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Buena
Vista, Colorado
ATV Historical Color Tour
Sample ATV Trail Routes |
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Timberline Motorsports |
Listed below are
descriptions of some of the
ATV Trail Routes that
will be available for riding during the rally.
Two years ago we got approval for two new routes ... Hagerman Pass and Mt. Bross/Bristlecone Scenic Area. We expect to have these on our permit again this year as the response was very positive. One change is that last year, we started Mt. Bross from Leadville which involved a trek over Mosquito Pass. This made for a very long ride over some rough terrain. For 2013 we will start the Bross ride from the Alma area, pending approval from the South Park Ranger District. Also, we added the Texas Creek OHV Area last year. This involves the longest trailering on the Tour but is the lowest elevation. This may be our bad weather alternative in case of cold weather in the higher elevations. Again, pending approval from the BLM. Also we applied for Breakneck Pass/Rough & Tumbling Creek just over Trout Creek Pass. If we get this, we will drop one or two other routes. Sorry, but we will not know what is on our permit until just before the Tour.
Please check the site for dates in various locations.
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| Easy-Moderate |
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| Moderate |
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| Moderate-Difficult |
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| Difficult |
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Six Pac Ride
Rating:
Actually six passes, Hancock, Tomichi, Black Sage, Wauneta, Napoleon and Tin Cup. These are not that difficult but there is some exposure and a deep stream crossing. The difficult rating is primarily for the length of the ride (85 miles) and a steady (meaning not slow) pace that has to be maintained to complete this ride. This is one of the few guided rides. High critter, history and color factor.
Mosquito Pass
Rating:
This is the highest pass in the United States at over 13,000 ft. Prior to summiting you will go through some of the highest concentrations of old mines on the planet, with much of the infrastructure still standing. There isn't a lot of color, there's some exposure, and the critter factor is fairly low, but the history is very high.
Otto Mears Toll Road to Bonanza
Rating:
This route has more historic value than most and very different mountain scenery.
You’ll get up close and personal to several mine sites, many with buildings
still standing. Lots of Aspen and this trail now makes a loop. A few side routes
can be challenging.
Hancock/Tin Cup Loop
Rating:
This route is a scenic masterpiece with high mountain vistas, old mine sites,
several ghost towns. You can ride right into the towns of Pitkin, Tin Cup,
and Taylor Park and get lunch. It’s a full day’s ride.
Mt. Antero/Baldwin Lake
Rating:
This route will take you higher than any other on the Tour. The highest point
is 13,700’ and the summit at 14,269’ is a short hike from there.
4WD is necessary for heavier machines and all will need a few ponies. You’ll
visit 2 high mountain lakes and a couple of mines. Look around near the summit
of Antero for aquamarine and quartz, minerals that are still mined today on
active claims. A few aspen areas.
Iron Chest and Pomoroy Lakes
Rating:
These are two different routes very close together. Each is up and back, not heavily traveled and go above Timberline. Pomeroy Lakes are beautiful and rarely fished and Upper Pomeroy (a short walk) contains Arctic Grayling. Both have color and Iron Chest (named for the most obvious mine up there) has history.
Mineral Basin/Ptarmigan Lake
Rating:
This route begins at beautiful Cottonwood Lake and is not heavily traveled.
It and all the side routes are up and back with critter sightings common and
lots of beaver ponds. Ptarmigan Lake holds some big and hungry trout and Ptarmigan
(Colorado’s unofficial state bird) hide in the surrounding rocks. Side
trip Hope Gulch is a beautiful up and back route over a saddle looking down
into the Chalk Creek drainage.
Twin Lakes/Lost Canyon
Rating:
Two different routes that require trailering to each, but worth the effort.
Aspen trees abound at Twin Lakes and the views from each are incredible. At
the top of Lost Canyon you’ll stare right into the faces of Mt’s.
Belford, Oxford, Missouri and Huron …14’ers all. At the Twin Lakes
trail, you’ll visit old mines and mills with colorful rocks. From the
top of Twin Lakes trail you can look across the valley into the famous California
Gulch Mining District and Leadville.
4 Mile Area
Rating:
Named for the creek running through it, it’s one of two routes that are
on the eastern side of the valley (Ruby Mtn. being the other). These are easy,
high clearance roads going through Pinion Forests and high desert. The only
moderate parts are on the ATV trail system. You’ll have panoramic views
of the Sawatch Range across the valley. Critters here include Big Horns, deer,
elk, bear and (rarely) mountain lion.
Ruby Mountain/Aspen Ridge
Rating: to
The extreme sections are easy to avoid and the easy ones are loads of fun.
New ATV trails cut through the Pinions, and Aspen Ridge in the fall will blow
you over with color. Similar in terrain, views and critters to 4 Mile.
Mt. Bross/Bristlecone Scenic Area
Rating:
We hope to start this ride from Alma instead of Leadville, cutting off miles of rough riding. This is one of the highest roads in the US at 14,172. Bristlecone Scenic Area along the way is chock full of the not-too-common Bristlecone Pines, many of them hundreds of years old. Critter factor is fair to low with some sightings of Mt. Goats and Bighorn Sheep.
Hagerman Pass
Rating:
Mostly an old railroad bed leaving Turquoise Lake near Leadville and dropping down into the Frying Pan River drainage. Ivanhoe Reservoir is along the way. Very scenic, especially Hell's Gate Canyon. Side routes take you to some very scenic and rarely visited lakes and to the historic "Coke Ovens". Critter factor is fairly low, but scenery is right up there with the best.
Texas Creek
Rating:
Texas Creek is our low elevation, bad weather area. We will schedule this on any days where snow might be predicted in the high country or if no snow is predicted, we will schedule it probably for Friday. It is about an hour commute but worth the effort. Most of the trails are specific ATV trails, with twists and turns and different scenery than other areas.
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