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This is a ride up the Flash of Gold trail to the top of Buffalo pass and down to Grouse Ridge starting at Dry Lake


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Map Key

20.9

Miles

33.6

KM

85%

Singletrack

10,142' 3,091 m

High

8,198' 2,499 m

Low

2,301' 701 m

Up

2,306' 703 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

27%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

An excellent climb up the Flash of Gold to an challenging technical descent of Grouse Ridge.

Need to Know

Grouse Ridge is an expert level downhill trail. Please use caution and care when descending, and keep in mind your own abilities and don't be embarrassed to walk some of the features. It's a great trail that will challenge your abilities.

Description

Beginning in Dry Lake parking, start down Spring Creek Trail to the entrance of Flash of Gold (FOG) trail. Climb FOG for several miles past the exit to BTR across the creek, and onto the two track under the power lines (6.5mi). Continue up the power line two track past the third switchback and regain the upper FOG trail and continue climbing (7.3mi).

FOG empties back onto the power line two track, (9.3mi) FS301 which you follow to the end, or FS301 can return you to Buffalo Pass Road (FS60). Follow FS301 up to it's end looking for the upper upper FOG that continues in the rocks. Follow upper upper FOG on and off the two track all the way to it's end on FS306 (11.3mi), a primitive 4x4 road that will return you to Buffalo Pass Road (FS60) atop the third summit (1.5mi).

The total FOG climb is 11.3-11.5 miles from Spring Creek/Dry Lake trailhead. Turn left and ride down Buffalo Pass Road (FS60) for 1.25 mi to a camping/parking turnout on the north side of FS60, looking for the entrance of Grouse Ridge Trail on the left near the road as you pull into the turnout.

Grouse Ridge is an aggressive downhill trail with many drops, ridges, rocky technical problems, and cliffside exposure, use care and caution. It drops 1600ft in 4 miles to bring you out to the Dry Lake Ditch Trail. Follow this trail, back to the campground, and parking at Dry Lake. This ends up a 20.5 mile loop with 2300 ft of climbing. I rode it in around 2.5 hours.

History & Background

FOG is a newly built multi-use trail built in 2017 to provide uphill access without needing to ride FS60. Grouse Ridge was an illegal user trail that has been "systemized" and upgraded to more sustainable trail. Both trails were funded by Steamboat's 2a hotel room tax.

Contacts

Shared By:

Patrick West with improvements by Andriy Wybaczynsky

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 19 votes

#2

in Buffalo Pass

#879

Overall
  4.3 from 19 votes
5 Star
58%
4 Star
26%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
5%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Buffalo Pass

#184

in Colorado

#879

Overall
9 Views Last Month
12,613 Since Sep 16, 2017
Difficult Difficult

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Photos

Expect this down 90% of Grouse Ridge!!! - And you'll beg for more when its over :)
Sep 4, 2018 near Steambo…, CO
Rock upon rock at these heights
Jan 17, 2017 near Steambo…, CO
The views from the top of Buffalo Pass are spectacular.
Jan 17, 2017 near Steambo…, CO
Golden ferns along Flash of Gold trail
Oct 11, 2017 near Steambo…, CO
Busted fullface helmets.  Friends tumbling down 30ft cliffs.  Man, Steamboat doesn't play around.
Oct 11, 2019 near Steambo…, CO
Grouse Ridge creatively weaves its self through what seems to be unridable terrain
Sep 4, 2018 near Steambo…, CO
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