Tank Seven Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Tank Seven is a fantastic black diamond descent that's hidden way out in the middle of nowhere. Despite being open to moto traffic, this is a narrow serpentine singletrack descent that begins flowy and smooth but quickly turns into a high-speed gnar fest through endless rock gardens and root webs. The tech on Tank Seven is not for the faint of heart, especially after hours of slogging through the high alpine to get here.

Tank Seven isn't close to any population center of any appreciable size, so simply getting to the trailhead can be a chore. If approaching from Gunnison in the west, simply drive to the town of Sargents, and take a right up Marshall Pass Road. However, if approaching from Salida in the east, it might seem like it would be most direct to drive over the top of Marshall Pass Road and descend the west side to reach the trailhead. But in actual practice, it's probably faster to drive over Monarch Pass to Sargents and then drive up Marshall Pass from there.

Park at the bottom of the Tank Seven Creek Trail #480 and begin by pedaling up the Marshall Pass Road. You'll grind uphill for about ten miles to the top of the pass, taking a right on the Colorado Trail and finally hopping on delightful singletrack.

Note: This route is marked as open to ebikes, but if you choose to ride an ebike, you'll need to follow the motorized bypass for the first section of the Colorado Trail. The motorized option is pretty easy to follow—it simply stays on a rough doubletrack route for two miles before rejoining the main route.

After pedaling along the COT, you'll pass the turn-off to Silver Creek... and keep on pedaling. Beyond Silver Creek, the trail gets rougher and rougher due to minimal trail maintenance and excessive moto use. You'll blast down a few technical, rutted-out descents and have to grind or hike back uphill several times. Despite the increased ruggedness of the trail, you'll find yourself riding through beautiful terrain in the absolute middle of nowhere! Keep an eye out for the Tank Seven descent to your right.

Finally, it's the moment you've been waiting for: time to dive into that fantastic Tank Seven descent! This fast, rowdy rip is worth every bit of the effort expended to get there!