Name: Backbone
Rating: 3.8

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Dogs Unknown

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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

Jul 1, 2025: July 2025 Newsletter

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 20 votes

#14

in Arkansas Hills Trail System

#8323

Overall

3.8 from 20 votes

5 Star		15%
4 Star		60%
3 Star		15%
2 Star		10%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#14

in Arkansas Hills Trail S…

#763

in Colorado

#8,323

Overall

7 Views Last Month

1,980 Since Mar 30, 2014

		4%
		9%
		74%
		9%
		4%
		0%

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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

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown

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Check-Ins

Jun 16, 2024

Becky Lotz

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

Frontside - Lower Sand Dunes Short Loop

3.8 mi 6.2 km • 515' Up 157.07 m Up • 515' Down 157.06 m Down

Salida, CO

Excellent Salida viewpoint from Jalapeno.

Turret Ghost Town Out-and-Back

25.7 mi 41.3 km • 3,278' Up 999.26 m Up • 3,278' Down 999.08 m Down

Salida, CO

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

Bear Creek - Gutz Loop

18.0 mi 29.0 km • 2,530' Up 771.03 m Up • 2,516' Down 766.95 m Down

Salida, CO

Spartan Loop

5.9 mi 9.5 km • 450' Up 137.12 m Up • 450' Down 137.16 m Down

Salida, CO

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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

#8323

#14

#763

#8,323

Photos

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Hooligan - Sand Dunes Loop

Frontside - Lower Sand Dunes Short Loop

Turret Ghost Town Out-and-Back

Salida Big Friggin' Loop - Long Route

Bear Creek - Gutz Loop

Spartan Loop

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