Monarch Crest to Salida

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E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Commonly Bikepacked · Drops/Jumps · Views

If you've ever looked at the trail map and thought to yourself, "Hmm, it looks like I could ride singletrack from the top of Monarch Pass all the way to the town of Salida," you're not alone. It's entirely possible, but it makes for a true all-day epic, even with a shuttle to the top of the pass. To complete this brutal 52-mile point-to-point, you'll need to be fully prepared with tons of food, water (and ideally a water filter), fitness, and mental fortitude.

This route is brutal and demanding. It can and will chew you up and spit you out if you're not prepared.

This brutal 52-mile point-to-point ride might descend over 8,500 vertical feet along its length, but even with a shuttle ride to the top, you'll still have to climb a whopping 4,200+ feet along the way. Are you ready for an adventure? Because you're about to have one.

The ride begins by following the local IMBA Epic Route—up and across the Monarch Crest, down to Marshall Pass, up and across the Colorado Trail, and then down Silver Creek to the Rainbow Trail. See the Monarch Crest IMBA Epic Route for a full description of this section.

The Silver Creek section of the Rainbow Trail is also in the classic IMBA Epic route, but I want to note the creek crossings in the first half of this section. These are your last reliable water sources until you reach Salida. I recommend carrying a water filter and then refilling your hydration pack and/or bottles at one of these stream crossings before carrying on.

Alternatively, you could drop a cooler with water and food at the highway crossing as a resupply point, but that would require a bit more logistical planning and probably a self-shuttle. The remarkable convenience of this ride is that you can pay a few bucks for a commercial shuttle from Absolute Bikes and get driven directly from downtown Salida to the top of the pass without even using your own car. So, consider packing that water filter.

The highway is where the classic Monarch Crest route finishes. If you have any doubt about your ability to complete the rest of the route, you'd better bail now because from here on out, you're committed.

Once you cross the highway, it's time for the most brutal section of the entire ride: a 4-mile climb gaining about 1,700 vertical feet up a steep, rutted-out moto trail. Due to the roughness of the trail, the majority will be hike-a-bike for most riders. But once you reach that high point and turn downhill, the descent is blazing fast and absurdly fun!

Once you drop out of the steep descent onto the mellower stretch of the Rainbow Trail, pedal along until you reach the junction for Pot-o-Gold (which comes after the Sand Gulch road). Descend the fabulous Pot-o-Gold trail to Double Rainbow. Follow Double Rainbow to Little Rainbow, then finish by descending Lost Trail to the Burmac Trailhead and pedaling back into downtown.

Congratulations, you've successfully connected Monarch Pass to Salida entirely on singletrack!