Methodist Mountain: Little Rainbow - Race Track Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

The Methodist Mountain Trail System is located just a couple of miles from downtown Salida, and yet that distance is enough to keep it dramatically less crowded than the Arkansas Hills Trail System. Methodist Mountain also offers several longer, more continuous trails, all of which provide fantastic swoop and flow. The route shown here follows the classic Little Rainbow and Race Track trails (in addition to a climb up Spartan West), and it offers an enjoyable non-technical cross-country ride that with a totally different character than other Salida-area trails.

The route shown here begins from downtown Salida at the F-Street Bridge parking lot. While theoretically, you could park at the Burmac Trailhead and shorten the loop by pedaling to CR 110 by following Rainbow Boulevard, due to the traffic on Rainbow Boulevard (Highway 50, where it passes through town), it's not advisable.

Instead, by following the route shown here, you can depart from F-Street Bridge and take a right on Sackett and a left on the Monarch Spur Trail bike path to pedal a few miles of delightful paved greenway trail. Take a left off of the bike path onto Holman Avenue, then at the stoplight, zigzag to the right across the highway to pick up CR 110.

You'll climb CR 110 for roughly a mile and a half until you see the Spartan Trailhead on your right. Hop on singletrack here to get off the road as soon as possible.

The route shown here makes the most of the trails on Methodist Mountain by climbing Spartan West to the Little Rainbow Trailhead and then picking up Little Rainbow. Alternatively, for a slightly shorter ride, you could turn left at the Spartan Trailhead onto Spartan East, shortcutting over to Little Rainbow.

Once on Little Rainbow, you'll wind your way along the hillside, pedaling up and down short grades and dipping in and out of the many valleys. Little Rainbow is one of the oldest trails in the Methodist Mountain Trail System, and you'll be able to tell that the design and build isn't quite as refined as the newer Spartan trails. Even so, this is a fantastic beginner-friendly cross country ride that eventually leads you all the way to Race Track.

Race Track is a fun, swoopy descent back down to town that's entirely non-technical and perfect for beginners.

Once at the Burmac Trailhead, follow the singletrack out to the highway. Take a left on Highway 50 and pedal along the shoulder for a short ways. You'll soon be able to pick up a new bike path on your right that's currently under construction, getting off the highway if you so choose.

Once closer to town, follow Highway 291 back to downtown Salida.