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South Saint Vrain Figure 8

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult Difficult
 4.0 (69)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Ward
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“A challenging mountain link-up with a substantial downhill finish. ”

Jim Mapes
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Map Key

16.3

Miles

26.2

KM

90%

Singletrack

10,586' 3,227 m

High

8,749' 2,667 m

Low

2,072' 632 m

Up

2,086' 636 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

15%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Hike-a-bike · Technical

Overview

The best link-up of the technical descending in the Brainard Lake area. When ridden as described, the climbs are tough but mostly manageable for strong riders and the descents are fully engaging.

Need to Know

The sections near Brainard Lake skirt the wilderness boundary and care should be taken to not venture onto trails that are closed to bicycles.

Unless you're very experienced in this type of technical riding, expect to dismount frequently during the course of the ride.The rock gardens on the downhill sections of the latter half of the ride are especially challenging.

Description

From the South Saint Vrain Trailhead near the Peak to Peak (Highway 72), climb up Road 96 to the junction with the North Sourdough. Take North Sourdough to the south (left). Cross over the South Saint Vrain Trail and continue to Brainard Lake Road. Cross Brainard Lake Road to Road 2321 (passing the junction with Sourdough Trail - Southern Half on your left.

Ride up Road 2321 until the Little Raven Trail. Head north on Little Raven Trail until you get back to Brainard Lake Road. Head right on Brainard Lake Road for a short distance then turn left on the unmarked trail that crosses the meadow. Go left on the Brainard Lake Road for a few hundred feet to the kiosk on the right and the start of the South Saint Vrain Spur. Take the South Saint Vrain Spur to the main South Saint Vrain Trail being careful to turn right (left is off limits to bicycles). Ride the South Saint Vrain Trail all the way back to your start.

Contacts

Local Club: Boulder Mountainbike Alliance

Land Manager: USFS - Boulder Ranger District Office

Shared By:

Jim Mapes with improvements by Wendy Sweet and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 69 votes

#1

in Ward

#271

Overall
  4.0 from 69 votes
5 Star
42%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
7%
2 Star
6%
1 Star
7%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Ward

#89

in Colorado

#271

Overall
16 Views Last Month
20,767 Since Oct 9, 2014
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70%
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Photos

A nice little pause in passing Brainard Lake while connecting Little Raven Trail to South St. Vrain Trail.
Jul 23, 2019 near Nederland, CO
Climbing Sourdough from Beaver Reservoir offers some nice views from time to time.
Jul 14, 2015 near Nederland, CO
Winter comes early on this Little Raven trail
Oct 8, 2014 near Nederland, CO
Rocky approach to stream crossing.
Jul 23, 2019 near Nederland, CO
Very nice view here!
Sep 20, 2015 near Nederland, CO
It's rare that you ride down to Camp Dick on perfect snow!
Feb 18, 2017 near Nederland, CO

9 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Jun 10, 2023
Darrell Robertson
I was able to ride it all except Little Raven, still snow packed. 14.8mi
May 4, 2023
Ethan Puerto
Oct 23, 2021
Anthony Alvarado
Jul 11, 2021
Joe Scharf
Oct 8, 2020
Robert Werbos
That ride felt like it was uphill bothways. unforgiving technical but manageable for those who like that kind of riding. 16mi — 2h 49m
Oct 3, 2020
Jared Trouillot
Fuck chicken eggs and Dino eggs. Decent had moments. Very challenging, techy trail. 21.2mi — 4h 13m
Sep 4, 2020
Ben White
South St. Vrain and the North Sourdough Trail were fantastic. Little Raven and the road up to it were forgettable two-track. Lots of rocks on NST.
Aug 29, 2020
Dave Reed
loosey goosey with the moisture 21mi — 4h 00m

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