Salida: Methodist Mountain to US 285 Loop
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No doubt about it, this is a very difficult ride. First, the climb out of town is unrelenting and only gets tougher as the surface changes from pavement to well-graded dirt to sloppy rocks. Things level off a bit once the single-track starts, but short technical steeps abound. The crux climb, nearly 1,500 grunting feet up a soupy mix of dirt and rocks, will be a very long hike-a-bike for all but the strongest riders.
If you find yourself struggling between miles 8 and 10, rest assured, the downhill is a sweet reward that more than justifies the effort it takes to get there. Think fast, technical, and exhilarating. When you finally drop onto the highway, you'll wish the descent continued for another dozen miles.
If you find yourself struggling between miles 8 and 10, rest assured, the downhill is a sweet reward that more than justifies the effort it takes to get there. Think fast, technical, and exhilarating. When you finally drop onto the highway, you'll wish the descent continued for another dozen miles.
USGS Quadrangles:
Salida East, Poncha Pass, Salida West
Ride length: 23.4 miles
Ride type: loop (clockwise)
Riding time: 3-4 hours
Surface: paved roads (12.9 miles); dirt road/jeep track (1.5 miles); single-track (9.0 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,055'; max 10,320'; min 7,055'
Total climbing: gain/loss 3,900'
Aerobic level: strenuous (lots of climbing on steep, loose terrain)
Technical level: 5 (steep and loose descents; much of the climbing demands good line selection)
Season: May through October
Getting there: this ride starts from the public parking lot adjacent to the Safeway at 3rd and H Sts. in downtown Salida. From the traffic light at 1st (CO 291) and F Sts. in the heart of Salida's historic district, travel 2 blocks southwest on F St. to 3rd St. Turn right at 3rd St. and travel 2 blocks northwest to the public parking lot.
Ride type: loop (clockwise)
Riding time: 3-4 hours
Surface: paved roads (12.9 miles); dirt road/jeep track (1.5 miles); single-track (9.0 miles)
Elevations: start/end 7,055'; max 10,320'; min 7,055'
Total climbing: gain/loss 3,900'
Aerobic level: strenuous (lots of climbing on steep, loose terrain)
Technical level: 5 (steep and loose descents; much of the climbing demands good line selection)
Season: May through October
Getting there: this ride starts from the public parking lot adjacent to the Safeway at 3rd and H Sts. in downtown Salida. From the traffic light at 1st (CO 291) and F Sts. in the heart of Salida's historic district, travel 2 blocks southwest on F St. to 3rd St. Turn right at 3rd St. and travel 2 blocks northwest to the public parking lot.
The Ride:
-0.0 - From the public parking lot adjacent to the Safeway supermarket at 3rd and H Sts., turn left and ride southeast on 3rd St.
-0.3 - Turn right (southwest) on D St. Look for the post office on the corner of 3rd and D St. as a visual marker.
-0.8 - Turn left on New St. This intersection may not be signed, but look for Salida High School. After turning left, ride along the athletic fields as you head toward the traffic light at the intersection of New St. and US 50.
-1.0 - Cross US 50 at the stoplight. CR 107 starts at the south side of this intersection.
-1.6 - Bear left at the fork and ride up the hill toward Methodist Mountain in the distance. Once again, this intersection may not have any signs, but you are now ascending on CR 108. (CR 107 forks right and heads toward the gravel pits.) You will continue climbing on CR/FSR 108 until you intersect the Rainbow Trail (#1336) in approximately 3.0 miles from this point.
-1.7 - Look down at Woodlawn Cemetery on the right as you pedal uphill. This final destination was established in 1889.
-3.1 - Continue straight on CR 108 as you intersect the Power Line road. (This is a popular off-season/winter riding area.)
-3.2 - Bear left as the pavement ends at a fork. (Right is CR 108A while the middle fork is a private drive.)
-3.4 - CR 108 bends left (east) as you pass a driveway on the right.
-3.5 - Continue straight as you enter the San Isabel National Forest. The road (now FSR 108) gets considerably rougher beyond this point.
-3.6 - Stay left at the clearing. Continue climbing on FSR 108.
-4.7 - Turn right on the Rainbow Trail (#1336) single-track. Note- according to the sign, it is 6 miles to US 285, but the actual distance is approximately -9.0 miles. How did that happen?
