Cottonwood Pass to the Ptarmigan Lake Road, Cottonwood Lake to the Poplar Gulch Trail, Monarch Crest Trail to South Fooses Creek. Here, after .8 mile, the spur trail ends and the Arapaho Pass trail begins. We recommend that everyone use a global positioning system and topographical map to navigate. Parallel the two small creeks, always keeping them on your right – there may be a snowmobile trail, or not. Horseback Riding. Turn right on Old Monarch Pass Road and settle in for a consistently steep but smooth eight mile dirt road climb. Old Monarch Pass is 11,375' elevation, just a few feet higher than the modern one, but the road is much curvier. The mileages, routes and waypoints listed in this text are only suggestions. Join us as we travel across this amazing country. (38°31.71N, 106°19.54W). window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; Part of the Old Monarch Pass Loop is also a section of the Colorado Trail. See the topo map showing the closure and detour. Go left here to loop back to the road you came up, or turn right to continue to the top. Summit the pass and drop down to HWY 50. Any Activity. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/old-monarch-pass Luckily for snowshoers, the 1921 route filled with snow every winter and caused long delays. Ride the Crest past the wooden shelter at the top of Green's Creek. Most routes in this text are located on public land, but some trails pass through or adjacent to private land. 3.0 At the top of the hill (38° 30.09N, 106° 19.70W) you have the choice of either turning left down the hill for an easier out and back route, or turning right through the trees for the more challenging loop route to the top of the pass. Take the CDT left – look for blue diamonds on the trees that mark the trail (38°30.24N, 106°19.58W). After 40 yards or so, go around the gate that blocks the road, though it may be covered by snow. gtag('js', new Date()); Respect the landowner’s rights and obey all signs regarding trail use. Not all trails need to be difficult Jeep trails! This is quintessential Colorado high alpine riding that makes most mountain bikers drool. This trail goes by Old Monarch Pass. If you count all the options presented for each trail, the actual number of routes is closer to 60 without even counting the individual trails at the Nordic centers – that is a lot of skiing. Monarch Park offers mellow terrain on Monarch Pass for skiers and snowshoers. This pass features several different types of terrains to test out your skills, without being too difficult. The Old, Old Monarch Pass Toll Road was a stagecoach road which started as the mining boom exploded in the upper South Arkansas valley in the late 1870’s. 673' Up — Old Monarch Pass Loop is a 5.1 kilometer loop trail located near Salida, Colorado that offers scenic views. Location: Monarch PassDistance: 5.7 Miles – Out & Back with Small LoopTravel Time: 1.5 – 2.5 HoursType of Trail: Road Aerobic Level: Moderate – AltitudeTechnical Difficulty: Ski – Intermediate; Shoe – NoviceAvalanche Danger: Minimal – only during periods of high hazard.Elevation in Feet: Low Point 10,360, High Point 11,312, Climbs/Descends 983Land Status: USFSMaps: Trails Illustrated #130, #139; USGS Garfield, PahloneNotes: You will encounter snowmobiles, so watch out for them. An additional attraction for those taking either the East or West routes is the proximity to more than a dozen Fourteeners (peaks above 14,000 feet) in the Sawatch Range, which include the Collegiate Peaks. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Old Monarch Pass Road . Part of the Old Monarch Pass Loop is  also a section of the Colorado Trail. The description and mileages given from here assume that you’re going to the top. After a dip. 2.6 Reach the highway and the turnaround spot (38° 30.03N, 106° 19.92W). Both sides can also be used to make a loop ride over the Monarch Crest Trail s(u), and also the Rainbow Trail The 14er Region Mountain Bike Guide ( a free publication, available at local businesses ) has included Marshall Pass in its map of recommended bike routes since at least 1994, even with a … This loop has become known as the Collegiate Loop. This guidebook gives detailed information on 25 of the best backcountry ski and snowshoe routes in the Upper Arkansas Valley, with trails for every ability level. Get Here. And riding up the Rainbow Trail is a unique challenge. The “new” road over the pass, which is … The portion of the Colorado Trail in this area, known as the Collegiate East in this section, runs 78 miles from Twin Lakes and travels south, meeting the Continental Divide 5 miles south of Monarch Pass. As a backcountry traveler we assume you know your personal abilities, limitations and have a comprehensive background in avalanche safety. The map we ... would head over to the park along the creek and enjoy the cool air under the trees. Monarch Pass on modern HWY 50 is actually the third Monarch Pass, and was opened in 1939, when the ski area was built. Monarch Lake Loop Trail - 3.9 Miles Round-Trip Monarch Lake is located east of Lake Granby, Colorado on the west side of the Continental Divide.Its versatility as a hiking, running, horseback riding and winter sport trail make it one of the Indian Peaks' most popular year-round destinations. Overlooking Monarch Ski area where our kids learned to ski and I worked as a ski patrol nurse many years ago, making the sport much more affordable. The Old, Old Monarch Pass Toll Road was a stage coach road. The 22-mile road opened in September 1921, and—fun fact—cost about $10,000 per mile to build. 