Winter Park: No snow? No problem!

Elk Creek Parking E: N 39°55.14’  W 105°49.945’

When most people think of Winter Park the first thing that comes to mind is skiing or snowboarding.  For those of us who live in Colorado, Winter Park also means mountain biking and ever since the Trestle Bike Park was built it has become one of the premier locations for extreme mountain biking.

My bike took me on a ride along Sunken Bridges, then Creekside, up a section of Chainsaw and finally up Broken Spade.  It was a very scenic ride that ended in a hail storm but no complaints here.

From the Elk Creek parking lot (E) you continue up the Forest Service Road (FSR) to a doubletrack trail junction, marker 886.2.  The climb is pretty steady and rather mild for the Rocky Mountains.

Once on 886.2, you continue on to Sunken Bridges trail through the forest on wide doubletrack.  It's also a pretty steady climb but once again nothing too difficult unless you're not used to high altitude.  There's a great opening just a few minutes from the Sunken Bridges trail that offers an outstanding view of Parry and James Peaks so take a couple of minutes and soak up the view.  At 1.53 miles you come upon your first Beaver pond and a wooden bridge.  Here you'll see the Sunken Bridges trail marker.  Go left across the bridge.  At this point I couldn't decide if I would have been more comfortable with sunscreen or insect repellent.  There wasn't much of either, but I suppose if I had to choose I would have preferred bug spray.

This next section is beautiful; it runs right through the forest and all you smell are fresh pine trees.  Aspen's were everywhere too and both types of trees just made this section so worthwhile.  It climbs at a little steeper grade so if you had difficulty up to this point, this section might take a bit more out of you.  The tread is a little on the rocky side and has a lot of the loose stuff so traction might be an issue, just aim for the hard pack and you'll be fine.

So you finally emerge from the forest back onto FSR 159.  Another trail continues up across the road but you'll want to ride the road to the right to catch Creekside then Chainsaw.  Storm clouds were forming so I knew I didn't have the time to make a navigational mistake or I could find myself caught up in a rain storm.  The climb is gradual and if in the right gear you should have no problem.  I'm a recreational rider and most of the climbs today weren't too demanding except for one.  Explore, take your time and enjoy the ride.

At 2.89 miles you reach the top of the hill and a drop onto the Zoom trail – sounds fun, surely on my next trip.  To reach Creekside you'll continue on FSR 159 for a rather long descent on Dirt road, there's nothing like being force fed mountain fresh air.  Let the good times roll but be careful because even though the turns aren't all that sharp, you could easily lose traction on the fine gravel.  You'll pass a couple of other FSRs and a couple of unmarked trails, just keep going down for another 2 miles.  You'll come upon a Creekside trail marker on the right.  If you reached FSR 160 you've gone too far, I know because that's what I did.

Head up the trail on singletrack to your first intersection; this is a really short re-route so stay to your right, left takes you to FSR 160.  This is a really cool section with aspen groves, beaver ponds and shortly you'll be riding parallel to St. Louis creek.  The trail is a combination of slightly loose Dirt and embedded rock.  It's not a smooth ride but at least it's relatively flat.  The rocks range in size and most won't move so if you can't roll over them you'll need to find your way around them.  There isn't anything bigger than maybe basketball size rocks on the trail but at times they can be spread apart just enough to force some braking.

This section of the ride is open at times because of all the tree clearing that was done but not enough to take away from the rest of the scenery.  This section can be as gentle or as rough as you make it but certainly enjoyable.  You'll reach another Y in the trail at about 6.11 mile mark and I stayed right.  In no time you'll reach St. Louis campground on the left when you come to another junction.  There are no trail markers here but right will eventually take you to Chainsaw.

 

Continuing along the creek you come to another junction; go right again and very shortly after you'll see a bridge on the right.  Cross the bridge then prepare for one of the steepest climbs of the day.  It's short but strenuous if you're not in shape.  At the top of this climb is another T, left is Chainsaw so let's hit it.

Chainsaw takes you back up into the forest.  It is dense with a lot of pine and aspen trees.  The trail is packed pretty good with a lot less rock.  It's a climb and may take some effort so be ready.  It isn't all that steep but it will work you out.  At this point the sprinkles start so I know I don't have a lot of time to waste.  At about 8.86 miles you'll reach another junction with Broken Spade trail.  This trail is not well known but the locals are very familiar – you'll find the trail marker about 10 yards in.  This trail is not sanctioned by the USFS but the locals have managed to build quite a fine trail.

Broken Spade was not on the agenda but some locals talked me into it.  This trail cuts through very dense forest, I was actually surprised my Garmin didn't lose signal.  This was also a steady climb and with the sprinkles turning to rain drops I knew this was going to turn out soggy.  Not a lot of rock to speak of, mostly Dirt and the best kind, damp with pulverized wood.  The trail finally spills out back onto FSR 159.  The rain clouds are building, the drops are accelerating and the temperature is dropping, no time for rest – go left for the climb back up FSR 159 to the Zoom trail drop.

From here you'll just be retracing your route.  Sunken Bridges was exhilarating on the way down.  Be careful because there are a lot of rocks.  So now the rain is turning to light hail and I knew I didn't have much time.  I was just past the Sunken Bridges trail marker when the hail came with a vengeance.  By the time I reached the car I was soaking wet, muddy and freezing, man what ride!

Check out my Garmin page at connect.garmin.com/activity/335737046 and follow along as I tour a little of the Winter Park high country.  I also have a website at www.dirt-life.com where you can find twitter updates and even schedule a guided tour.  Thanks again for checking in and I hope to see you on the trails.

Alan