As we were driving down from the summit of Monarch Pass, I came to the realization that I’d never ridden a gravel bike in Salida. I had little to no knowledge of any gravel route in the area and after a weekend of hiking around and sipping bourbon at the Lost Wonder Hut, motivation was feeling a little low.
After poking around online for a bit, I found some appealing looking options and pieced together what I thought would be a decent route. I ignored the one-too-many Old Fashioneds swirling around my frontal lobe and downloaded the haphazard route to my phone.
Call it dumb luck, but what we linked up proved to truly one of the best gravel rides I’d ever found, and nothing short of a hidden gem. Sometimes the odds are in your favor, I’ll cheers to that.
Salida Super Loop Stats:
after the initial rollout from town, the tune of this ride changes rather quickly
By the numbers, this thing shouldn’t blow you away. It’s a stout-looking loop on paper but we didn’t think it’d take much more than 3 hours. Our total ride time? Five. Good thing we packed extra snacks.
What started with a tame roll out from town, quickly shifted tunes as we hit the gravel and started the long, rugged climb up CR 175. The view of the Collegiate Peaks was absolutely stunning and we didn’t see another person for over an hour as we kept grinding away. Surely nobody else was dumb enough to be all the way out here. As we climbed up and over 8,000, 9,000, and finally cresting the aptly named Aspen Ridge at 10,000 ft., we realized this ride was something special.
Kate making her way up some unruly Jeep roads on the lower slopes of the climb.
I suppose there’s a reason they call it Aspen Ridge, huh?
After climbing 3,200’ in one big push, our legs were feeling a little soft and we took on some snacks and admired the view. It was here that the inevitable started to sink in – it was going to be a slightly longer day than planned. Maybe it was the bourbon talking again, but we didn’t seem to mind, we were committed.
As we never seemed to really lose much of our elevation, we pedaled through what felt like a matrix of desert vegetation and high mountain air. “How are we still at 10,000 feet?” I kept wondering. This was one of those banana belt rides that didn’t seem to subscribe to the common laws of our traditional Colorado ecosystems. That, or maybe I was just tired. After about 15 miles of what felt like some twisted alchemy of a Kansas Prarie and Colorado alpine, we started to slowly meander back towards our starting point. Averaging an astonishing 9 mph up to this point, we knew there had to be some descending in our future.
The route linked up with the Continental Divide Trail and it was here that we made our first human sighting in hours. A couple of bike-packers that had started on the Canada-US border were cranking along as impoverished and famished as you might imagine. We shared a laugh or two and admired their will to push their weighted down rigs thousands of miles eating potato chips and beef jerky. We left our semi-truck wielding friends and pushed towards our descent.
The high-desert vegetation playing its tricks on me
Kansas or Colorado? You tell me.
After battling a little wind and making friends with a shotgun wielding pickup truck driver (I swear, that gate we used to enter was legal), we were feeling like we made some progress. As the terrain slowly undulated downward, we were beginning our descent back towards Salida. As they say, what goes up, must come down. And down we went. With tired legs and wind-whipped skin, we took our time down the descent and admired the views back towards the valley. Meandering through the switchbacks after nearly 5 hours, I was thankful that the days were long and the sun was high. We rolled back into Salida with a smile on our faces.
yours truly getting ready for a blistering descent.
It’s not often I surprise myself on a ride. After years and years of riding in our beloved Rocky Mountains, sometimes it feels like there aren’t any surprises left out there. You know your routes like the back of your hand, you hit the same trails and even the big rides start to feel almost routine. And then every once in a while, you uncover a hidden gem in a place where you least expect it. That’s what our day in Salida was all about, discovering something special.
These are the days we live for, and these are the Rides We Love.Riding around muddy sections widens the trail and ruins singletrack trails. Photo BoCo Open Space. Photo: Nick Hanford, 303 Trail Monitor
5. Pick up after yourself – Leave No Trace
This one should be obvious, but the amount of wrappers and trash that we’ve seen left out on the trails this summer has blown our minds. Follow the simple rule: If you pack it in, pack it out.
If there’s any question as to what’s acceptable, check out the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethic’s principles here.
6. Mind the yield triangle.
It may hurt to swallow this one, but we must acknowledge that mountain bikers are the lowest members of the proverbial trail-use totem pole. It’s our responsibility to yield to all other trail users out there in order to keep the peace.
Yield to horses.
Yield to hikers.
Yield to trail runners.
Yup, just slow down and give way.
7. Use a Bell
While it may not be absolutely required, a bell is about the best way to lower tensions out on the trail. It’s the best ten bucks you’ll ever spend.
8. Obey All Trail Closures – Know Before You Go
There are days where Mother Nature speaks her mind and tells us to just stay home. On those days, it’s our responsibility to listen. Riding muddy trails can damage and permanently alter the terrain for years to come and it’s our duty to exercise a little self-control and wait it out when the trail just isn’t ready.
If you find yourself out on a ride and in a questionable scenario, consider turning back. Are your tires actively sinking into the mud? Is your rear tire slipping and sliding as you pedal? These are good indicators that the trail is too saucy to ride.
Thankfully, we have a ton of resources available to us to check on trail conditions to avoid showing up to a messy trail. If you feel as though conditions might be uncertain, check the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance Trail Conditions page for status updates before you head.
Another excellent online resource is 303 Trail Monitor on Facebook. This is an active online community with over 16,000 members constantly chattering about trail conditions in Colorado. If you’re looking for the status on a trail, odds are someone here knows!
Salida Gravel Rip ?
Food & Water
There are no stores or water re-supply locations on the route, pack enough food and water for your whole ride.
Where to Park
Riverside Park in downtown Salida is your jumping off point. Park in the free parking lot on the other side of the river and take a dip in the water after your ride!
When You’re Done
Grab a brew and a bite Soulcraft Brewing in town and enjoy the fruits of your labor.