Dogs Leashed
E-Bikes
Not Allowed
Overview
Link from town up the lower slopes of Baldy Mountain to Baker's Tank, an historic railroad water tank along
Boreas Pass Road. The road sections are closed to motorized use with the exception of Baldy Road.
Wayfinding from the top of
Nightmare on Baldy to
Mountain Pride Trail can be confusing. In general, dramatic (steep) climbs or descents are an indication that a wrong turn has been made.
The description includes an out and back at the upper end of the ride to Baker's Tank. The ride length can be shortened by cutting this section out. However, the 1.8 mile out and back is extremely enjoyable and includes a fun, flowy section of trail with abundant aspen and some of the best dirt in the area.
Valdero Trail can be used at the midpoint of the
Baker's Tank Trail descent to connect to
Boreas Pass Road.
Boreas Pass Road west of this intersection passes through a large aspen grove, and offers stunning views.
Aspen Alley can then still be descended.
Need to Know
The description and GPS track begins and ends at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena on Boreas Pass, south of Town.
This loop can be done counterclockwise as well. The lower half of
Baker's Tank Trail is no picnic, but
Nightmare on Baldy and
Barney Ford trails are both great downhill (stay on the main
Barney Ford trail, in lieu of
Red Pig/
Barney Ford Bypass) .
Barney Flow or
B-Line trails offer great alternatives to
Moonstone Trail if ridden CCW.
As with many rides in Breckenridge, there are numerous opportunities to lengthen this ride by incorporating adjacent trails.
This ride can be combined with the
Classic Breckenridge Route from
Barney Ford Trail for a longer tour of Breckenridge.
The kid-friendly trail network around the ice arena offers an opportunity for ride swapping with the family.
Description
Park at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena. Cross
Boreas Pass Road to Sunbeam Drive.
Sunbeam Trail begins on the left side of the road and leads to
Carter Park.
Climb the
Carter Park switchbacks to a flume. Go left then take an immediate right onto
Moonstone Trail. Climb to Moonstone Rd.
Cross Moonstone Rd to
Barney Ford Bypass, climb to
Red Pig turn right and continue to
Barney Ford. Climb
Barney Ford to
Sallie Barber Road, passing
V3 enroute. Go left at the top of the trail and ride up to
Sallie Barber Road and ride through a gate.
Sallie Barber Road contours for a mile before climbing steeply for 1/3 mile to Sallie Barber Mine.
Take an uphill right turn, climbing south up
Nightmare on Baldy to
True Romance. Go right, through a wooden barrier then descend to Baldy Road (a primitive gravel road).
Turn right on Baldy Road then immediately left onto the
Crossing Route doubletrack with a brown, USFS carsonite marker indicating road 528.1B.
Crossing Route contours, passing through a four-way intersection with timber barriers across the side trails. Continue straight, on the contour through this junction. After ~1,000 feet,
Crossing Route climbs a steep, rocky, rutted section. After a short distance, look for the unmarked
Pinball Alley singletrack on the right.
Climb
Pinball Alley to a high point and fork in the trail. Take a right and descend through an s-curve. Turn left and south out of the s-curve onto Mountain Pride trail at a mine tailings area.
Ride this contouring trail for a mile, and merger point with
Baker's Tank Trail (USFS Trail #40) at a Y-intersection which includes a sharp right turn downhill. The ride can be shortened by taking a right onto
Baker's Tank Trail.
Continue straight at this junction for an out and back section along a fun, flowy, aspen descent to
Boreas Pass Road at Baker's Tank. Turn around and begin back up
Baker's Tank Trail.
Continue back to the intersection with
Mountain Pride Trail, turn left and descend. At the midpoint of the descent,
Baker's Tank Trail crosses
Valdero Trail - USFS #9032. Continue due west on
Baker's Tank Trail.
Top out and descend to the Boreas Pass winter trailhead. Turn left on
Boreas Pass Road at the trailhead passing through an open gate. Take
Aspen Alley on the right side of the road just after the gate.
Aspen Alley (USFS trail #9133) descends 1 mile through a number of tacky, flowy switchbacks to a gravel driveway adjacent to
Boreas Pass Road (paved).
Cross the drive, turn left onto the
Blue River Trail. After 1/4 mile turn right at a post onto the
Illinois Creek High Trail. Follow
Illinois Creek passing the
Southside Trail on the left. Descend right through a switchback with a straight option and ride east passing two more left turns before a final curve. Ride straight out across a short bridge back to the parking lot.
History & Background
Contacts
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D L
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