Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pat Mattson on February 12, 2011 at 7:16pm

Around Deckers, Pine and Buffalo Creek is a few state forest camp grounds and primitive sites. For riding you have Buffalo Creek Recreation Area and the Colorado Trail. Buff Creak is not very technical and it flows. The Colorado Trail in that area has the same flowing trails and they connect.

On a side note, the fishing is world class in that area too.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Tim Bergsten on February 12, 2011 at 8:58pm

Hey Jon,

Pat is on to it. North of Deckers the Colorado Trail crosses the Hwy 126. There is trailhead close to an intersection with Forest Service Road 550, which goes west.

http://www.thecoloradotrail.com/trailheads1.htm

This is a great place to ride. If you do some research, you'll find maps with miles of single track trail in this area.

There are lots of campgrounds in the area. This area burned about 12 years ago (not all of it) so it makes for some interesting riding. I went during a wet June and the forest floor was covered with a carpet of green with lots of wildflowers.

Buffalo Creek runs through the area, but it is very tiny, so it may not be much for fishing.

http://www.thecoloradotrail.com/segment2/segment2.htm

A great place to ride is the Buena Vista and Salida areas...miles of trails. There is also excellent fishing there on the Arkansas River and Cottonwood Lake, a good place to go if you really want to catch a fish. Plus it is a drop-dead beautiful location. Lots of places to camp.

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=11241#trailid=BGR022-016&a...

http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=166&trail_name=Col...

 

 

Permalink Reply by Pat Mattson on February 12, 2011 at 9:43pm

Hey Tim, Platte River not Buff Creek, however you can get some nice brookies out of Buff Creek :)

Permalink Reply by Tim Bergsten on February 12, 2011 at 10:31pm

Yeah...for sure. I completely forgot about the N. Fork of the South Platte. Never fished there. Never could make myself drive past Deckers.

Permalink Reply by Brian McCarrie on February 13, 2011 at 7:59am

Hey Jon, you could be on to something there. I'd enjoy the same resource, camping by bike in Colorado. I know I've camped around Beckenridge, have taken my mountain bike and rode the trails around Breck while there. Also, I camped right outside of Durango and rode part of the Colorado Trail there.

Permalink Reply by CODave on February 15, 2011 at 8:15am

Our bikes always go with when we camp. And usualy find something interesting to ride.

 

I have found amazing trails at State Forest State Park. Swoopy fast singletrack, the dirt roads connect a lot of trails (and very little traffic.) Great stuff in the trees just outside of Bockman. The rangers have maps they carry with them and there are some amazing trails. Not much fishing, there is a small res. but I've never fished it.

Sylvan Lake State park has serious trails, some are major hike-a-bike adventures... and you can easily smoke your brakes on the way back. The rangers have a nice selection of handouts for every different one. Most are hiking trails but they are open to bikes and everyone I've met on them was ery nice about sharing! Nice short loop around the lake, too bad the boy got distracted by jumping trout and crashed. Quiet park, good fishing reservoir fishing as well. Wade in and sight fish all morning, then come back as dusk. Watch the ducks though, they'll take your fly right off the surface then good luck getting them off!

Epic fishing around Taylor, and you can ride Tin Cup. Or nice long road rides too.

Lots of riding around Chatfield of course. And Cherry Creek. And any of the campgrounds around Leadville can open up to some great trails. You can camp free at Clear Creek Reservoir and ride up County Road 390. Several trails are in the area. Also a short drive to the fish hatchery and the trail there.

Permalink Reply by Jon Zanone on February 17, 2011 at 9:39pm

Thanks everyone!  I'm going to use these suggestions for a couple of nice weekends this spring / summer.

 

Jon

Permalink Reply by Rob Klausch on February 24, 2011 at 5:14pm

Jon,

When you go to Highline Stae park, from the park back to I70 if you cross over the express way turn to the right and follow the road there it will take you to a parking lot. Pass that one and drive all the way to the back and you will find some great loops to ride. I believe one is called Rustlers and the other is Mary something. The first is a good warm up and the second is pretty challenging. Then if you head into Fruita and check with the shops they will direct you to some very serious areas to ride. Every October a group from CSWest bikes rents an area at Highline and we hit the trails for the weekend. Stop by anytime and they will tell you all about it.