0.3 Cross the South Arkansas River and stay right. Most people ride Monarch Crest as a shuttle but we don’t have that luxury so we rode a loop. Best completed on Mountain Bike as the road has some rough sections. Enjoy the downhill and watch out for rocks, stumps and other skiers. OHV Riding (>50”) Nordic Skiing. Be prepared it could be a long walk out. Staying around Dillon Res remains one of our favorites. Motorcycle Riding. 3.1 Enter this clearing (38° 30.05N, 106° 19.55W) and stay slightly uphill to your right where you’ll intersect another path that is almost always kicked in by downhill skiers. Buy a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card to protect yourself. 2.5 Another road comes in from the left; stay right. 7. Virtual Tour of Old Monarch Pass. In 1936 another version of Monarch Pass opened and that is the current route today. The route includes Old Monarch Pass, Black Sage Pass, Waunita Pass, Cumberland Pass, and Cottonwood Pass. Look for the Monarch Park Campground sign on the left. Biking. The route follows what is commonly called Old Monarch Pass, a path begun in 1919 to shorten the original wagon trail through this area. There is usually plowed parking on the left, but sometimes only a few spaces. The mountains and river look so refreshing! Travel back along the flat road to the trailhead. As we hiked a short section of the Colorado Trail, we passed a few thru hikers. A morning walk along the Arkansas River often ends with our feet in the cool water while watching the rafters, kayakers and skim boarders floating by. Route Information: San Isabel National Forest : Salida Ranger District 325 West Rainbow Blvd. Neither the authors, nor the publisher, nor anyone else mentioned in this book are responsible or liable in any way for any accident, injury or any action brought against anyone traveling any route listed in this book. This last segment on the Arapaho Pass trail #N6 is 1.7 miles long. Several good resupply points lie along or near the Loop, including Twin Lakes Village, Buena Vista, Mount Princeton Hot Springs, Monarch Pass, and Salida. This book represents nothing more than a guide to routes and is not meant to replace your common sense, your ability to navigate in the wilderness or your ability to travel in the backcountry safely. 2.2 Climb a short, steep hill. Go left here to loop back to the road you came up, or turn right to continue to the top. Beautiful job on your blog. Old Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.464m (11,365ftt) above the sea level, located in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States. Part of the Old Monarch Pass Loop is also a section of the Colorado Trail. You can ride south from Old Monarch Pass over to Monarch Pass on the singletrack Continental Divide Trail, the distance is about a mile. Continue up the low angle road through the trees. Be sure to read this list of equipment you should bring on your ride along with tips to make your biking trip more enjoyable. The trail has lots of different terrains to test out your skills on, but isn’t too difficult. Thanks for showing what we are missing from not going to the Mountains out west! Top of Old, Old Monarch Pass … Explore at your own risk, and always tell somewhere where you are going and when you’ll be back. Like. The kids could have their freedom with their friends but not remain hidden for long. We thought that we needed to escape our small towns. gtag('config', 'DC-1320480'); ". Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-3591 Travelers encounter high mountain lakes and towering peaks of six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges as they climb nearly 90,000 vertical feet. The detour route will travel to the west of the ski area using a combination of the Old Monarch Pass road and the original 1880’s wagon route over the Continental Divide, Old-Old Monarch Pass. The Colorado Trail is known as one of the premier long-distance trails in the country, lauded by hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers from around the world. Otherwise, sidestep or use herring bone steps to surmount this obstacle. Because of the pine beetle kill, there are many dead trees throughout the Monarch Lake Loop hike. Colorado Trail Explorer. My picture was fuzzy but it was so fun to watch the kids across the pond. In the Arkansas Valley, the route avoids highways 285 and 50 as much as possible, opting for minor paved and dirt backroads. Beginner skiers may want to walk up it. A group of 8 boys rode up to the edge of the pond and jumped in. The winter backcountry is becoming more popular in the Upper Arkansas Valley, which means you need to think of your neighbors while out on the trail. 1.9 Take the gradual road to the right, the steep uphill track to the left leads to the top of the pass (38°30.26N, 106°19.49W). The road is a perfect trail in winter. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/old-monarch-pass-waterdog-lake-loop Being forced to slow down hasn't been so bad as we have been taking time to reflect and look forward. 0.6 Stay right at this intersection. The Shenandoah National Park's... Cycling in the Countryside Our previous day of bike riding made us realize we needed expert help to ride these backroads. On the way back to the car, look up for great views of the angular Mount Aetna (13,746 ft.) and Taylor Mountain (13,651 ft.). The Vapor Trail is a weekend bikepacking loop based on the longstanding 125-mile race that starts and finishes in Salida, Colorado. This loop is a beast at 36 miles with 4635’ of climbing. The 567 miles of the CT trail between Denver and Durango passes through some spectacular scenery in the Colorado Rockies. This trail description follows the route to the top of the pass. The trail starts up the dirt road. Total Length 9½mi; Loved it! This is a easy loop trail to Monarch Pass in Gunnison National Forest. Your part of the country is very nice and right where you should be. Now we know how lucky we were. ATV Riding. MAP: Trails Illustrated PERMITS: none (easy self-registration for wilderness areas) DESIGNATION: primarily 7 different National Forests BEST SEASONS: July, August, September DISTANCE: 485 miles from Denver to Durango WATER: I thru-hiked with 4 liters capacity. Continue up the trail, which is steep in spots and more suited to skis with skins or snowshoes. The next day the rains hit hard and we thought about the hikers we had passed. 