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Beautiful singletrack with a mixture of big climbs and fun descents.


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Map Key

21.0

Miles

33.8

KM

Singletrack

10,165' 3,098 m

High

8,382' 2,555 m

Low

3,748' 1,142 m

Up

3,267' 996 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

40%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

Section Of

Description

Note: This trail is mapped from North to South direction, in alignment with the rest of the Colorado trail segments. However, the trail description below outlines the ride from South to North, which is generally the preferred direction to bike.

Start at Highway 50 west of Salida where the Colorado Trail crosses the road. Follow Colorado Trail signs the entire way to the Chalk Creek trailhead on Chalk Creek Dr. west of Nathrop.

This ride includes some ripping fast descents as well as a handful of short hike-a-bike sections. There is one slightly ambiguous fork in the trail a little past halfway in, near Browns Creek - the options are to go uphill & to the left, or downhill & to the right. The correct choice to stay on the CT is uphill to the left. Verify this by looking for the CT symbol alongside the trail before continuing.

Could also be ridden in the north-south direction, but south-north makes for the most manageable climbs and enjoyable descents.

Contacts

Shared By:

Holly Borowski

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 23 votes

#2

in Buena Vista

#6686

Overall
  3.8 from 23 votes
5 Star
35%
4 Star
30%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
13%
1 Star
4%
Trail Rankings

#2

in Buena Vista

#574

in Colorado

#6,686

Overall
14 Views Last Month
12,566 Since Jul 27, 2014
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
5%
5%
79%
11%

Photos

Aspen Grove along the Chalk Creek Segment
Apr 9, 2013 near Salida, CO
Green room on the CT.
Sep 12, 2016 near St. Elmo, CO
Colorado Trail - 14,235-foot (4,339 m) Mt Shavano looming in the background.
Jul 26, 2016 near Salida, CO
Views from the Colorado Trail
Sep 11, 2015 near Buena V…, CO
Beautiful singletrack awaits on Segment 14 of the Colorado Trail!
Dec 22, 2015 near Salida, CO
Colorado Trail aspen in all their glory.
Sep 30, 2016 near Alpine , CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Aug 27, 2021
Agustin Rivero
Jul 16, 2021
Luke Sturm
The trail is very STEEP in the first 1.5 miles(from Denver side) — 5h 27m
Jul 18, 2020
Kyle Mahanes
26mi
Sep 14, 2019
Andrea Helmig
started from around campsite on 272, just an out and back 12mi — 2h 00m
Aug 15, 2019
Deborah Kern
Chalk creek to angel of shavano
May 25, 2019
Andrea Helmig
Went from Hwy 50 to Shavano Campground, some snow patches going into camp but otherwise clear 12mi — 2h 30m
Jun 18, 2018
Chris Snelgrove
Jun 6, 2018
brian barnes
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