0.0 Ride south on the bike path in front of the AHRA building. This is the old route for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad which led from Salida over Marshall Pass to Gunnison.
0.1 Pass the skateboard park and cross 1st Street/US 291. Cyclists do not have the right of way when crossing streets so stop and look for cars before crossing. The remodeled brick home directly across the street is the old Coca Cola Bottling Plant. Continue on the trail through town.
1.2 Turn left (south) on Holman Avenue and ride to US 50.
1.7 Holman Avenue ends at US 50. Turn right (west) and get in the middle turning lane. Ride about 40 yards and turn left (south) on CR 110.
2.2 CR 110 turns to dirt, continue straight. Do not take CR 110A or CR 111. Sustained uphill for next 0.7 mile.
3.2 The road splits. Take the right hand road. A sign reads “CR 110 Ends Here”, but stay on it.
3.4 The road splits again. Take the right hand road.
4.0 The road splits again. Stay to the left going downhill towards the large power tower.
4.1 The road splits again. Take the rough left hand road heading uphill.
4.2 Top of the climb! Spin right toward the power tower for an awesome view. Turn left (east) and follow the road beneath the power line. The road becomes a rocky doubletrack.
5.4 The power line road comes to T-intersection with CR 108A. Turn left downhill.
5.6 At the paved CR 108, continue directly across the road to the dirt doubletrack on the other side under the power line.
6.8 The road splits. Take the left hand road heading north, away from the power line. This section is rougher and sandy with bermed corners. There are singletracks and faint roads turning off the main road, always stay on the main road.
7.5 Continue downhill.
7.5 to 7.6 A singletrack heads uphill to the right. It’s a nice trail that reconnects with the loop. Ride it if you want, otherwise stay on the road and continue downhill.
8.0 The road enters an area trashed by illegal dumping and off-road truck use. 8.4 The road intersects with an unmarked dirt road, turn right (east) toward the highway.
8.5 T-intersection with US 50. Turn right and ride 0.5 mile on pavement.
9.0 Turn left (north) off the highway on CR 102 and cross the bridge over the Arkansas River. After the bridge, turn immediately right (east) and follow the dirt road on the right (south) of the non-stinky stockyards. Stay on the main road as it passes through private property. Cross the cattle guard and continue.
9.5 Turn left (north) on the unmarked road that passes beneath the railroad tracks. In spring this short section is often full of tumbleweeds and requires bushwhacking.
9.6 Old mine on the right. This sandy section offers nice views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range to the south which continues all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
10.4 The road gets rocky and loose, heading up and down a couple of small steep hills.
12.0 Turn right when you intersect with a half-paved road just west of the large gray building
13.1 Turn left (south) on paved CR 175 when the half-paved road ends.
13.3 At the stop sign, turn left (south) and stay on CR 175.
13.5 T-intersection with US 50. Turn left (east).
14.0 Turn left (north) on M Street and ride one block.
14.1 Turn right (east) on Sackett Street.
14.4 Finish the ride where you started, or continue half a block further to the boat ramp and swim in the Arkansas