Select Road: Cottonwood Pass
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If you enjoy challenging rides with spectacular scenery, you will love this one. With more than four thousand feet of climbing, excellent pavement, and little auto traffic, this is one of the best high pass rides in Colorado.
The first five miles west from Buena Vista are gently graded and provide the perfect warm-up. Once you pass Cottonwood Hot Springs, however, the pitch increases as you fall into a steady grind to the summit of Cottonwood Pass (12,126’). You’ll get a few level/recovery sections on the way, but two mile-long steeps, where the grade exceeds ten percent, will send your heart rate skyward. The return trip is very fast and the wind will whistle through your helmet as you whip through the half-dozen hairpin turns along the route.
The first five miles west from Buena Vista are gently graded and provide the perfect warm-up. Once you pass Cottonwood Hot Springs, however, the pitch increases as you fall into a steady grind to the summit of Cottonwood Pass (12,126’). You’ll get a few level/recovery sections on the way, but two mile-long steeps, where the grade exceeds ten percent, will send your heart rate skyward. The return trip is very fast and the wind will whistle through your helmet as you whip through the half-dozen hairpin turns along the route.
Ride length: 38.6 miles (round-trip)
Ride type: out-and-back
Riding time: 4-5 hours
Elevations: start/end 7,950’; max 12,126’; min 7,950’
Total climbing: gain/loss 4,310’
Aerobic level: strenuous
Season: June through October
Directions: This ride starts at the traffic light at the intersection of N. US HWY 24 (CR 306) and Main Street in Buena Vista.
Ride type: out-and-back
Riding time: 4-5 hours
Elevations: start/end 7,950’; max 12,126’; min 7,950’
Total climbing: gain/loss 4,310’
Aerobic level: strenuous
Season: June through October
Directions: This ride starts at the traffic light at the intersection of N. US HWY 24 (CR 306) and Main Street in Buena Vista.
The Ride:
-0.0 - Ride west on W. Main St. (CR 306) from the intersection of N. US HWY 24. The entire ride is on CR 306.
-5.4 - Pass Cottonwood Hot Springs (8,550’) on the right.
-7.9 - Rainbow Lake (9,230’) is on your left.
-9.1 - Pass the Avalanche Gulch Trailhead (9,380’).
-11.0 - The entrance to the Collegiate Peaks Campground (9,800’) is on the left.
-12.0 - The grade increases for about a mile as you pass the Denny Creek Trailhead (9,925’).
-12.9 - The grade relaxes as you pass the Holy Water Beaver Ponds (10,280’).
-13.8 - Pass the intersection with CR 346 (10,480’).
-14.4 - The Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead (10,700’) is on your left.
-14.8 - Enter the first switchback (10,820’).
-15.2 - Pass CR 348 (10,930’) on the left.
-16.3 - Pass CR 349 (11,250’) on the right.
-19.3 - Cottonwood Pass summit (12,126’). Turn around and fly back the way you grunted to the top.
-5.4 - Pass Cottonwood Hot Springs (8,550’) on the right.
-7.9 - Rainbow Lake (9,230’) is on your left.
-9.1 - Pass the Avalanche Gulch Trailhead (9,380’).
-11.0 - The entrance to the Collegiate Peaks Campground (9,800’) is on the left.
-12.0 - The grade increases for about a mile as you pass the Denny Creek Trailhead (9,925’).
-12.9 - The grade relaxes as you pass the Holy Water Beaver Ponds (10,280’).
-13.8 - Pass the intersection with CR 346 (10,480’).
-14.4 - The Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead (10,700’) is on your left.
-14.8 - Enter the first switchback (10,820’).
-15.2 - Pass CR 348 (10,930’) on the left.
-16.3 - Pass CR 349 (11,250’) on the right.
-19.3 - Cottonwood Pass summit (12,126’). Turn around and fly back the way you grunted to the top.