Poncha Springs: Washout Road Loop
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This route is a more technical but less strenuous and shorter alternative to the Droney Gulch Loop. Both rides overlap a great deal, but this route descends along a steeper jeep track that crosses several gnarly washed-out sections of the road.
The route does have a little too much Exercycle-style pavement spinning, and riding on US 285 is a bit unpleasant despite the wide shoulder, but your time on the dirt compensates you for the dues you pay. The main section of the downhill is fast and you'll need to watch for deep ruts that cross the road as you bomb the downhill.
The route does have a little too much Exercycle-style pavement spinning, and riding on US 285 is a bit unpleasant despite the wide shoulder, but your time on the dirt compensates you for the dues you pay. The main section of the downhill is fast and you'll need to watch for deep ruts that cross the road as you bomb the downhill.
USGS Quadrangles:
Salida West, Maysville
Ride length: 14.4 miles
Ride type: lollipop-loop
Riding time: 2-3 hours
Surface: paved road (8.3 miles); dirt/jeep roads (6.1 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,480'; max 8,490'; min 7,290'
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,435'
Aerobic level: moderate (climbing)
Technical level: 3 (fast sections on a washed-out jeep track; one particularly gnarly rut)
Season: April through October
Getting there: from the intersection of US 50 and US 285 (5 miles west of Salida on US 50), turn left on US 285 and drive about 0.1 miles south. Park in the open island on the left, just north of the High Valley Center in Poncha Springs. Additional parking may be found at Chipeta Park, one block east of US 50 on La Plata in Poncha Springs (look for a sign).
Ride type: lollipop-loop
Riding time: 2-3 hours
Surface: paved road (8.3 miles); dirt/jeep roads (6.1 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,480'; max 8,490'; min 7,290'
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,435'
Aerobic level: moderate (climbing)
Technical level: 3 (fast sections on a washed-out jeep track; one particularly gnarly rut)
Season: April through October
Getting there: from the intersection of US 50 and US 285 (5 miles west of Salida on US 50), turn left on US 285 and drive about 0.1 miles south. Park in the open island on the left, just north of the High Valley Center in Poncha Springs. Additional parking may be found at Chipeta Park, one block east of US 50 on La Plata in Poncha Springs (look for a sign).
The Ride:
-0.0 - From your car, turn right (north) on US 285 and start riding on the wide shoulder.
-0.1 - Continue riding north on US 285 after carefully crossing US 50.
-0.3 - Continue riding north on US 285 after crossing the intersection with CR 120.
-0.5 - Turn right on US 285 north and continue riding on the wide shoulder.
-1.6 - Turn left (west) on CR 140. Be careful crossing the highway, especially on busy weekends.
-3.4 - Turn right (north) on CR 250.
-4.0 - Continue riding on CR 250 as you pass the intersection with Eagle Meadows Trail on the right.
-4.2 - Continue riding uphill on CR 250 as you pass the intersection with Bald Eagle Lane on your right. The road turns to dirt a few yards past this intersection.
-4.6 - Cross a cattle guard and enter the Shavano Wildlife Management Area.
-4.9 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked road on your right.
-5.0 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked double-track on your right.
-5.2 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.3 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.4 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.5 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left.
-5.6 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.7 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left.
-5.7+ - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-6.0 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left and right. This is starting to feel like I'm repeating myself.
-6.1 - Turn right on TR 5630 (Washout Road).
-6.1+ - Continue straight on TR 5630 as you pass a spur on the left.
-7.1 - Continue on straight on TR 5630 as you pass a spur on your left after you cross a washout.
-8.1 - WATCH YOUR SPEED AS YOU APPROACH A DEEP, PERPENDICULAR RUT IN THE ROAD. If you cross this at speed, you'll have two choices: hop it or hit it. If you hit it, a not-too-sweet face plant is a likely result.
-9.4 - Turn left and leave the bottom of the wash. The road surface improves as you climb.
-9.5 - Bear right and climb east toward Salida. Pass a spur on your left.
-9.6 - Stay on the main road as you pass a spur on your left.
-10.0 - Stay on the main road as you pass a spur on your left.
-10.2 - Continue straight on the main road as you pass a spur on your right.
-10.3 - Turn right (south) on US 285 and spin back to Poncha Springs.
-12.5 - Cross the intersection with CR 140 to close the loop.
-13.6 - Carefully cross US 50 as you make your way back to Poncha Springs.
-14.4 - Arrive back at your car. The end of the ride is yours.
-0.1 - Continue riding north on US 285 after carefully crossing US 50.
-0.3 - Continue riding north on US 285 after crossing the intersection with CR 120.
-0.5 - Turn right on US 285 north and continue riding on the wide shoulder.
-1.6 - Turn left (west) on CR 140. Be careful crossing the highway, especially on busy weekends.
-3.4 - Turn right (north) on CR 250.
-4.0 - Continue riding on CR 250 as you pass the intersection with Eagle Meadows Trail on the right.
-4.2 - Continue riding uphill on CR 250 as you pass the intersection with Bald Eagle Lane on your right. The road turns to dirt a few yards past this intersection.
-4.6 - Cross a cattle guard and enter the Shavano Wildlife Management Area.
-4.9 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked road on your right.
-5.0 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked double-track on your right.
-5.2 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.3 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.4 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.5 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left.
-5.6 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-5.7 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left.
-5.7+ - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your right.
-6.0 - Continue straight on CR 250 as you pass an unmarked spur on your left and right. This is starting to feel like I'm repeating myself.
-6.1 - Turn right on TR 5630 (Washout Road).
-6.1+ - Continue straight on TR 5630 as you pass a spur on the left.
-7.1 - Continue on straight on TR 5630 as you pass a spur on your left after you cross a washout.
-8.1 - WATCH YOUR SPEED AS YOU APPROACH A DEEP, PERPENDICULAR RUT IN THE ROAD. If you cross this at speed, you'll have two choices: hop it or hit it. If you hit it, a not-too-sweet face plant is a likely result.
-9.4 - Turn left and leave the bottom of the wash. The road surface improves as you climb.
-9.5 - Bear right and climb east toward Salida. Pass a spur on your left.
-9.6 - Stay on the main road as you pass a spur on your left.
-10.0 - Stay on the main road as you pass a spur on your left.
-10.2 - Continue straight on the main road as you pass a spur on your right.
-10.3 - Turn right (south) on US 285 and spin back to Poncha Springs.
-12.5 - Cross the intersection with CR 140 to close the loop.
-13.6 - Carefully cross US 50 as you make your way back to Poncha Springs.
-14.4 - Arrive back at your car. The end of the ride is yours.
Topo with elevation profile:
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