Does anyone know of ATV trails by Mt Princeton/Buena Vista? Also directions to the trail heads. Is there any up the road from County RD 262 on the way to the hot springs?
Thanks.
Thanks.
ATV trails by Mt Princeton/Buena Vista?
- Thread starter shonuff
- Start date
Just past the hot springs you can go up MT Antero to about 14,000 feet and back down, it is about 14 miles one way.
Go on to St Elmo and there is a big loop you can do over Hancock Pass, Alpine Tunnel road and then either Napoleon or Cumberland Pass to the town of Tincup and then Tincup Pass back to St Elmo.
Probably still some snow still there now.
There also is a trail that goes 3/4 the way up Mt Princeton.
These are all Jeep trails which are done by many ATVs.
It is not legal to ride ATVs on the dirt road going into St Elmo though.
Go on to St Elmo and there is a big loop you can do over Hancock Pass, Alpine Tunnel road and then either Napoleon or Cumberland Pass to the town of Tincup and then Tincup Pass back to St Elmo.
Probably still some snow still there now.
There also is a trail that goes 3/4 the way up Mt Princeton.
These are all Jeep trails which are done by many ATVs.
It is not legal to ride ATVs on the dirt road going into St Elmo though.
Great Thanks!!
Are the trail heads/unloading parking lots pretty obvious?
Are the trail heads/unloading parking lots pretty obvious?
There is a sign and a wide spot in the road to park at the Mt Antero trailhead.
A few miles up take a left through the creek and keep to the left at a couple Ys farther up will take you to the top where the trail ends. You have to hike a little to get to the top of the peak.
There is parking just before you get to St Elmo at a wide spot in the road.
The trailhead to Hancock Pass cuts off to the left before town.
You have to go through town and make a couple turns to get to the Tincup Pass trailhead. Should get a map or use a GPS to do the whole loop for the 1st time.
A few miles up take a left through the creek and keep to the left at a couple Ys farther up will take you to the top where the trail ends. You have to hike a little to get to the top of the peak.
There is parking just before you get to St Elmo at a wide spot in the road.
The trailhead to Hancock Pass cuts off to the left before town.
You have to go through town and make a couple turns to get to the Tincup Pass trailhead. Should get a map or use a GPS to do the whole loop for the 1st time.
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Each Sept there is a Fall Color Tour (ATV trail ride) based in Buena Vista. Check with the Visitor Center to see if they have a booklet on that.
We bought one a few years ago and it listed a lot of trails in that area, including history of things you will see on each trail, trail descriptions, difficulty level and basic navigational maps. Probably $25-30 for the booklet and worth every penny.
We bought one a few years ago and it listed a lot of trails in that area, including history of things you will see on each trail, trail descriptions, difficulty level and basic navigational maps. Probably $25-30 for the booklet and worth every penny.
Thanks guys for the info!
The passes are still closed by snow also - Hancock & Tincup.
Pomeroy/Mary Murphy is clear as well as Iron Chest and the road to Hancock Lakes.
Pomeroy/Mary Murphy is clear as well as Iron Chest and the road to Hancock Lakes.
How much snow & what is the projected melt-off date? We are heading there in a few weeks.
Which side of Cottonwood has better ATV trails (Taylor Park or Buena Vista)?
Which side of Cottonwood has better ATV trails (Taylor Park or Buena Vista)?
Taylor Park
Someone usually shovels out or breaks through the last drifts on the passes by July 4th. There is no riding out of Buena Vista, but it is about the only place to to stay with multiple lodging, food and bar options. If you want to ride from your room stay at Taylor Park. If you choose Buena Vista, the one advantage you have when trailering is that you can pick different trailheads.
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Tincup Pass should be open by now, at least from the Mirror lake side. I was up last week and there was a group of Jeepers that had almost cut through.
Fourmile is a good suggestion, There are some pretty rough trails too if you like that sort of thing.
Fourmile is a good suggestion, There are some pretty rough trails too if you like that sort of thing.
Great info. We are heading down there for some camping for 4th July weekend of dirtbiking! I like the idea of picking up the local map.
I've ridden the Four Mile area. Thought it was a little too mellow (maybe I didn't go on the more difficult trails) but would be a good first day ride if newbies were in the group.
We did the St Elmo-Tin Cup-Cumberland-Hancock loop one day. Very scenic. Full day ride for sightseeing. 56 miles or so.
Haven't done any other ATV trails on the West side of the pass. Just wondering how they are in difficulty & scenery compared to the Tin Cup loop.
We are going to camp on the Taylor Park side, boondock style in Toy Hauler camper. Looking for suggestions where to camp relative to good trail access for a variety of trails.
Last time I stayed in Taylor Park 9 years ago we were dirt biking and stayed in the cabins. As I recall, we usually had to ride north many miles to access the trails but maybe that was because we were heading to single track stuff.
This time we are looking for good all-around scenery and/or wildlife.
If anyone is going to be out there the week of July 12th & wants to do some atving or dirt biking, let me know.
We did the St Elmo-Tin Cup-Cumberland-Hancock loop one day. Very scenic. Full day ride for sightseeing. 56 miles or so.
Haven't done any other ATV trails on the West side of the pass. Just wondering how they are in difficulty & scenery compared to the Tin Cup loop.
We are going to camp on the Taylor Park side, boondock style in Toy Hauler camper. Looking for suggestions where to camp relative to good trail access for a variety of trails.
Last time I stayed in Taylor Park 9 years ago we were dirt biking and stayed in the cabins. As I recall, we usually had to ride north many miles to access the trails but maybe that was because we were heading to single track stuff.
This time we are looking for good all-around scenery and/or wildlife.
If anyone is going to be out there the week of July 12th & wants to do some atving or dirt biking, let me know.
4 mile is fun and there are a ton of trails up that way.
Also look into ruby mtn. It is a state park camping area with a ohv drop off point right there. Better riding out of the ruby trail head. The trailhead is about 7-8 miles south of Buena Vista right on the arkansas river at ruby mtn.
Over in taylor look into the timberline trail if you want something that is a bit more. Great single track.. If you want to drive down to salida look into the rainbow trail.. Another section of great single track.
Also look into ruby mtn. It is a state park camping area with a ohv drop off point right there. Better riding out of the ruby trail head. The trailhead is about 7-8 miles south of Buena Vista right on the arkansas river at ruby mtn.
Over in taylor look into the timberline trail if you want something that is a bit more. Great single track.. If you want to drive down to salida look into the rainbow trail.. Another section of great single track.
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