3.4 Top of the trail and top of Monarch Pass (38° 29.84N, 106° 19.54W). We both grew up in small towns which probably made staying in this small town with a downtown of about six blocks good for a while. Due to heavy snow and sharp corners, the highway masters moved the road to its current location in 1937. It brought back memories of the freedom of having a bike and growing up a small town. There are no hard and fast rules, but please consider the following: If you require search and rescue services, it can be costly. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition Turn around and ski back to the top of the steep hill. Your post triggered fond memories for me. Nice trail, if you start from Monarch Pass, where the gift shop and tram ride are it starts with a pretty strong climb for the first 1/4 mile. I recommend to get to the parking area early, its free, but limited, and could add to the hike a quarter mile if you are late. There can be a bit of crazy in those big cities. Published with permission from the guide book:Skinny Skis and Snowshoes – Guide to Winter Trails in Colorado’s Upper Arkansas Valley by Nate Porter and Nathan Ward. I love traveling along with your blogs. Hazards, natural or manmade, whether noted in this book or not, can be encountered at any time, under any situation. Old Monarch Pass. This incredibly scenic, high-altitude route utilizes two historic rail grades and ties in some of Colorado’s finest singletrack via the Colorado Trail, Monarch Crest, and Starvation Creek as it passes over high passes and through historic mining settlements. The summer is flying by as we prepare for a return to Summit County. Enjoy the rest of the summer in beautiful Colorado. But that could just be me. " This entire loop is more than 120 miles and > 60% Singletrack. The loop is on paved and dirt County Roads and more difficult USFS and BLM dirt roads. The Collegiate East and West meet each other at both ends forming a 161 mile loop. This young man that was appreciating the delay of the monsoon rains. Funds from the CORSAR program go into the Colorado Search and Rescue (SAR) Fund. The loop is abt 3 miles 2-2.5 hours Light hiking great views At the tip of the lake the trail hooks up w trails from the wilderness areas Bring hiking shoes water snack Stay alert there is wildlife We spotted moose w cub Btw we carried bear spray on all our hikes Less than 5 miles of pavement. The description and mileages given from here assume that you’re going to the top. Backcountry travel is a physically strenuous activity with many risks and dangers. 3.4 Top of the trail and top of Monarch Pass (38° 29.84N, 106° 19.54W). Time for a beer in Salida. 40 miles of continuous singletrack. More info via skimonarch.com. Turn right and climb the pavement for 0.5 miles. We miss CO and can't wait to one day return. Turn around here after a snack and a drink. I think you found a good place for a while. The downhill path can be steep, fast and adrenaline-packed on skinny skis. You can capture two passes on this loop and there are several combinations available with Monarch Pass. Road on No Name Creek, Major Creek, and South Arkansas River in Gunnison National Forest, San Isabel National Forest. Novice Option: Ski out-and-back to Mile 2.6. Old Monarch Pass is only a mile west of Monarch Pass. Hopefully the storms will end soon. 2.0 Intersection with the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The trail stretches fr... Getting a feel for the area Before retiring, I had contracts to work in Tucson at Tucson Medical Center (loved it) and University Hospital )... Shenandoah National Park   It was time to head for the mountains as Charlottesville was heating up. 3.9 Turn right on the road – this is the end of the loop. In 1960 3% of the US population lived in cities. Good stuff. We want you to have a safe and enjoyable trip into Colorado’s backcountry. Crested Butte was usually our destination. This is a pleasant drive over an historic pass, through a large park and a bunch of forest and into the town of Pitkin. The road is well graded and the scenery is quite nice at the pass. The loop through Pawnee Pass (12,542 feet) and Buchanan Pass (11,837 feet) is dramatic, strenuous, and unforgettable. Just looking at your beautiful photos makes me feel a little cooler. Driving up to the Continental Divide at 11,000 feet cooled us down with 62F degrees. 1.0 Ski down the small hill and along the road. There are multiple switchbacks. Mountain Biking Monarch Crest Trail Add a review #2 of 1,347 mountain bike trails in Colorado ... You'll top out at about 11,960 feet and then begin the first major descent down an old fire road to Marshall Pass ... Now head up US 50 west to the top of Monarch Pass and park in the parking area on the left. Plus, it’s a relatively short hike for a pass with incredible views. The Spokane River Centennial Trail is a 37 mile paved recreational trail for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. Ski the flattish path through the trees to a small clearing. 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