Fish Creek Lollipop Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Downhill · Technical

The highlights of this route are descending fish creek, a technical singletrack that descends down a steep gully, and doing an out and back on a legendary section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This route involves a small amount of easy route finding on unmarked trails/roads, so having GPS is recommended.

Start from Pipestone Pass Trailhead where there is plenty of parking but no facilities. Head south on the CDT where you'll have most of your climbing on moderately steep and flowy singletrack. After about 3.5 miles, the trail crosses an obvious dirt road, Limekiln Rd, and heads up over some white quartz rock and some nice views towards the west.

Navigating between the CDT and Fish Creek trails is where your GPS will come most in handy. You turn off the CDT at about mile 4 where it comes along side a doubletrack. Follow the doubletrack past a few junctions down to Limekiln Rd and turn right on Limekiln. After literally a few hundred feet you turn left on an unmarked doubletrack heading up the grassy hillside. Follow this trail up and take the first fork to the left where it will end at a primitive campsite area at the tree boundary. Fish Creek Trail will start at the corner of this campsite and begin descending almost straight away. This descent is the most technical and downhill focused section of the loop, but intermediate riders should still be able to make it down if they take it slow.

Immediately after crossing a small stream with a small grass clearing on the other side, the trail ends at a tee with Toll Canyon Trail. Head left on Toll Canyon where you'll climb up many moderate switchbacks back up to a junction with the CDT.

The descent back down the CDT to Pipestone isn't as technical as fish creek, but the fast flowy trail is arguably just as fun. Be careful of other users as this trail is very popular.

The local Highlands Cycling Club has used this route several times for their informal "Race Nights"