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Salida

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Local Info

Salida is a bike town through and through. To compliment the cruisers, bike lanes and sharrows, this town in southern Colorado also has some seriously sweet singletrack.

Often known for its high country Monarch Crest - IMBA Epic ride, Salida has some great riding in the Arkansas Hills and Methodist Mountain trail systems. Some good choices right from town: S Mountain Quick Tour or North Backbone to Cottonwood, or some of the newer trails like Chicken Dinner and Rusty Lung (flowy) or Hooligan and Dude Abides (more technical and demanding) on S mtn. Or try the new Spartan West and East trails as part of a loop via Little Rainbow (beginner friendly) on Methodist Mtn.

Visit the 3 bike shops - Absolute Bikes, Salida Bike Company, and SubCulture Cyclery - for the best info on where and what to ride.

Visiting Tips

The trails in the Arkansas Hills and Methodist Mountain trail systems are ride-able almost year round due to the arid climate and the Salida “bubble”.

The Monarch Crest and other high country trails (Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Rainbow Trail, Canyon Creek) are usually snowed in until mid-summer. Be prepared for afternoon storms when riding those alpine trails.

Free camping on BLM or Forest Service land starts 15-30 minutes away from the city of Salida. Please leave your spot cleaner than when you arrived. Salida is starting to feel the pressure of short & long-term visitors.

Food & Drink

Pizza and Local Brews: Amicas, Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub
Caffeine or decaf; Café Dawn.
AM and PM Burritos: Mo Burrito!
Pizza (and local brews): Amicas and Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub.
Killer sandwiches: Sweeties.
Beer: Soulcraft Brewing, with food container.
Post-ride river watching: Boathouse Cantina or Seasons Café.
Life music; Bensons or the Vic.

Recommended Routes in Salida - 12

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Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Intermediate/Difficult

Salida Mountain Trails - Quick Tour

3.7 mi 6.0 km 516' Up 157.37 m Up 509' Down 155.11 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Views from the Colorado Trail
Difficult

Salida Big Friggin' Loop - Long Route

105.8 mi 170.3 km 11,781' Up 3590.8 m Up 11,793' Down 3594.38 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Mount Princeton is the best backdrop.
Difficult

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

Cottonwood Tour

23.0 mi 37.1 km 2,495' Up 760.46 m Up 2,494' Down 760.12 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Views from the Colorado Trail
Difficult

Bikepacking: Colorado 14ers Loop

239.2 mi 384.9 km 26,261' Up 8004.22 m Up 26,314' Down 8020.43 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Soak up the good views on Double Rainbow.
Intermediate/Difficult

Rainbow Riding

24.4 mi 39.3 km 3,078' Up 938.2 m Up 3,080' Down 938.82 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite The new and improved Burnpile offers fantastic features built to get you airborne!
Intermediate

S-Mtn Short Tour

3.5 mi 5.6 km 308' Up 93.77 m Up 308' Down 93.93 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Difficult

S-Mtn Dude and Lung

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

Salida, CO
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Intermediate/Difficult

S-Mtn Chicken for Dinner

9.7 mi 15.6 km 819' Up 249.69 m Up 818' Down 249.46 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Difficult

S-Mtn Tech Gnar Ride

10.1 mi 16.2 km 1,698' Up 517.7 m Up 1,698' Down 517.49 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Little Rainbow on an early winter day
Easy/Intermediate

Methodist Mtn: Spartans and Little Rainbow Loop

5.9 mi 9.5 km 454' Up 138.34 m Up 455' Down 138.56 m Down

Salida, CO
Favorite Herring Park doubletrack.
Intermediate

Tri-County Corral

35.2 mi 56.7 km 3,114' Up 949.13 m Up 3,111' Down 948.12 m Down

Salida, CO

Salida Biking

  • 206 Miles 332 Kilometers of Trail
  • 12 Recommended Routes
  • 9 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 30 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 18 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Areas Within Salida

Weather Averages


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Trails in Salida - 45

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2.9 mi 4.6 km #1Cottonwood
Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult
Salida, CO 40 
1.7 mi 2.8 km #2Backbone
Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate
Salida, CO 18 
0.8 mi 1.3 km #3Tenderfoot
Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate
Salida, CO
1.1 mi 1.7 km #4Frontside
Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate
Salida, CO 18 
0.9 mi 1.4 km #5Lil Rattler
Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate
Salida, CO 18 
3.1 mi 5.0 km #6North Backbone
Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult
Salida, CO 21 
0.7 mi 1.2 km #7Prospector
Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate
Salida, CO
0.8 mi 1.3 km #8Unkle Nazty
Very Difficult
Salida, CO
Very Difficult
Salida, CO 11 
0.5 mi 0.8 km #9Pauli
Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult
Salida, CO
5.9 mi 9.5 km #10Bear Creek Road (CR101/CR49)
Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult
Salida, CO

Photos of Salida - 111

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One of the many technical drops on Uncle Nazty trail.
May 19, 2015 near Salida, CO
Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
May 19, 2015 near Salida, CO
Sunset on North Backbone.
Nov 1, 2016 near Salida, CO
Finding some air on Chicken Dinner.
Dec 27, 2016 near Salida, CO
Get out and fat bike on North Backbone!
Jan 27, 2017 near Salida, CO
The sun begins to set on an evening snow ride on North Backbone in the Arkansas Hills Trail System, Salida, CO.
Jan 27, 2017 near Salida, CO
The new and improved Burnpile offers fantastic features built to get you airborne!
Jan 30, 2017 near Salida, CO
It's steeper than it looks!
Feb 15, 2017 near Salida, CO