-6.5 - Cross a small stream at King Gulch and stay left at the fork. (The single-track spur on the right is a steep and illegal shortcut to the new legal easment that leads back to the Power Line Road area.)
-7.9 - Turn left as you intersect a rough jeep trail at Sand Gulch (this illegal jeep trail leads to a new legal easement that returns you to the Power Line Road area). The crux climb of the ride starts here. Not many cyclists can ride this line, so be prepared for some possible hiking. If you can clean it, then go-kat-go!
-8.7 - Turn right at the switchback and continue ascending.
-9.8 - The grade eases as you approach the top. Finally. Get ready for your reward.
-12.0 - A tiny, technical uphill puts a break in the action.
-13.6 - Stop and sign the trail register on your left.
-13.7 - Turn right (north) on US 285 and sail down the wide shoulder.
-19.0 - Pass through the heart of Poncha Springs and continue straight on US 50/285 past the intersection with US 50.
-19.3 - Turn right (east) on CR 120. This is a nice, relatively traffic-free alternative to US 50. Stay on CR 120 through all intersections. CR 120 becomes Poncha Blvd. once you enter Salida city limits.
-23.1 - Pass the Chaffee County Courthouse. Poncha Blvd. will dump you onto 3rd St.
-23.4 - Turn into the public parking lot and find your vehicle. Whew.
-0.3 - Turn right (southwest) on D St. Look for the post office on the corner of 3rd and D St. as a visual marker.
-0.8 - Turn left on New St. This intersection may not be signed, but look for Salida High School. After turning left, ride along the athletic fields as you head toward the traffic light at the intersection of New St. and US 50.
-1.0 - Cross US 50 at the stoplight. CR 107 starts at the south side of this intersection.
-1.6 - Bear left at the fork and ride up the hill toward Methodist Mountain in the distance. Once again, this intersection may not have any signs, but you are now ascending on CR 108. (CR 107 forks right and heads toward the gravel pits.) You will continue climbing on CR/FSR 108 until you intersect the Rainbow Trail (#1336) in approximately 3.0 miles from this point.
-1.7 - Look down at Woodlawn Cemetery on the right as you pedal uphill. This final destination was established in 1889.
-3.1 - Continue straight on CR 108 as you intersect the Power Line road. (This is a popular off-season/winter riding area.)
-3.2 - Bear left as the pavement ends at a fork. (Right is CR 108A while the middle fork is a private drive.)
-3.4 - CR 108 bends left (east) as you pass a driveway on the right.
-3.5 - Continue straight as you enter the San Isabel National Forest. The road (now FSR 108) gets considerably rougher beyond this point.
-3.6 - Stay left at the clearing. Continue climbing on FSR 108.
-4.7 - Turn right on the Rainbow Trail (#1336) single-track. Note- according to the sign, it is 6 miles to US 285, but the actual distance is approximately -9.0 miles. How did that happen?
-6.5 - Cross a small stream at King Gulch and stay left at the fork. (The single-track spur on the right is a steep and illegal shortcut to the new legal easment that leads back to the Power Line Road area.)
-7.9 - Turn left as you intersect a rough jeep trail at Sand Gulch (this illegal jeep trail leads to a new legal easement that returns you to the Power Line Road area). The crux climb of the ride starts here. Not many cyclists can ride this line, so be prepared for some possible hiking. If you can clean it, then go-kat-go!
-8.7 - Turn right at the switchback and continue ascending.
-9.8 - The grade eases as you approach the top. Finally. Get ready for your reward.
-12.0 - A tiny, technical uphill puts a break in the action.
-13.6 - Stop and sign the trail register on your left.
-13.7 - Turn right (north) on US 285 and sail down the wide shoulder.
-19.0 - Pass through the heart of Poncha Springs and continue straight on US 50/285 past the intersection with US 50.
-19.3 - Turn right (east) on CR 120. This is a nice, relatively traffic-free alternative to US 50. Stay on CR 120 through all intersections. CR 120 becomes Poncha Blvd. once you enter Salida city limits.
-23.1 - Pass the Chaffee County Courthouse. Poncha Blvd. will dump you onto 3rd St.
-23.4 - Turn into the public parking lot and find your vehicle. Whew.
Topo with elevation profile:
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