CO Mags - Kenosha Pass East Trail Beta

[Staircase]

Anyone have any suggestions about riding the CT east of Kenosha Pass? Would it be better to drive to the eastern trailhead and ride west to Kenosha and back, or park at Kenosha and ride east out and back?

Any info would be appreciated.

[Rontele]

We did it last fall as a shuttle. As an out and back, parking at the Lost Park Campground would be roughly 42 miles.

Great ride. But you'll need to know how to manuever the wilderness bypass. Not too difficult if you look at a map.

[Staircase]

Found a post on MTBR about skirting the Wilderness, sounds easy enough. Did you start at Kenosha and ride to Lost Park, I am assuming this might be the easiest? Is this ride worth it?

[pechelman]

we rode from the pass to the CG

Personally, I love love love the section of the CT from Kenosha to the wilderness boundary as an out and back. Beyond the CT, and on the road to get to the bypass, was a little bit of suckage. The climb up from there was a bit of suckage too...pretty steep. I also didnt feel the down from there was so fantastic. Some good bits, but the last section our the North Fork Valley (if thats what its called) is uber flat, uber pedaly, and uber moto rutted.

Its a beautiful valley though, so in that respect, its very nice.
We also hit it prime time for leaves so it was ridiculous.
There are other shuttles Id do before this one again I think.
I think its worth doing though at least once, or maybe, just once.

[Rontele]

Found a post on MTBR about skirting the Wilderness, sounds easy enough. Did you start at Kenosha and ride to Lost Park, I am assuming this might be the easiest? Is this ride worth it?

Yes. And Phil, I don't think motos are on that part of the CT. I think its worth doing.

[pechelman]

moto rutted or not, the ruts are huge and deep and narrow.

very difficult to pedal through for me and my low BB bike.
i was also having trouble that day with my shock leaking i think...was probably sagged down to like 11.0" or something ridiculous

edit for a link
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134366&highlight=colorado+cyclist

[Danno]

we rode from the pass to the CG

Personally, I love love love the section of the CT from Kenosha to the wilderness boundary as an out and back. Beyond the CT, and on the road to get to the bypass, was a little bit of suckage. The climb up from there was a bit of suckage too...pretty steep. I also didnt feel the down from there was so fantastic. Some good bits, but the last section our the North Fork Valley (if thats what its called) is uber flat, uber pedaly, and uber moto rutted.

Its a beautiful valley though, so in that respect, its very nice.
We also hit it prime time for leaves so it was ridiculous.
There are other shuttles Id do before this one again I think.
I think its worth doing though at least once, or maybe, just once.

I had the same exact impressions. It was an enjoyable ride, but the only time I'd really consider it again is during leaf season. It's also worth noting that the CG is as high if not higher than Kenosha, so you don't lose elevation by shuttling. And it was one of those rides that felt like it had more uphill than downhill (maybe because it did!).

[flowtron's ghost]

huh.. I really enjoyed that rally down North Fork. I thought it was a geat ride overall. The suckage was the weather more than anything.
It'd be cool to camp at Lost Park and do an out and back from there.

[beast]

We parked at Wellington Lake and rode to the Waterton trailhead. It was a great ride, for sure.

[Rontele]

We parked at Wellington Lake and rode to the Waterton trailhead. It was a great ride, for sure.

When did you do that one beast? We did it last April and it is a great ride.

[beast]

When did you do that one beast? We did it last April and it is a great ride.

Em, May 17 I believe. The climb up from the Platt was a big one, but I still enjoyed it.

[pechelman]

huh.. I really enjoyed that rally down North Fork. I thought it was a geat ride overall. The suckage was the weather more than anything.
It'd be cool to camp at Lost Park and do an out and back from there.

ha
i think the weather is what made it the most memorable.
that valley was pretty, i just couldnt figure it out and find the flow in there what with banging my pedals on the sides of the rutted stuff.

ill also agree with danno that while a shuttle makes it rideable, it doesnt really buy you much if any vert. Infact, I have proof (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6873758)

the rest of the ride, minus the road pedaling, is great. If not for the road, id probably want to go do it as an out and back from kenosha to the top where we stopped to take our last break.


Em, May 17 I believe. The climb up from the Platt was a big one, but I still enjoyed it.

id like to try that climb on fresh legs
its big, but i think its that much more big after all the climbing to get there from wellington.