/\ Camping Trip: Rainbow Trail, Sand Dunes & Back

Hi - The end of the season is right around the corner. I did the Medano Pass / Hayden Pass loop in one day earlier this year on Yellow Pig's - Medano The Hard Way. I really enjoyed it but we hauled a$$ that day and felt a stop midway would make for a nice little getaway.

I want to do this ride in the next three or four weeks on a Sat/ Sun, basically the same route but a bit different, dialed back a notch + stay over at the Sand Dunes Pool / Hotsprings in Hooper. This would allow for some more time to explore.


Route or other suggestions welcome!!

GPX route https://www.dropbox.com/s/073q69i45zydppk/Rainbow.gpx?dl=0

Date: 10/4 & 10/5

Bike - Plated 250cc - 650cc Dirtbike due to Rainbow Trail. Moderate/ Fast pace. Get 80-100 miles per tank. You need to be able to fix your own bike and have spare tubes. If your bike breaks down we will tow you to the nearest town but then you need to arrange from there yourself e.g. U-Haul pickup truck etc.

DS Option - Bypass Rainbow trail and meet us at the camping site or on Medano Pass.
Day 2 is KLR' able

Camping/ Cabin'ing/ Glamping/ Diva Camping - Great Sand Dunes Hot Springs close to Hooper (hot springs and food!!). http://www.sanddunespool.com/

Day 1 -
Around 200miles - This is going to be a long day. If we run out of time we can shortcut the Rainbow Trail
7am Dakan Rd/ 105 close to Sedalia
8am Woodland Park @ Hungry Bear - breakfast
Florissant Fossil area
11 Mile Reservoir
Black Mountain
Cotopaxi
Rainbow Trail - South
Medano Pass
Great Sanddunes
Hooper - Sanddunes Pool


Day 2
Around 200 miles, typically flexible

Hooper
Hayden Pass over to 50 (West to East bitche$ )
Cotopaxi
Thirty Nine Mile Mountain
HWY 9
Woodland Park
Mt. Herman

Here's a little vid of the last time we wipped through the Sand Dunes - carnage everywhere

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/K6Cy1sg-pP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Updated route and camping options

Might be in depending on the dates

Total noob question, but are these small bike conditions only? I've never ridden down that way, only car camped in the area, so really know nothing about them?

Just curious and thinking about some routes next summer! Thanks in advance.

Oh come on!

There was plenty of waiting around that day.

LOL - I just want to do one more overnight camping trip and really enjoy that awesome section over Black Mountain.

It really is not except for the Rainbow Trail Section which is a bit tighter. I ride it with an XR650R. There is long sections of pavement included as well.

Hi - I need to lock in the dates but hoping it would be in the next 3 - 4 weeks depending on a project I have in Nashville.

i'd be interesting in doing medano and camping there, but i'm not sure about Rainbow trail with camp gear.

or am i thinking about a different rainbow? how is it in relation with steep side cutting?

are these pics from same trail? http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=820748

Holy Crackers!?!

Don't make a mistake, this will require some grit and maybe a parachute!?
That's why I added the option to slab around Rainbow if someone wants to bypass the section. It is my understanding that the Rainbow Trail is a bit easier further south. If it get's too hot we will cut it short and bail out. Doing Hayden Pass West to East will also be tough no doubt about it.
It's only for one night so I take very little.

Remember folks, Pine trees always point straight up, unlike cameras.

Need some advice from riders that have done this part of the Rainbow trail.

My plan is to cruise in from Cotopaxi southbound on 1A, then hook 69 and then hang a right at Hillside on 198. Hoping to intercept the Rainbow Trail here at Lake Creek/ Duckett Creek. Stay The Trail advises to intercept at Alvarado.

Is there someone out there that has ridden this section and southward on the Rainbow Trail. How many est. hours from Lake Creek/ Duckett Creek to Medano Pass. How difficult is this section?

Thank you.
B

it makes it better, i might attempt it anyway
but still, is it wide enough for some saddlebags?

or it could be one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7aqj0qUAqA

Small dirt bags will be fine. You can use saddle bags too.

I've ridden that trail on a DRZ and my KTM. A good rider shouldn't have any problems. I would not recommend KLR 650 or any of the wide ass Adventure bikes, with or without pre-scuffed bags and whale foreskin riding suit.

Thanks for the reply Hellsickle.

How many est. hours from Lake Creek/ Duckett Creek to Medano Pass. How difficult is this section?

I'm very interested, but will of course be dependent on the date you select. I'm definitely in for the weekends of 9/20, 9/27 or 10/4...then it gets into Moab season!

I've spent a fair bit of time riding with Paul (guy wheely-ing through the dunes at the end of your sand-carnage movie), so I should be able to keep up.

I'm on an xr650r.

Hi PigTrail looks like it's going to be 10/4 & 10/5 hope for no snow (would make things interesting).

I love it when Paul goes apeshitz, I feel sorry for his 690 LOL! He should go back out with us.

Oh one more thing, can you drop the KX500 off ahead if time at the Sand Dunes?

Sweet. Count me in. The wife just marked it down on the calendar.

Yes, I will start working on him now. He is indeed an entertaining rider.