Nathrop: Browns Creek Loop
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You will enjoy this ride more if you accept up front that the first 1.5 miles essentially stink. In a nutshell, you will most likely push the bike more than half of the climb from the trailhead to the highpoint of the route. In fact, the start is so brutal that I almost threw in the towel and called my effort to find a decent loop in the Raspberry Gulch area a failure.
What changed my mind, however, is that the remainder of the ride is superb. The single-track is excellent and well worth the miserable thirty minutes it took me to get to it. Once on the Colorado Trail, the line is fast and smooth as it rolls into Raspberry Gulch.
Bottom line: is this ride for everyone? No. Was it worth it? In the end, yes.
What changed my mind, however, is that the remainder of the ride is superb. The single-track is excellent and well worth the miserable thirty minutes it took me to get to it. Once on the Colorado Trail, the line is fast and smooth as it rolls into Raspberry Gulch.
Bottom line: is this ride for everyone? No. Was it worth it? In the end, yes.
USGS Quadrangles:
Mt. Antero
Ride length: 9.3 miles
Ride type: loop
Riding time: 2 hours
Surface: single-track (0.9 miles); jeep/dirt road ( miles)
Elevations: start/end 8,900'; max 9,660'; min 8,480'
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,285'
Aerobic level: moderate (except for the long hike-a-bike at the start)
Technical level: 4 (a couple short, tricky sections)
Season: July through October
Getting there: from the junction of US 24/285 (2.4 miles south of Buena Vista), drive 8.9 miles south on US 285 to the intersection with CR 270. Turn right on CR 270 and drive 1.6 miles west to the intersection with CR 272. Continue straight on CR 272 (dirt) and drive 2.0 miles west to the intersection with FSR 272 and FSR 274. Turn left on FSR 272 and drive 1.6 miles to the Browns Creek trailhead. The ride starts at the trailhead. There are pit toilets at the trailhead.
Ride type: loop
Riding time: 2 hours
Surface: single-track (0.9 miles); jeep/dirt road ( miles)
Elevations: start/end 8,900'; max 9,660'; min 8,480'
Total climbing: gain/loss 1,285'
Aerobic level: moderate (except for the long hike-a-bike at the start)
Technical level: 4 (a couple short, tricky sections)
Season: July through October
Getting there: from the junction of US 24/285 (2.4 miles south of Buena Vista), drive 8.9 miles south on US 285 to the intersection with CR 270. Turn right on CR 270 and drive 1.6 miles west to the intersection with CR 272. Continue straight on CR 272 (dirt) and drive 2.0 miles west to the intersection with FSR 272 and FSR 274. Turn left on FSR 272 and drive 1.6 miles to the Browns Creek trailhead. The ride starts at the trailhead. There are pit toilets at the trailhead.
The Ride:
-0.0 - Start climbing on the Browns Creek trail from the trailhead. The trail will quickly deteriorate, forcing you to dismount and push the bike through steep, sandy, and rocky terrain. Ride when you can.
-0.2 - Cross through a gate. Be sure to close it behind you.
-1.3 - Intersect the Colorado Trail and turn sharply right to continue climbing.
-1.6 - Turn right to continue along the Colorado Trail. The Little Browns Creek trail intersects on the left.
-3.0 - Continue riding straight on the single-track as you intersect an unmarked double-track. I told you the ride would get better.
-3.6 - Cross FSR 273 (unmarked) and continue riding the single-track to ascend a small ridge.
-5.1 - Turn right on FSR 274. Note- for a little more single-track, ride more of the Colorado Trail as an out-and-back spur, turning around before the very steep and technical drop to the Chalk Creek trailhead in approximately 2 miles.
-5.3 - Bear left of FSR 274A to ride a fun section of double-track. Note- for a shorter and easier ride, stay right on FSR 274.
-6.8 - Turn left at the intersection with FSR 274.
-7.3 - Continue straight of FSR 274 as you pass the intersection with FSR 273 on the right.
-7.6 - Turn right on FSR 272 to start the final leg of the return trip to the trailhead.
-9.2 - Arrive at the trailhead and your vehicle. What do you think? Will you ever do this ride again?
Options: continue driving south on FSR 272 to the Wagon Loop trailhead (approximately 0.5 miles) and start the ride from there. You'll get another mile or so of Colorado Trail riding, but the ascent is basically just as ugly as the Browns Creek option.
-0.2 - Cross through a gate. Be sure to close it behind you.
-1.3 - Intersect the Colorado Trail and turn sharply right to continue climbing.
-1.6 - Turn right to continue along the Colorado Trail. The Little Browns Creek trail intersects on the left.
-3.0 - Continue riding straight on the single-track as you intersect an unmarked double-track. I told you the ride would get better.
-3.6 - Cross FSR 273 (unmarked) and continue riding the single-track to ascend a small ridge.
-5.1 - Turn right on FSR 274. Note- for a little more single-track, ride more of the Colorado Trail as an out-and-back spur, turning around before the very steep and technical drop to the Chalk Creek trailhead in approximately 2 miles.
-5.3 - Bear left of FSR 274A to ride a fun section of double-track. Note- for a shorter and easier ride, stay right on FSR 274.
-6.8 - Turn left at the intersection with FSR 274.
-7.3 - Continue straight of FSR 274 as you pass the intersection with FSR 273 on the right.
-7.6 - Turn right on FSR 272 to start the final leg of the return trip to the trailhead.
-9.2 - Arrive at the trailhead and your vehicle. What do you think? Will you ever do this ride again?
Options: continue driving south on FSR 272 to the Wagon Loop trailhead (approximately 0.5 miles) and start the ride from there. You'll get another mile or so of Colorado Trail riding, but the ascent is basically just as ugly as the Browns Creek option.
Topo with elevation profile:
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