Mountain bike paradise around Salida in Colorado
Mountain Biking Collection by Diana Grodnick
8
Tours
31:00 h
198 mi
22,725 ft
If you’re looking for mountain bike adventures with a difference, then Salida in the US state of Colorado is the place for you. The area around this small town is home to lots of impressive 4,000-metre (13,100 ft) peaks and a ton of amazing singletrack.
In this Collection, I show you my eight favourite Tours in this enchanting mountain region. The Monarch Crest Trail, the signature ride par excellence, is of course also included. But you'll see that Salida has a lot more to offer.
The Arkansas Hills trail system near Salida downtown is the perfect playground for mountain bikers. S-Mountain, a local favourite, is criss-crossed by an incredible number of narrow trails. And the nice thing is, these trails are snow-free early in the year. The same applies to the single tracks in the neighbouring Buena Vista, where the technically challenging Vitamin-B Trail is hiding. This single trail is a true masterpiece and a must for all those who love tricky challenges on two wheels.
The remaining laps in this Collection are only rideable in high summer, when the last snow has melted. Located at dizzying heights, these trails boast cooler temperatures than lower ground, as well as impressive views of the Rocky Mountains. But beware: don’t underestimate the altitude! Both the Monarch Crest Trail and the AgateCreek loop take you and your bike up to 3,650 metres (12,000 ft). At 3,800 metres (12,500 ft), the Canyon Creek loop is the highest in this Collection. Because of the altitude, the routes are technically demanding; they’re no walk in the park. With advanced riding skills and a very good level of fitness, you’ll be able to enjoy these high alpine mountain bike experiences to the fullest.
The town itself is also charming. Salida has just 6,000 residents. Unlike many other mountain bike destinations, Salida isn’t a ski resort: there are no ski lifts, no ski slopes. Accommodation is limited directly to the town centre so it’s best to book early. If you like to camp, I recommend the campsite at O’Haver Lake; it’s beautifully located just outside of the town. If you can do without amenities at a campsite, you can also use the free ‘wild campsites’ in the area that don’t have any comforts.
Whether you choose to camp in the open air or not, you will realise after the first Tour that Salida is a real mountain bike paradise. So take your time and stay a little longer to discover as many of these fantastic routes as possible.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Expert04:3235.2 mi7.8 mph2,250 ft6,125 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
If you take this trail under your cleats, an excellent full day trip awaits you at dizzying heights. Because the tour starts at Monarch Pass at over 3,400 meters and combines three outstanding paths:
1️⃣ Monarch Crest Trail
2️⃣ Silver Creek Trail
3️⃣ Rainbow Trail
Look forward to a real trail firework and…
- Expert05:4335.7 mi6.3 mph4,575 ft4,550 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
One thing is for sure: nobody has dry feet after this round and if you don't like wet feet, then better stay away from this route.
The Agate Creek Trail is a fast, flowing downhill peppered with technically demanding passages, which is also popular with motocross riders. And he crosses the Agate Creek…
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- Intermediate03:4422.3 mi6.0 mph2,750 ft2,750 ftIntermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
The starting point of this loop is the beautifully situated O'Haver Lake, which has a lovely campground on the shore. It is one of the most beautiful places in the area and because this is no longer an insider tip, I recommend that you – if you want to stay overnight here – reserve your pitch early at…
- Expert03:3319.2 mi5.4 mph3,425 ft3,425 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This round takes you to a summit at 3,800 meters and rewards you with a fantastic panorama and an incredibly long single trail descent. But getting there is no picnic. The long climb on the Tomichi Pass Road is tough. While this gravel road is wide and unspectacular at first glance, it gradually becomes…
- Expert01:055.88 mi5.4 mph1,025 ft1,025 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This round is not for the faint of heart. It combines some of the most technically demanding MTB trails in the Arkansas Hills Trail System and is only suitable for mountain bikers with excellent skills.
You start in downtown Salida in a parking lot right next to the Arkansas River. Via the Frontside…
- Expert04:0223.8 mi5.9 mph2,525 ft2,525 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The Cottonwood Loop begins in downtown Salida. You crank up the Arkansas Hills Trails System turn by turn until you reach Road 175. There it goes almost ten kilometers further uphill in the blazing sun. You only benefit from the shade of the pine forests when you reach the trailhead on the right-hand…
- Expert05:4140.2 mi7.1 mph4,225 ft4,225 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Nearby Salida is one of the most important MTB bikepacking routes in all of North America - the Colorado Trail. It runs a total of 860 kilometers from Denver to Durango over high alpine single tracks.
If you've always wanted to test sections of the Colorado Trail, then this loop is perfect for you. You…
- Intermediate02:3916.0 mi6.0 mph1,950 ft1,950 ftIntermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Wow, this trail is a dream come true for mountain bikers who like to break their teeth on tricky obstacles.
The Vitamin B Trail has a bit of everything: Playful passages at walking pace and rapid sections alternate constantly. In between, long slabs of rock and a lot of driving challenges provide an extra…
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Collection Stats
- Tours8
- Distance198 mi
- Duration31:00 h
- Elevation22,725 ft
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