Buena Vista: Ride 25 - Midland Railroad Grade
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Okay. You’ve been to BV many times and you’ve ridden this one before. While easy to overlook, there is a great deal of charm to this route. Admit it: the Whipple Trail is nothing short of awesome and the “diversions” are a whole lot of fun. Nearly everyone loves this trail and it’s a BV staple.
Start with a fun stretch of single-track along the Barbara Whipple Trail. After the climb, you reach spectacular views of Mount Princeton and the southern Arkansas Valley from the old Midland Railroad grade along CR 304. Once you turn east, the trail returns to single-track that slices through narrow stone cuts and drops into diversions that wind down through gullies once spanned by rail trestles.
Start with a fun stretch of single-track along the Barbara Whipple Trail. After the climb, you reach spectacular views of Mount Princeton and the southern Arkansas Valley from the old Midland Railroad grade along CR 304. Once you turn east, the trail returns to single-track that slices through narrow stone cuts and drops into diversions that wind down through gullies once spanned by rail trestles.
Ride length: 14.6 miles
Ride type: out-and-back
Riding time: 2 hours
Surface: single-track (9.8 miles); dirt road (4.8 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,960’; max 8,750’; min 7,960’
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,090’
Aerobic level: easy (the 0.9-mile climb at the start is moderate)
Technical level: 3 (the short technical sections are easily walked)
Season: April through November (year-round when dry)
USGS Quadrangle: Buena Vista East
Ride type: out-and-back
Riding time: 2 hours
Surface: single-track (9.8 miles); dirt road (4.8 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,960’; max 8,750’; min 7,960’
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,090’
Aerobic level: easy (the 0.9-mile climb at the start is moderate)
Technical level: 3 (the short technical sections are easily walked)
Season: April through November (year-round when dry)
USGS Quadrangle: Buena Vista East