Monarch Crest: Ride 45 - descending S. Fooses Creek

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

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This is an excellent ride combining tasty portions of two area classics: the Monarch Crest section of the Continental Divide Trail and the South Fooses section of the Colorado Trail. The descent on the South Fooses Trail starts with a hairy, technical drop from the Divide. You’ll want to break out the camera and capture it forever. Clean that section and you’ll have something to brag about when you get home. The rest of the ride is a classic romp over some amazing single-track. As miles fly
under your wheels, you will remember why you started mountain biking all those years ago.

Ride length: 13.3 miles
Ride type: one-way with shuttle
Riding time: 2 hours
Surface: jeep road (4.0 miles); singletrack (9.3 miles)
Elevations: start 11,300’; end 8,870’; max 11,960’; min 8,800’
Total climbing: gain 715’ – loss 3,180’ = total -2,465’
Aerobic level: moderate (easy climbing, but altitude might make it feel tough)
Technical level: 4 (one hairy steep, some rocks/roots)

Season: July through October

USGS Quadrangles: Pahlone Peak, Garfield, Maysville