Cortado Trail #162

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This old, unmarked, and overgrown trail begins on the north side of Highway 64, 1.7 miles east of the El Nogal Trailhead. GPS, MTB Project mobile app, and map recommended as the entire trail isn't readily apparent. The route follows an old pack trail that dates back to the early 1900's and isn't shown on most modern maps.

If you can find it and are not prone to frustration, this unmaintained trail requires meticulous route finding and map reading skills. After cresting the top of the mountain, there are several downed trees you need to climb over or hike around, and on the descent trees have grown over the route. It is steep in places and a full suspension bike is recommended, as is traveling with a confident partner. I was told by a Forest Service employee that if I could find this trail it is technically legal to ride but to expect that it isn't all clear. I would not recommend attempting this route from west to east, best to use a vehicle shuttle from FS Piedmont Road #1.

A short ways east of Las Petacas campground, look for an open pull-off on the north side of the road. From the northeast corner of the pull-off, follow a doubletrack. When this starts to fade, look for a narrow trail climbing north through pinon and juniper trees. Cross under some power lines and stay on the narrow trail. Much of it has faded from lack of use, but the terrain is pretty open and navigable. Use a GPS or the MTB Project mobile app to follow the map if necessary.

At 0.8 miles, the route joins the North Boundary Trail #495 for a short ways, then branches off to the right after a tight switchback, and briefly joins the North Boundary again as it levels out and continues west through dense scrub oak to the 8,543-foot unnamed peak northeast of Devisadero Peak and the Devisadero Loop Trail #108.

The descent is steep and rocky, and challenging to stay on-route as it follows the remnants of an old pack trail down a dry wash as it drops steadily through mixed conifer forests before merging with the Devisadero Hotshot Route. When you come to a steep drop into an arroyo stay on the trail to the left, enter the arroyo for a couple hundred feet before popping out onto the bank and riding through the forest a couple hundred feet to the end of FS Piedmont Road #1.