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RAINBOW TRAIL EAST

Published with permission from the guide book: Mellow Mountain Trails Hiking Guide to Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley

by Nathan Ward.

Featuring 27 Fun Day Hikes in Buena Vista & Salida – beginner to expert..
Maps and Elevation Profiles for each ride, including altitude gain and loss.
Local Advice on riding areas and seasons, where to sleep, where to soak, where to find the best pizza, the best coffee and the best bars in Buena Vista & Salida, Colorado.

Rainbow Trail – East

The Rainbow Trail is a long trail that stretches all the way from Silver Creek all the way down the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains toward Westcliffe. Part of it was built during the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps to provide jobs and access for fire fighters. Today, it’s nearly 100 miles of beautiful singletrack.

This hike covers a tiny portion of the entire Rainbow Trail where it crosses Poncha Pass, then climbs and switchbacks steadily up the side of a big ridge. It’s a long climb, but the reward at the top is a beautiful view of the Collegiate Peaks to the west. There are flat open meadows on the way up where you can catch your breath and a small aspen forest at the top that is perfect for a picnic.

Options

For a longer hike, simply continue east along the trail when you reach the top of the ridge. Hike it as far as you like and retrace it back to Poncha Pass. Alternatively, hike up the Rainbow Trail west of the parking area on Poncha Pass/US 285. It’s another great section of trail but you have to hike a long way before you get the big views. This section sees much more mountain bike and motorcycle use.

Trailhead Access & Facilities

From the intersection of US 50 and US 285 in Poncha Springs, turn south and toward Poncha Pass on US 285. Drive 5.3 miles to a pullout on the right side of the highway. There is a sign announcing the Rainbow Trail on both sides of the highway. Park here. To get to the trailhead, cross US 285 to the east side of the highway and look around for the small trail marker by the road. You should find the trail rather easily.

There are no facilities at the trailhead or along the trail.

Location: Poncha Pass, Just Southwest of Salida
Distance: 4.8 Miles – Out & Back
Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours
Best Months: May to October
Trail Type: Singletrack
Difficulty: Strenuous – Loose, Rocky Trail, Climbing
Dog Friendly: Yes – Be Careful Crossing US 285 to Trailhead.
Elevation in Feet: Low Point 8,425; High Point 9,618; Climbs/Descends 1,785
Land Status: San Isabel National Forest
Maps: Trails Illustrated #138
Note: This trail is also open to mountain bikers and motorcycles so keep an eye out for them. You won’t see many, if any.

The Salida Trail & Trail Tales of the Earth Mileage Log

0.0 Trailhead – Begin at the kiosk near the Arkansas River/Steam Plant. The kiosk gives you some interesting facts about the Arkansas River. Turn around and head south on the paved trail. The Steam Plant Theater and Conference Center is on your right – it once housed a 1000-kilowatt steam generator and provided electricity to Salida from 1892 to 1958. Elevation 7,121 ft. (N38°32.28, W105°59.49)
.04 Cross Sackett Street – as a pedestrian you have the right-of-way, but most drivers here don’t know this. Watch for vehicles on all street crossings during this hike.
.06 On the right is the AHRA headquarters and it’s worth visiting to learn more about the Upper Arkansas River Valley.
0.1 Cross First Street.
0.2 Cross Second Street.
0.3 Cross Third Street. If you wish, walk to the right here a few yards to visit Monarch Spur Park. The flowers and trees are native to this area. The park is named after the Monarch Spur railroad line, which once ran along this trail.
0.4 Cross Fifth Street. Note the trail sign. This trail is funded by the Colorado State Parks and the City of Salida.
0.6 Cross Seventh Street. Look for the “Angel of Shavano” on Mount Shavano (14,229 ft.) several miles to the northwest. You can see this snow formation in the spring or late fall.
0.7 Rest on a bench on the right of the trail.
0.8 Note the structure to the right. What is the origin of this?
0.9 The apple tree on the right produces nice apples every year. Tasty.
1.2 Cross Holman Avenue. The trail here is lined with Russian Olive Trees, a non-native species.
1.7 Bench on the left.
2.0 End of the best part of the trail. You can continue on a bit farther to Walmart (N38°31.63, W 106°01.45)
Turn around and go back the same way to the river. The small mountain on your left as you travel back is Tenderfoot Mountain, or “S Mountain” as the locals call it. In the winter, it’s decorated to look like a giant Christmas tree. No kidding.
4.0 Back at the trailhead.

