Buena Vista: Ride 19 - Bald Mountain Gulch Loop
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Difficult yet fun. That’s about all I can say about this one. The initial uphill grind is mild, but you may want to take it easy so that you have something left when the soup gets thick. Once you hit the jeep track, get ready for some really fun, technical terrain; some of the descents are steep with deep erosion ruts. Finish with a little climbing back to your vehicle on FSR 300. Route finding gets a little tricky as you approach FSR 300 (between miles 7.0 and 9.2). In addition, this is a popular motor sports area, so watch for motorized traffic on the route.
Ride length: 14.0 miles
Ride type: loop (clockwise)
Riding time: 2.5 hours
Surface: dirt road (5.3 miles); jeep trail (8.7 miles)
Elevations: start/end 8,930’; max 9,610’; min 8,775’
Total climbing: gain/loss 2,130’
Aerobic level: strenuous (climbing with some steeps)
Technical level: 4 (some of the descents on FSR 185D are steep and rutted)
Season: May into November
USGS Quadrangles: Castle Rock Gulch, Buena Vista East
Ride type: loop (clockwise)
Riding time: 2.5 hours
Surface: dirt road (5.3 miles); jeep trail (8.7 miles)
Elevations: start/end 8,930’; max 9,610’; min 8,775’
Total climbing: gain/loss 2,130’
Aerobic level: strenuous (climbing with some steeps)
Technical level: 4 (some of the descents on FSR 185D are steep and rutted)
Season: May into November
USGS Quadrangles: Castle Rock Gulch, Buena Vista East