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A loop ride from town to the historic Baker's Tank.

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Map Key

13.4

Miles

21.5

KM

80%

Singletrack

11,107' 3,385 m

High

9,680' 2,950 m

Low

1,649' 503 m

Up

1,628' 496 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

20%

Max Grade (12°)

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

Here is a great link to the Summit Historical Society and information on Baker's Tank: summithistorical.org/BakerT…
and another for Sallie Barber: summithistorical.org/Sallie…

Contacts

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Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 48 votes

#3

in Breckenridge

#360

Overall
  4.2 from 48 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
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3 Star
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2 Star
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1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#3

in Breckenridge

#103

in Colorado

#360

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Photos

b-line, optional first jump line
Jun 22, 2018 near Brecken…, CO
Enjoying the only sunny part of “Barney Ford” in October.
Oct 7, 2017 near Brecken…, CO
Cool wooden features on Barney Flow.
Oct 21, 2018 near Brecken…, CO
Danielle on the drop ramp.
Oct 21, 2018 near Brecken…, CO
Enjoying the berms on Barney Flow with Breck in the background.
Jun 22, 2017 near Brecken…, CO
Aspen Alley in Breckenridge, CO trail has it all!
Aug 7, 2019 near Brecken…, CO
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