD only. Follow arrowed carsonite posts for 2.7 miles to start of single track trail.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Late June through September (NOTE: This trail should not be ridden prior to June 21st annually to avoid disturbing calving elk.) .

Continue reading "Red Table Trail" »

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This trail offers a pleasant and scenic hike or bike ride, only a few minutes from Glenwood Springs. The trail follows Beaver Creek out of 4-mile Park, climbs a ridge and drops into the Yank Creek drainage. Using the gas pipeline, this can be made into a loop trail for bicycles. It is recommended that you do the route using the pipeline to access Yank Creek. Due to some very steep grades, it would be very difficult to attempt to climb from Yank Creek up the pipeline to road #300. It is best to park your vehicle at the 4-mile trailhead, ride the road to the pipeline, take the pipeline to Yank Creek and return to 4-mile via the Beaver Creek trail.

Directions from Glenwood Springs: From Glenwood Springs, travel on County road #117 approximately 11 miles. Before you reach Sunlight Ski Area, follow the gravel road #300 to the right for 4 miles until you reach 4-mile park. Continue on road #300 to the south end of the park. Just before reaching the timber you will notice a bulletin board on the left side of the road. This bulletin board is the trailhead for the Beaver Creek Trail. This trail can also be accessed via the natural gas pipeline located 5 miles beyond 4-mile park on road #300. The pipeline is closed to motor vehicle travel (including ATV), but is open to foot, horse and bicycles.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: June through September (NOTE: Snow may obstruct the trail at high elevations.) .

Continue reading "Beaver Creek Trail (Sopris Ranger District)" »

Posted by Brett at 02:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Boy Scout Trail is a challenging singletrack downhill and an aggresive short uphill for mountain bikers. This trail switchbacks up and on the rim of Glenwood Canyon. The first half of Scout Trail is 2 miles and will end where Bear Creek Trail comes in. At this point there is another 2 miles that will take you to the top of Lookout Mountain or down. The Top of the tram looks down and accross on Scout Trail. With the sidehills that this trail crosses, it will take some nerve on the downhill. There are places that look over Glenwood Canyon and if you think there is a drop off, there probably is. Some people ride up but this is used more as a downhill from the popular Lookout mountain Rides and Bear Creek-Forest Hollow. This is a popular hiking trail so be aware and let hikers know you are coming and watch for dogs. The view of Glenwood is dramatic as you will look over the Hotel Colorado and the Hot Springs Pool. Start/Finish is at the top of 8th street on the north side.

Highlights: A hair-raising singletrack descent with great views to the city and Glenwood Canyon.

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