BE PREPARED

We want you to have a safe and enjoyable trip into Colorado’s backcountry. Be prepared it could be a long walk out. Be sure to read this list of equipment you should bring on your ride along with tips to make your biking trip more enjoyable.

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

The Colorado backcountry is popular – bikers, hikers, motorcycle riders, hunters and equestrians use the trail system in the Arkansas Valley, and everyone wants a private piece of heaven. Even if you don’t agree with everyone’s motives or methods of travel, please treat them in a courteous manner.

CORSAR CARD

If you require search and rescue services, it can be costly. Buy a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card to protect yourself. Funds from the CORSAR program go into the Colorado Search and Rescue (SAR) Fund. If a CORSAR card holder becomes lost or injured in the backcountry, the Colorado SAR Fund pays eligible search and rescue expenses.

Salida Trail & Trail Tales of the Earth

The Salida Trail is a great hike for people of any age along a paved path wandering through historic downtown Salida and out into fields near town.

Castle Gardens

Castle Gardens hosts a maze of trails among fantastic eroded dirt cliffs – the only landform of this type in the area. This hike follows the dry streambed through the eroded spires and it’s fairly easy and short – the perfect place close to town to take a quick…

Behind Tenderfoot (S) Mountain

The low hills just north of downtown Salida offer a wide variety of nice hiking trails – everything from rocky singletrack to the smooth dirt road that spirals to the top of Tenderfoot Mountain. It’s a perfect area to explore on your own. Simply pick a trail and…

Rainbow Trail East

The Rainbow Trail is a long trail that stretches all the way from Silver Creek all the way down the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains toward Westcliffe.

Starvation Creek

The hike along Starvation Creek follows a winding mountain stream on singletrack through pine, fir and aspen forests, as well as a few grassy meadows. Local legend has it that Starvation Creek got its name when an early fall blizzard trapped a rancher’s cattle in this…

Pass Creek Lake

The hike to Pass Creek Lake climbs to a high mountain basin and lake at treeline. The beginning of the hike is rocky and steep, but the middle gets easier with a gently rolling trail along Pass Creek through pine and aspen forests.

Fooses Creek – Colorado Trail

This hike starts at Fooses Lake and follows a rough road up the Fooses Creek drainage toward the Continental Divide. It’s an easy walk through pine forests and the road is also a section of the Colorado Trail.

Boss Lake

Boss Lake is a small reservoir set in a crown of thick forests. It’s a beautiful spot for a hike and picnic, an overnight camping trip or fishing.

Lost Wonder Hut

Starting in the small town of Garfield, this route follows an old mining road that traces the path of Middle Fork Creek. The destination is the Lost Wonder Hut, the only mountain hut in the Lower Arkansas River Valley. The road is quite steep in places, although it levels out…

Waterdog Lakes

The trail to Waterdog Lakes is a popular hike that leads to scenic lakes beneath the Continental Divide. The lakes are a great spot for an afternoon picnic or fishing trip.

Monarch Crest Trail

The Monarch Crest Trail wanders above treeline for many miles along the spine of the Continental Divide. The views are spectacular in all directions, giving a true feel for the backbone of the United States and the surrounding land.

North Fork to Blank’s Cabin

This is a hike from the North Fork creek drainage on the Colorado Trail from the Angel of Shavano campground to Blank’s Cabin at the base of Mount Shavano (14,229 ft.). The trail climbs steadily to the top of a ridge, with spectacular views to the south.

browns_creek_waterfall_horseback_trail_ride

Brown’s Creek – Wagon Loop Trail

The Wagon Loop Trail circles a section of Brown’s Creek on a pleasant singletrack through pine and aspen forest with lots of interesting big rocks. The trail climbs steadily through the forest on one side of the creek and descends on the other side, before joining a dirt…

