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A high alpine ride past Hancock Lakes with great views, technical singletrack to 4x4 road descent.


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Map Key

8.4

Miles

13.5

KM

25%

Singletrack

12,120' 3,694 m

High

9,692' 2,954 m

Low

1,069' 326 m

Up

2,439' 743 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

35%

Max Grade (19°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

Watch out for camo-clad humans with guns during hunting season.

Overview

A high-alpine point-to-point over Chalk Creek Pass with a combination of Jeep road and singletrack and rewarding views.

Description

Start at the parking lot for the Alpine Tunnel Trail, and head up FS 295 towards Hancock Lakes. From the parking lot to the lakes is a fairly rough, loose 4x4 road. Around the lakes, it switches to singletrack and flattens out to cross the headwaters area before getting to a steep (20-30% grade), with rocky hike-a-bike up to Chalk Creek Pass.

Go over the pass, and then descend on high alpine technical singletrack until getting to a parking area. Beware the conservationists with guns during hunting season.

Continue down FS 230, and prepare to get fast and loose.

If you want more, at a campground shortly before crossing Columbus Gulch, there's a singletrack trail that climbs up to Boss Lake Reservoir. The views there are nice, and then the subsequent ripping down the Syncline Hill 4x4 road is fantastic.

Contacts

Shared By:

Matt Giaraffa

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 6 votes

#1

in Hancock

#2904

Overall
  3.8 from 6 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
17%
3 Star
50%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Hancock

#473

in Colorado

#2,904

Overall
1 Views Last Month
2,899 Since Sep 5, 2015
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Photos

Good spot to stop for lunch and a view of the lakes below. Look for wild columbines and marmots hanging out in the rock fields.
Sep 9, 2015 near Salida, CO
At the top, about 12,200 ft. Looking back towards Hancock/St. Elmo.
Sep 9, 2015 near Salida, CO
Right before the hike-a-bike up to the saddle of Chalk Creek Pass
Sep 9, 2015 near Salida, CO
Beginning the climb to Hancock Lake up 295
Sep 9, 2015 near Buena V…, CO
End of the singletrack. Watch for motos, jeeps and atvs and get ready to get rowdy.
Sep 9, 2015 near Salida, CO
Many a rocks to cross and cairns to mark your path
Sep 9, 2015 near Salida, CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 18, 2020
Kyle Mahanes
Jul 23, 2017
Jill Murphy
So this ride is mellow intermediate from St Elmo up CR 295 and then the Tunnel trail until you get to the switchbacks. From there up high -Advanced! 16mi — 4h 40m
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