9 km away
Buck Gulch -> Strawberry Jack Loop
Access the Buffalo Creek trail system from an underutilized trailhead.
Moderate Mountain Biking
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 398 m
- Descent
- 398 m
Colorado Trail: Lost Creek Wilderness Bypass
Buffalo Creek
Fairplay
Salida
A gravel road portion of the route along the edge of the expansive South Park Valley.
Mountain Biking Easy
- Distance
- 112 km
- Ascent
- 2.3 km
- Descent
- 1.9 km
- Duration
- 1 day +
- Low Point
- 2.3 km
- High Point
- 3 km
- Gradient
- 4˚
The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long distance mountain bike trails in the world. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. The COT forms one third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
Description
Since mountain bikes are currently banned from Wilderness areas in the United States, riders must detour around the Lost Creek Wilderness using this route to regain the singletrack COT just northeast of Kenosha Pass.
This reroute follows dirt roads south from the Buffalo Creek area, dropping into the wide-open, beautiful, and remote South Park Valley. Despite being on gravel road instead of singletrack, the scenery here is wild and beautiful.
Difficulty
Easy
Mostly smooth and non-technical singletrack with unavoidable obstacles 2in/5cm tall or less. Avoidable obstacles may be present. Ideal for beginner riders.
Medium Exposure
The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.
Remoteness
Away from help but easily accessed.
Best time to visit
Features
- Road sections
Similar routes nearby
Guidebooks in this area
26 routes · Mountain Biking
Mountain Bike the Breathtaking Colorado Trail
6 routes · Mountain Biking
Denver’s Favorite Front Range MTB Hotspot: Buffalo Creek
- •
- •