Originally Posted by
efrobert
I have two questions. Only one is bike related.
So, I moved to Colorado back in April and have been mostly road biking. I have the DBTC map and it's pretty good. I bought a new mountain bike recently and am looking for some trails to ride. Can someone recommend a good map or web site where I can find some good trails and descriptions?
Now my second questions is like my first except it pertains to Hiking. I'm looking for some good hiking trail guides. NoT day hiking, more like 3 or 4 day overnight hikes. I moved here from RI and have some really good books for New Hampshire, Vermont, Mass. The AMC trail guides and maps are very descriptive, listing terrain, mileage, tent sites, water sources. It's really easy to plan out a multi day hike.
I'm looking for the same type of thing for Colorado.
On-line:
MTBR has lots of suggestions but take the ratings with a grain of salt.
REI carries lots of maps for different areas and activities.
Places that are good for riding include Green Mountain, Mathews-Winters/Hogback trail, White Ranch (although it's not my favorite), South Table Mountain, North Table Mountain, Bear Creek Lake, Bear Creek Park from Wadsworth into the Lake (not steep, not rough but lots of tight trails in the trees). Later in the year, Buffalo Creek, Aldefer-Three Sisters, Elk Meadow, Hall Ranch, Apex and the Argentine Railroad to Waldorf are all good. Fisco to Breckenridge or any number of trails in the Breckenridge area are good in late June.
Epic rides are Monarch Crest, the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel to the west portal and back (long, beautiful and relatively easy.), Rainbow Trail, and many others.
One of my favorite short epic rides isn't even in the mountains. The Picket Wire Canyon far into the southeastern corner of the state is a 17 mile relatively easy ride that takes a minimum of 6 hours to enjoy. What it doesn't have in terms of toughness it more than makes up in terms of stuff to see and do. The main attraction is a dinosaur trackway but it also has ruins of a early 20th Century hispanic settlement, petroglyphs, tarantulas, etc. I've been down there 2 dozen times and I still find new stuff every time I go.
I may have to take you hosers down there next fall
