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Short and technical with great views.


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Map Key

4.2

Miles

6.8

KM

Singletrack

11,387' 3,471 m

High

9,638' 2,938 m

Low

483' 147 m

Up

1,815' 553 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

50%

Max Grade (27°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Stay on the marked trail since the first part crosses private property.

Description

This is a newly opened - August 2018 - reroute of the Trail 403 climb from the Washington Gulch side. The old trail is closed and the new access is about 500 years further down. A new parking lot is also created right next to the beginning of the climb.

While this trail is not very long I hear it's much gentler of a climb to the top of the saddle before the downhill bomb. You can actually enjoy the bench cut trail as it gently climbs to the top and enjoy what I would think are some of the finest views in the Elk Mtns.

The old 403 is closed and no longer accessible.

The warm-up is over at this point, and the riding begins. The trail climbs up through some amazing meadows before it tops out and crashes headlong down into Gothic Valley. There has been some great trail work done along the descent, but be careful. The switchbacks are wild and more than a few have walked sections of this.

The best way to ride this is by riding Snodgrass first to cut out a lot of paved road miles, then ride up Washington Gulch road. If you still have the legs after 403, ride up to Schofield pass and hit 401 as well.

Since the trail climbs to over 11,000ft and meanders through some dark timber on north-facing slopes, it usually isn't rideable without snow crossings in the timber until July.

Contacts

Shared By:

Adam Kagy with improvements by Lyle Tucker

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 36 votes

#334

Overall
  4.4 from 36 votes
5 Star
53%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#114

in Colorado

#334

Overall
10 Views Last Month
16,602 Since May 8, 2013
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
4%
92%
4%

Photos

403 gets pretty rowdy once you drop into the trees... SO much fun!
Sep 26, 2019 near Crested…, CO
One of a couple rock gardens on Trail 403
Sep 26, 2019 near Crested…, CO
A descent on the 403 Trail
Aug 26, 2021 near Crested…, CO
403 Wildflowers
Jul 20, 2018 near Crested…, CO
Dropping in to 401 on 403!..
Aug 22, 2018 near Crested…, CO
Killer scenery on the 403
Jul 20, 2018 near Crested…, CO
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Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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