Name: Backbone
Rating: 3.8

Toolbox

Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

Backbone is the heart of the S Mountain Trails, traversing southeast from the road all the way to Cottonwood trail. The trail runs across dry hillsides and through pockets of dense pine, descending in and out of the Sand Dunes drainage.

Contacts

Local Club: Salida Mountain Trails

Sep 5, 2023: SMT Newsletter — September 2023

Jun 8, 2023: June 2023 Newsletter

May 23, 2023: Join SMT’s Board of Directors

Land Manager: BLM Colorado - Royal Gorge Field Office

Shared By:

Leslie Kehmeier with improvements by Marcel S and 1 other

Full Details

Trail Ratings

3.8 from 19 votes

#14

in Arkansas Hills Trail System

#7940

Overall

3.8 from 19 votes

5 Star		16%
4 Star		58%
3 Star		16%
2 Star		11%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#14

in Arkansas Hills Trail S…

#782

in Colorado

#7,940

Overall

7 Views Last Month

1,980 Since Mar 30, 2014

		5%
		9%
		73%
		9%
		5%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

Jul 20, 2016 near Salida, CO

Jan 2, 2016 near Salida, CO

Mid winter ride on Backbone trail, S mountain, Salida.

Feb 3, 2016 near Salida, CO

Long runs of contouring singletrack. Backbone.

Mar 31, 2014 near Salida, CO

Mar 23, 2016 near Salida, CO

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 9 days ago

Update Conditions See History

Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jun 24, 2023

badat mtb

May 7, 2023

Patrick Burns

It's a traverse with endless punchy climbs.

Oct 21, 2022

Tiffany Nguyen

Jan 30, 2022

Private User

Jul 31, 2021

Heath Shifflett

1.7mi

May 7, 2021

Ethan Northey

1.5mi

May 1, 2021

Crystal McDonald

Nov 9, 2020

Jack Leon

Oct 4, 2020

Sue U.

Sep 6, 2019

Tim McCabe

Trail still in ok shape, but some shorter sections are washed out by the flash flooding earlier in the week.

Jul 14, 2019

Tony Eret

Jun 2, 2019

Matt Castelli

Fun

Apr 9, 2019

Byron P

1.7mi

Aug 5, 2018

Brandon Vicenti

Jun 28, 2018

Chris Dvorak

Apr 14, 2018

reuben bel

Apr 4, 2018

brian firestone

Nov 23, 2017

Andrew Vega

Aug 16, 2017

Tim Allen

Jul 30, 2017

Steve Leath

May 21, 2017

Maja Mściwujewska

1.7mi

May 14, 2017

Lauren Burket

Oct 28, 2016

Connor Schmitt

1mi

Jul 6, 2016

Lenny Dunlap

Mar 8, 2016

Jack Desmond

Aug 28, 2015

Ryan Suess

Jul 24, 2015

Mike Gentile

Jun 7, 2015

Brian Vanderpool

0.7mi

Nearby Recommended Routes

Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.

Hooligan - Sand Dunes Loop

5.4 mi 8.7 km • 968' Up 295.03 m Up • 968' Down 294.98 m Down

Salida, CO

Cottonwood Loop

22.8 mi 36.8 km • 2,483' Up 756.97 m Up • 2,484' Down 757.2 m Down

Salida, CO

The Trans-Backbone

13.3 mi 21.4 km • 1,296' Up 395.03 m Up • 1,296' Down 394.95 m Down

Salida, CO

S-Mountain: Dude and Lung

7.2 mi 11.6 km • 841' Up 256.34 m Up • 841' Down 256.28 m Down

Salida, CO

Salida Big Friggin' Loop - Normal Route

89.3 mi 143.7 km • 10,212' Up 3112.69 m Up • 10,227' Down 3117.33 m Down

Salida, CO

Sol Train - Solstice Flow Trails

10.7 mi 17.2 km • 1,271' Up 387.49 m Up • 1,273' Down 387.97 m Down

Salida, CO

Your Rating:
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites:	Add To-Do · Your List

Backbone

“A fun rolling traverse of the S Mountain Trails. ”

1.7

2.8

7,528' 2,295 m

7,416' 2,261 m

158' 48 m

199' 61 m

4%

13%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#14

#7940

#14

#782

#7,940

Photos

0 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Hooligan - Sand Dunes Loop

Cottonwood Loop

The Trans-Backbone

S-Mountain: Dude and Lung

Salida Big Friggin' Loop - Normal Route

Sol Train - Solstice Flow Trails

Join the Community