D-Loop #10

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Newer trails mixed with some classics on an uncommon route.

The parking lot fills fast on the weekends, so start early!

Starting from the Buckhorn parking lot, look towards Cheyenne Canyon Rd. There's a newer section of trail that drops off the south side of the parking lot near the gate to get you onto Columbine Trail. Unfortunately, if you start with a downhill, you know what's in your future.

The first intersection is about 0.35 miles in, stay on Columbine Trail as it wraps around to the left to follow the contours of the canyon. Continue to ~1.2 miles to your drop into the valley following the drainage. At 1.4 miles, you'll cross over Cheyenne Canyon Rd onto Daniel's Pass Trail. It starts easy enough but maintains it's gradient for about a mile.

At 2.5 miles, you'll intersect with Sweetwater Canyon Trail, hang a left to continue climbing until 2.8 miles. You'll see a trail sign for Mt. Muscoco as a marker for your well earned break of flowly downhill. Per Canyon rules, the uphill starts again at mile 4.13 as Sweetwater Canyon Trail starts climbing back to Gold Camp Rd. At mile 5.3, take the connector on your left up a couple of switchbacks to Gold Camp.

Hang a left on the road to continue your climb for about a mile to mile 6.77 and look for an unmarked trail on your right, this is the St. Mary's Access Trail. At about mile 7, you'll reach the saddle, make sure to continue left on a gradual climb. The crux of the climbing comes at about 7.26 miles when you cross the water into an immediate climb up that's been torn up by motos. Hike a bike time.

It's a short, steep crux until about mile 7.35 when you intersect St. Mary's Trail, hang a right to descent back to the collapsed tunnel. After too short of a time, you'll intersect the collapsed tunnel bypass trail at mile 8.38, continue straight to descend back onto Gold Camp Road. Now it's a fast descent back to the parking lot!

This route is very easy to add Buckhorn Trail #776 and Captain Jack's onto if you want! Top off the bottles and reapply sunscreen at the parking lot!