St. Kevin's-Turquoise Lake Loop
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The single-track of the Turquoise Lake Trail is one of the most popular rides in the Leadville area. The grade is easy and the majority of the single-track is a smooth spin along the north shore of the lake. Visitors to the area will be tempted to take it easy, stopping to behold the outstanding views of Mount Elbert (14,433’) and Mount Massive (14,421’), Colorado’s two highest peaks. Locals, on the other hand, will hammer their way through the rock gardens.
This route incorporates the climb through St. Kevin’s Gulch, the first climb of the Leadville Trail 100 bike race. As you sweat and grind up this grade, bear in mind
that this is probably the easiest of the major climbs of the course.
This route incorporates the climb through St. Kevin’s Gulch, the first climb of the Leadville Trail 100 bike race. As you sweat and grind up this grade, bear in mind
that this is probably the easiest of the major climbs of the course.
USGS Quadrangles:
Leadville North, Homestake Reservoir
Ride length: 18.6 miles
Ride type: loop (counter-clockwise)
Riding time: 2-3 hours
Surface: jeep road (7.0 miles); paved road (6.1 miles); single-track (5.5 miles)
Elevations: start/end 9,790’; max 10,820’; min 9,770’
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,590’
Aerobic level: moderate (climbing)
Technical level: 3 (some rock gardens on level terrain are more difficult, but the escape is easy)
Season: June through September
Getting there: from the stoplight at 6th St. and Harrison Ave. (US 24) in downtown Leadville, drive 0.8 miles north on US 24 to the traffic light at Mountainview Dr. (at the Safeway). Turn left and drive 2.7 miles west on Mountainview Dr. Turn right at the intersection with CR 9 and continue for roughly 0.5 miles to the large parking area on your right. The ride starts at the southern edge of the parking lot.
Ride type: loop (counter-clockwise)
Riding time: 2-3 hours
Surface: jeep road (7.0 miles); paved road (6.1 miles); single-track (5.5 miles)
Elevations: start/end 9,790’; max 10,820’; min 9,770’
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,590’
Aerobic level: moderate (climbing)
Technical level: 3 (some rock gardens on level terrain are more difficult, but the escape is easy)
Season: June through September
Getting there: from the stoplight at 6th St. and Harrison Ave. (US 24) in downtown Leadville, drive 0.8 miles north on US 24 to the traffic light at Mountainview Dr. (at the Safeway). Turn left and drive 2.7 miles west on Mountainview Dr. Turn right at the intersection with CR 9 and continue for roughly 0.5 miles to the large parking area on your right. The ride starts at the southern edge of the parking lot.
The Ride:
-0.0 Ride out of the south entrance of the parking area, past the pit toilets. Cross the road and train tracks and ride west on CR 9.
-0.2 Turn right onto CR 9A.
-1.0 Stay on the main road past intersections with some jeep spurs.
-1.9 Pass through a gate and over a cattle guard. Stay on the road through all private property.
-2.8 Cross another cattle guard and start the climb.
-3.0 Bear left at the fork to climb on FSR 103.
-3.1 Pass an old mine site on the right.
-3.5 Bear left at the fork and continue climbing.
-4.1 Take a hard left at the switchback.
-4.6 Stay left at the fork. Orange tree blazes help guide you through here.
-4.9 Continue on the main road as you pass several campsites.
-5.2 Approach a “T” intersection where FSR 103 meets FSR 107. Look 45 degrees right for the gate just beyond FSR 107. Ride around the gate and continue on a double-track.
-7.0 Pass through a gate as the road widens. Continue to the intersection with paved CR 9 then turn right. Descend on CR 9 until you reach the May
Queen Campground in 2.9 miles.
-9.9 Turn left into the May Queen Campground.
-10.4 Bear left at the pay station fork. Pit toilets are on the left if you need them. It’s also possible to refill water bottles at the spigot.
-10.5 Pass another water spigot on the left.
-10.6 Last call for pit toilets. Enter the small loop and proceed to the Turquoise Lake Trail entrance. The single-track starts here. Finally!
-14.2 Cross the paved boat ramp and continue riding the trail. Stay on the Turquoise Lake Trail as it skirts the lake. You will soon pass the Baby Doe and Father Dyer Campgrounds, and many access points to the lake.
