Flatlander planning CO trip (single track)

I will be in Colorado for a work school and plan on riding the weekend of July 23-24th. My buddy and I are trying to plan a trip where we spend the entire weekend riding out in the mountains. I have spent hours looking through ride reports and was wondering if anyone has any advice of where to do. I am a C level racer and my buddy is better than I am (harescramble). I will be on a 450EXC and he will be on a YZ 250 2-smoke. We are looking for single track routes a few hours drive from Denver.

If anyone is planning a ride, wants to hop in with us or has a good idea/gps track please contact me.

Mike

Where ya gonna be? Lotsa mountains.

I am pretty open to where we go. My buddy flys in at 2pm and we planned on camping out Friday night close to the trail head. The whole 2.5 days is wide open to suggestion. The only thing I don't want to do is drive 6 hrs 1 way for a ride since we have to drive 11 hrs back to KS on Monday.

Are you plated (Street legal and lic). You need to be if you plan to connect the dots between trails. Rampart range is probably your best bet for close single track. Lots of traffic, so watch for head-on traffic. You can get a map of it pretty easy at most shops for a few bucks. It is basically the mountain are southwest of Denver. Between Denver and Colo Springs, in the first mountain range you come to.

If you read the ride reports, aren't there any places you want to see?

Sign up for the MOAR on the 23rd and you'll get to ride all of the good trails in a single day.

That is the problem. There are so many that it is overwhelming. I have been reading some Neduros stuff and it looks awesome. But just like the last time I was in Boulder mountain biking, I went the wrong direction from the trail head and rode though open pastures for about 2 hours. When I turned around to go back to the truck I saw the trail I should have went down. I want to make sure I have an idea of which way to head from the people who know where to go.

Yes to both. I also have a spark arrestor installed. Anything else I may need? Is there a CO offroad permit or something like that?

I don't believe you need an OHV sticker if you are plated, but that might just be for CO residents. As for places close to Denver with singletrack, if you are up for a challenge, there is Left Hand Canyon just outside of Boulder. If it were me, I would probably drive the 2.5 hrs to Buena Vista and ride Fourmile. Good trails, some fun singletrack (although limited amount) and great scenery. You can find a trail map online at staythetrail.

The trails 717 in Woodland Park is 18 miles west of Colorado Springs and about 80-100 miles, worth of intermediate to advanced skill lever trails you might enjoy riding.

http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/recreation/atvreg.html

Here's what I've found out from browsing the forest service sites and doing some Google Earth Geekery.

Single Track or ATV trails in western Colorado.
http://www.fritzrips.com/Aerials/WesternColoradoSingleTrack.kmz.zip

Forest Service maps overlayed with reasonable accuracy on Google Earth.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=698977

Use that, and this document, to reference what is actually currently moto legal and trail descriptions per the forest service websites.

That should point you in the right direction, or at least close. All public information from our handy gubbernment.

Or just go to GPSvisualizer and it's a done deal.
http://atlas.gpsvisualizer.com/map?...07547655243321681.0004a66aa62c4966817cd&msa=0

You're getting some misleading advice here. Rampart and 717 have very little actual singletrack. They are nice enough, but I wouldn't want to make a cross country trip for them.

Probably the highest cocentration and most miles of singletrack withing a few hours of the Front Range would be the Taylor Park area. That's where I'd send you.

Seconded, I'm just not sure how many of the trails are snow/tree free. Have you been up there this season?

Also, try here http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=675814

I have not been up there and snow would be a concern. If Taylor Park was snowed in, I'd head for the Rainbow Trail.

Coming from far away to ride singletrack, these guys need something epic.

Coming from far away to ride singletrack, these guys need something epic.[/QUOTE]

I strongly agree, epic is what I am looking for. I would like to get lost in the mountains for 2 days on flowing singletrack away from everything. Just like the picture on this months Dual Sport Riding calendar. If anyone has this calendar you know what I am talking about. For those that don't, it's one guy on a KTM alone on a single track trail. The picture is taken from behind so you get to see his back and the moutain range in front of him.

I have a few tracks for Taylor park I have taken from posts on here.
How does this track look? Is it an EPIC ride?

As others stated, snow could be a problem in Taylor Park for you this year.

Next best option is probably Sargents area (west side of Monarch Pass of Highway 50), which is dry or drying out fast, and Salida/Marshal Pass (east side of Monarch Pass off Highway 50).

Trails in both areas are signed and mapped. Lots of resources here http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=675814 and here

-Doug

Thanks for all the great info everyone. I can't stop thinking about this short trip. New tires mounted. JD Jet kit arrived last night. Bike is in a hundred pieces waiting on just about new everything.

I have about a month before I get out there. Do you think the snow will still be around? Crazy that it has been over 100* already here and you guys have snow.

Right now I am reseaching Taylor Park as my fist option and the Salida area is next in line. What maps do you guys recommend to help in the planning/routing? I have a Garmin 60csx and need to buy the Colorado map for it.

We are debating camping or staying in a hotel. We have gear but will be on little bikes so do want to pack a bunch. I assume there are places to camp but wanted to get some local opinion on it. Any places you guys recommend staying along the way or in a place close to the trail?

Check it out:
http://rickramsey.net/SGT.htm

Click on the 'Trading Post' link for a place to stay. The nearby trails are some of the best and most are rideable now. You could even reach Taylor Park trails via Pitkin Loop...


Comanche CG has been decommissioned.

Thanks, I am looking at Sargents on a map now. By the way, thanks for the CRF250X tips. I followed your site last year when I got my new (to me) honda.

How are the trails at Rampart looking now. I have been researching those a bit and look pretty awesome. More single track stuff which is what I would like to find. Any other suggestions would be greatly appricated.

Also, anyone recommend jetting for a 07 450EXC? It has been desmogged but stock besides that.