Jarosa Mesa Loop

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Features Views

If you are looking for a ride that is mostly above treeline with stunning views, this is a good one—views to the east of Baldy Cinco, Snow Mesa, and Bristol Head; views to the southwest of Rio Grande Pyramid and the Needles; to the northwest of Uncompagre and the Wetterhorn. Though it is not singletrack, the doubletrack provides plenty of quality riding. A few sections are possibly hike-a-bike for some riders, but the majority of it can be ridden by most riders.

Restrooms at the top of Spring Creek Pass. Freemon's Ranch has after-ride burgers, fries, and ice cream. The weather can change quickly at this altitude and you'll be in areas with little cover. I would avoid this ride if storms were threatening.

Average ride time is between 3-5 hours. For fit folks who want to hammer, maybe 2-3 hours. But the scenery and views are spectacular, so it's a good ride to pack a few extra snacks, plenty of water, and take breaks to enjoy the country. This is one of my favorite rides!

Drive southwest from Creede on Highway 149 to Spring Creek Pass (about 33 miles). You can either begin your ride from here where the Continental Divide Trail crosses with ample parking and outhouse, or drive about two more miles to the saddle between Spring Creek Pass and Slumgullion Pass and park at a pullout on the south side of the highway between West Cebolla Creek and Rambouillet Creek. If you begin your ride at the top of the pass, then when you finish, you'll have two miles of climbing to end your ride, which can be exhausting. I prefer to park in the saddle near West Cebolla Creek, and begin the ride with warming up by climbing the highway back to the top of Spring Creek Pass. Then, when you finish and come back to the highway, you just have a nice cruise downhill to the car, which is a pleasant way to end.

Assuming you start at the saddle near Rambouillet Creek, ride back to the top of Spring Creek Pass (about 2.1 mi.) and turn southwest through the parking lot, past the restroom, and begin heading up USFS Road 547/Continental Divide Trail (CT - Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle). The first 3.0 miles after the top of Spring Creek Pass will be steady climbing with a few challenging sections.

At about 4.8 miles (assuming you started near Rambouillet Creek, which I'll assume for the remainder of this description—if you start at the top of the pass, just subtract 2.0 miles from my numbers), you'll reach the junction of Jarosa Mesa Road #547 and the Continental Divide Trail. I prefer staying on the doubletrack of the road. The Divide Trail is scenic climbing to the top of Jarosa Mesa, but the trail above timberline has a lot of fixed cobbles that are challenging and not very pleasant to ride. Road 547 is generally a pleasant cruise, so after the junction with the Continental Divide Trail, finish the climb up the short section of rough road to where you'd top out.

Continuing on the doubletrack, at about 8.8 miles you'll intersect the Continental Trail again. Bear to your right. You'll see an intersection of trails. One continues southwest along the divide, one will climb Seventy-one Mountain with a visible communications tower. Bear right and descend into Rambouillet Park on Sawmill Park Road #3322. At about 10.7 miles you'll see an old yurt foundation. Shortly past this, you'll climb and prepare to bear right again (10.9 mi) USFS Road 473 (Rambouillet Park Road #7473). Be on the lookout for this junction as you'll be climbing and if your head is down, you might miss it.

From there it's 4.5 miles back to Highway 149. Once you hit the pavement, it's all downhill back to where you parked.

Most of this route is also used by ATVs.