Monarch crest trail

[rippinstyle]

Heading to salida this weekend. Anyone know if the crest trail is rideable yet? I saw that it is usually not open this time of the year but with a low snow year I was hoping its ready to roll

If it is closed where should I ride?? I have a job interview and am excited to scope some new trails!!!

[Rontele]

Definitely not rideable. Call Absolute Bikes.

[Full Trucker]

Absolute or High Valley Shuttle: http://www.monarchcrest.com/

[BDKeg]

negative...still buried

It won't be good to ride until at least June

http://salidamountaintrails.org/
Salida has a ton of awesome trails to keep you occupied.

[flatlander#2]

Be sure to hit the Boat Rest on the creek, food marginal, beer exceptional, mid 20yr old wait staff ooohhlaaalaaa. Was there last Friday for lunch, and again Sunday forgoing the usual K-Burger in BV stop on the way home.

[lvsper]

Be sure to hit the Boat Rest on the creek

Boathouse Cantina?

forgoing the usual K-Burger in BV stop on the way home.

Not sure that would fly in my family!

[rippinstyle]

Thanks for the input. Sounds like the boathouse will be happening.

Favorite trails in salida?

Any other must hit food joints?

[Full Trucker]

Riverside Rampage is this weekend, so the S-Mountain stuff will all be crawling with the racer-types and such. The Boathouse is pretty good, decent selection of teh beers as well and yeah... wait staff. Personally I'm über down with Los Girasoles in Poncha Springs, although it might have moved? Large Margs and tasty Mexican food, what's better after a ride? For something a bit moar fancier, check out The Fritz in Salida: kind of semi-upscale (it IS Salida, you know) contemporary place with lots of fresh, often locally-sourced ingredients. Quite tasty.

[joetron]

I <3 the Fritz.

[spankthepow]

Heading down solo to do some riding in this area on Saturday while the Miss runs in the Colorado relay. Anyone interested in joining me? I'm on an Enduro and can ride pretty much anything. Would like to get a long ride in, since I'm supposed to do an 18 mile run instead.

[BraddA]

Bump for camping recs. Looking like Coaldale on Hayden Creek is our best bet. Other options?

[sawatchsplitter]

Bump for camping recs. Looking like Coaldale on Hayden Creek is our best bet. Other options?

If you're planning on riding the Crest, Coaldale is NOT the place to camp. Head up Hwy 285 from Poncha Springs and take a right on CR 200 to Silver Creek rd. Near where the Silver Creek trail dumps out at the beginning of the Rainbow Trail are some decent dispersed camps. You could leave your stuff there, ride down to the High Valley Shuttle, shuttle the Crest and return to camp. Want to be closer to Salida? Try the free BLM camp at Salida East...on the left as you are heading down Hwy 50 from Salida about 2 miles out. Or continue another mile down Hwy 50 and take a right on CR 101 (Bear Creek rd) Plenty of dispersed camping up there and you are close to the Bear Creek section of the Rainbow Trail.

[BraddA]

^^^Great, thanks. We were hoping to do a Crest + Rainbow tour, finishing @ camp somewhere on Hayden Creek, but I'm thinking that might render us worthless for the rest of the trip. My understanding is that Rainbow>Crest, at least in terms of fun. Am I way off?

Edit: After another look, Crest + Rainbow would definitely crush me! Looks like Silver Creek might be a nice option.

[sawatchsplitter]

^^^Great, thanks. We were hoping to do a Crest + Rainbow tour, finishing @ camp somewhere on Hayden Creek, but I'm thinking that might render us worthless for the rest of the trip. My understanding is that Rainbow>Crest, at least in terms of fun. Am I way off?

Edit: After another look, Crest + Rainbow would definitely crush me! Looks like Silver Creek might be a nice option.

The Rainbow trail south of Bear Creek is really rough and moto'd out. Would not suggest riding that to Hayden Pass. Take the Crest to Silver Creek. Hopefully you have made camp somewhere near here. If you are still feeling strong continue on the Rainbow for another 6-9 miles of sweet single track. Not sure I would consider Rainbow being more fun than Crest, but it certainly is a good add-on. Starvation Creek is another fun option that brings you down to the same general area while being a bit shorter.
http://www.bikerag.com/images/MAPS/C..._crest_hlm.JPG

[brettf]

Second that on the stuff east from Bear Creek. It's a great adventure, but sends you way out and the trail becomes increasingly rough. Where is it that the ATVs become legal? I think it's Cherry Creek is where that starts - then anywhere east/south of there is legal for ATVs, so the trail goes to shit.

[reidhresko]

stop into Sweeties Bakery downtown, buy a dank baked good, and ask for Rob. He is a baller and will give you trail beta on what is best right now. "john in squamish" is the magic ticket to all the info you could ever want.

[BraddA]

Thanks for the info everyone. Should be a nice little trip.

[Danno]

Starvation is recommended for sure. Have also done the Crest to Rainbow and bailed down off Rainbow before 285, right down to my campsite along the creek.

[grskier]

Bump, anybody going to be around on the 4th?

[kidwoo]

Bump, anybody going to be around on the 4th?

I might be (more likely right after). That shizz clear yet or what?


edit: nope

[Lindahl]

Yeah, I heard it's still a while out from being ready. Might even be an August year...

[flatlander#2]

I've been down that way the last two weekends. The trails near town are drier than a popcorn fart, rafting is good.

[Danno]

what's a popcorn fart?

[Hott Butt Mud]

I drove over the pass yesterday. Def did not see anyone up there with bikes in the lot. There's still some big drifts of snow on the ridge lines in that area, but I gotta think it's going to be ready soon. There just didn't seem to be that much snow around.

I did ride Reno/Bear/Flag/Deadmans and that's good-to-go if that helps anyone.

[grskier]

I might be (more likely right after). That shizz clear yet or what?


edit: nope

There is a few trails just lower in the valley.. where are you going to be at/when?