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Buena Vista: Ride 29 - Trout Creek Pass to Buena Vista

For complete route information, see Arkansas Valley Mountain Biking: Leadville to Salida (Including South Park)

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This ride, connecting Trout Creek Pass to Buena Vista, is easier than the Midland Bike Trail and provides an excellent dirt alternative for touring off-road cyclists. With a little ingenuity, this route can be easily connected to routes extending north to Fairplay or south to Salida. It’s also a fun and easy ride on its own. The climb is gentle, and once you crest the ridge separating Chubb Park and the Fourmile Recreation Area, the expansive views of the Collegiate Peaks and Arkansas Valley are agnificent. The descent is fast and smooth, with just the right amount of ruts and steeps to keep it interesting. The route also passes through dense stands of aspen and mid-
September is a perfect time to ride it.

Ride length: 15.8 miles
Ride type: one-way with shuttle
Riding time: 1.5-2 hours
Surface: dirt/jeep road (13.3 miles); paved road (2.5 miles)
Elevations: start 9,480’; end 7,960’; max 9,840’; min 7,960’
Total climbing: gain 730’ – loss 2,300’ = total -1,570’
Aerobic level: easy (some climbing and a few short steeps)
Technical level: 3 (some ruts, steeps, and a sandy section)

Season: April into November

USGS Quadrangles: Antero Reservoir, Marmot Peak, Harvard Lakes, Buena Vista East, Buena Vista West