MTB Project Logo

Salida

loading
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

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

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

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

Cottonwood Tour

23.0 mi 37.1 km 2,482' Up 756.54 m Up 2,481' Down 756.25 m Down

Salida, CO
Explore in 3D
Favorite Little Rainbow on an early winter day
Easy/Intermediate 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Intermediate/Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Intermediate/Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Kristen and Danielle soaking up the awesome colors of fall!
Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite The new and improved Burnpile offers fantastic features built to get you airborne!
Intermediate 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Herring Park doubletrack.
Intermediate 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frontside trail provides stellar views of the high peaks surrounding Salida.
Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Soak up the good views on Double Rainbow.
Intermediate/Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Mount Princeton is the best backdrop.
Difficult 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
Explore in 3D
Favorite Views from the Colorado Trail
Difficult 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
Explore in 3D

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
MTB Project is built by riders like you. Share what you know about this area!

Areas Within Salida

Weather Averages


High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w/
 
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Trails in Salida - 45

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Trails

2.0 mi 3.2 km #1Chicken Dinner Trail
Intermediate Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Salida, CO 45 
2.9 mi 4.6 km #2Cottonwood
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO 43 
2.2 mi 3.6 km #3Rumba Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Salida, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Salida, CO 30 
5.1 mi 8.2 km #4Little Rainbow
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Salida, CO
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Salida, CO 44 
1.2 mi 1.9 km #5Solstice
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Salida, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Salida, CO 21 
1.5 mi 2.5 km #6Sand Dunes
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO 22 
1.4 mi 2.3 km #7Spartan West
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Salida, CO
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Salida, CO 22 
0.7 mi 1.1 km #8Hooligan
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO 17 
3.1 mi 5.0 km #9North Backbone
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO
Difficult Difficult
Salida, CO 21 
1.5 mi 2.4 km #10Rusty Lung
Intermediate Intermediate
Salida, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Salida, CO 17 

Photos of Salida - 111

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Photos

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

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.