Buff Creek: West Side Tour

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

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This route was put together for a fun Buff Creek route starting on the west side that doesn't end in a climb. This incorporates fun sections of Redskin Creek Trail, Segment 2 of the Colorado Trail, Tramway, Gashouse, and Baldy in a fun and not terribly difficult two-hour loop.

Potential downsides of the route include having the largest of the climbs (Baldy) in the middle of the route, and that you lose a bit of elevation on a straight shot down an old doubletrack on the lower portion of Tramway.

This route is moreso designed for a route if you're camping or already on the west side of the trail system, but you can easily access the Gashouse Gulch Trailhead off RD 550.

This route starts at Gashouse Gulch Trailhead off FR 550. Starting from here, descend Redskin Creek Trail until it meets up with the Colorado Trail, and you'll take a left to head east. The trail is fairly uppy/downy from this point until Tramway, without any significant climbs or descents, with a few punchy rooty bits thrown in.

Eventually, you'll reach an intersection of Tramway, Green Mountain Trail, and the CT - you'll head north on Tramway, which has been rerouted and is a fun, flowy extended descent. Cross the road (past the vault toilet) and continue descending on the doubletrack portion of Tramway. Eventually, you'll come out to RD 543, where you'll take a right.

Continue about 0.25 miles and you'll come to the intersection of the road and Baldy. Take a left on the Buff Creek classic climb, Baldy, continuing right at the intersection of Baldy and Gashouse and begin a 3.5-mile, 800-ft or so climb - it's never too steep, and mostly in the shade.

At the top intersection, you'll head left on Gashouse, which turns into some nice singletrack following a pedally doubletrack start with some chunky sections thrown in for the final almost two-mile descent from the intersection.