-15.4 Stay right at the fork then enter a large, paved parking area. Cross the parking area and boat launch then continue skirting the lake on the right fork of the single-track.
-15.6 Continue past the Molly Brown Campground on your left. Stay on the trail.
-16.0 Bear right at the fork and continue on the single-track as you approach the dam.
-16.1 Arrive at the dam and CR 4. Turn left onto CR 4.
-16.2 Turn left onto CR 9C. Climb.
-16.5 Continue straight past the entrance to the Silver Dollar Campground and Matchless Boat Launch.
-17.7 Bear right past the access road to the Molly Brown Campground and the Turquoise Lake Nature Trail.
-18.1 Turn right at the intersection with CR 9. (CR 9C continues straight to the Baby Doe Campground.)
-18.5 Pass CR 9A on your left. Cross the tracks and the road. Find your car and get a burger and brew in Leadville.
Options: want a shorter, less taxing ride that skips all the roads? Park at the dam and ride the single-track as an out-and-back. Dread the climb through St. Kevin’s Gulch? Park at the dam on CR 4 and ride the pavement around the lake to the May Queen Campground (mile 9.9). You can ride to the trailhead on either the north or south sides of the lake. This option cuts the total climbing by about half. Finally, stay at one of the Forest Service campgrounds and start your ride from there.
-0.2 Turn right onto CR 9A.
-1.0 Stay on the main road past intersections with some jeep spurs.
-1.9 Pass through a gate and over a cattle guard. Stay on the road through all private property.
-2.8 Cross another cattle guard and start the climb.
-3.0 Bear left at the fork to climb on FSR 103.
-3.1 Pass an old mine site on the right.
-3.5 Bear left at the fork and continue climbing.
-4.1 Take a hard left at the switchback.
-4.6 Stay left at the fork. Orange tree blazes help guide you through here.
-4.9 Continue on the main road as you pass several campsites.
-5.2 Approach a “T” intersection where FSR 103 meets FSR 107. Look 45 degrees right for the gate just beyond FSR 107. Ride around the gate and continue on a double-track.
-7.0 Pass through a gate as the road widens. Continue to the intersection with paved CR 9 then turn right. Descend on CR 9 until you reach the May
Queen Campground in 2.9 miles.
-9.9 Turn left into the May Queen Campground.
-10.4 Bear left at the pay station fork. Pit toilets are on the left if you need them. It’s also possible to refill water bottles at the spigot.
-10.5 Pass another water spigot on the left.
-10.6 Last call for pit toilets. Enter the small loop and proceed to the Turquoise Lake Trail entrance. The single-track starts here. Finally!
-14.2 Cross the paved boat ramp and continue riding the trail. Stay on the Turquoise Lake Trail as it skirts the lake. You will soon pass the Baby Doe and Father Dyer Campgrounds, and many access points to the lake.
-15.4 Stay right at the fork then enter a large, paved parking area. Cross the parking area and boat launch then continue skirting the lake on the right fork of the single-track.
-15.6 Continue past the Molly Brown Campground on your left. Stay on the trail.
-16.0 Bear right at the fork and continue on the single-track as you approach the dam.
-16.1 Arrive at the dam and CR 4. Turn left onto CR 4.
-16.2 Turn left onto CR 9C. Climb.
-16.5 Continue straight past the entrance to the Silver Dollar Campground and Matchless Boat Launch.
-17.7 Bear right past the access road to the Molly Brown Campground and the Turquoise Lake Nature Trail.
-18.1 Turn right at the intersection with CR 9. (CR 9C continues straight to the Baby Doe Campground.)
-18.5 Pass CR 9A on your left. Cross the tracks and the road. Find your car and get a burger and brew in Leadville.
Options: want a shorter, less taxing ride that skips all the roads? Park at the dam and ride the single-track as an out-and-back. Dread the climb through St. Kevin’s Gulch? Park at the dam on CR 4 and ride the pavement around the lake to the May Queen Campground (mile 9.9). You can ride to the trailhead on either the north or south sides of the lake. This option cuts the total climbing by about half. Finally, stay at one of the Forest Service campgrounds and start your ride from there.
Topo with elevation profile:
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