Barbara Whipple Trail

Established in 1991, the Barbara Whipple Trail is a popular, historical hike with interpretive signs telling about the olden days in the valley. Starting from the Buena Vista River Park, the trail loops up from the river to the old Midland Railroad grade and back down to the…

Midland Trail

The Midland Trail offers a pleasant hike that is fairly flat and follows the old Midland Railroad Line. It’s called a bike trail, but it’s perfect for hiking too. There are a few railroad relics along the way and big views of the peaks to the west. The terrain is…

Davis Meadow Trail

The Davis Meadow Trail winds through the upper end of the Fourmile Travel Management Area northeast of Buena Vista. It’s a beautiful trail through fir, pine and aspen forest to a serene meadow with old pioneer cabins. It’s a great hike with children and the meadow is…

Colorado Trail South

Chalk Creek flows east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range into the Arkansas River. This beautiful singletrack hike starts at the creek and meanders south on the Colorado Trail. It climbs steadily from the waters of Chalk Creek through pine and aspen forests to a ridge with…

Agnes Vaille Falls

Agnes Vaille Falls is a popular trail for a short, pleasant hike to a beautiful waterfall. The history of Agnes Vaille is on an interpretative sign, located at the beginning of the hike. The views to the southwest are spectacular.

Narrow Gauge Trail

This historic hike follows an old narrow gauge railroad route of a train that ran from Nathrop to Saint Elmo. The trail hugs the north side of Chalk Creek Canyon, directly across from the imposing bulk of the Chalk Cliffs. The gentle out and back route climbs slowly through…

Alpine Tunnel

This hike follows the old railroad grade from the ghost town of Hancock to the East Portal of the historic Alpine Tunnel, one of the great railroad engineering feats of the late 19th Century. The tunnel entrance has collapsed, but the gently climbing rail bed will give you an…

Poplar Gulch

Poplar Gulch lies just outside historic Saint Elmo, a photogenic ghost town with many original buildings. The trail begins at the base of Tincup Pass and winds through pine and aspen forests before switchbacking up the mountain. It climbs along a rushing mountain creek to a…

Colorado Trail South Cottonwood Pass

Beautiful singletrack leads you south on the Colorado Trail from Cottonwood Pass on a rarely hiked section of trail that contours across the base of Sheep Mountain (11,939 ft.). The trail rolls up and down with no major climbing as it crosses streams, winds through pine and aspen…

Denny Creek to Hartenstein Lake

Named for turn of the century Buena Vista Lawyer, George K. Hartenstein, Hartenstein Lake sits in a high basin just below treeline. The hike to the lake climbs steadily and sometimes steeply through pine and aspen forests and small open meadows. The trail is a well-marked, rocky…

Ptarmigan Lake

Named for the lovely ptarmigan birds, which live in the area year-round, Ptarmigan Lake sits in a high mountain cirque of big peaks. The trail starts at Cottonwood Pass and climbs through dense pine forests before breaking out into flowery meadows dotted by small ponds.

South Texas Creek

The South Texas Creek Trail is a classic hike through high altitude tundra above treeline. The trail starts at the top of Cottonwood Pass and heads directly east down towards Texas Creek through a wilderness of grassy meadows and pine groves with huge views. The trail sees much…

Cottonwood Pass Skyline Hike

The Skyline Hike takes you from the top of Cottonwood Pass to the quick and easy small summit to the southwest. From the top, enjoy a 360º view above treeline – the Collegiate Peaks, the Sawatch Range, Taylor Park and all the way to the Elks near Crested Butte…

Lakeside to Interlaken

Interlaken is a former resort that once rivaled the Broadmoor for being the most luxurious property in Colorado. It was established in 1879 as a popular summer resort for tourists who rode the train to Twin Lakes then took a stage to the resort. Guests enjoyed horseback rides…

Graham Gulch

14ers

If you’re a “peak bagger,” you already know this area well. That’s because Chaffee County holds a unique distinction. It has the highest concentration of mountains over 14,000 feet (or 4,266 meters) in Colorado and the nation. Colorado officially has 54…

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Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
111 E Main St
Buena Vista, CO 81211

Salida Chamber of Commerce
406 W Rainbow Blvd.
Salida, CO 81201

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