mountain biking
In Salida, mountain bikers have a wide variety of trails to ride right from town on Arkansas Hills or Methodist Mountain trails. Among a multitude of choices outside of town, the famed Monarch Crest Trail starts at the top of Monarch Pass and connections to the Colorado Trail are just off U.S. 50 between Maysville and Garfield.
Monarch Crest Trail
Monarch Crest Trail
The Monarch Crest Trail in Salida, Colorado, is a popular mountain biking trail that connects to the Colorado Trail and is located near Maysville. Specifically, the Monarch Crest Trail starts at the top of Monarch Pass and has connections to the Colorado Trail near U.S. 50 between Maysville and Garfield. The trail features a combination of dirt road, doubletrack, and singletrack, with varying degrees of difficulty.
Arkansas Hills trail system
Conveniently located near downtown Salida, the Arkansas Hills Trail System features about 20 different trails of varying difficulty levels. Many of them offer lovely valley and town views. Depending on your preferences, you can easily mix and match them to suit your needs. You can rent a bike in town, ride over to the F Street bridge (which provides trail access), explore the trail system, and then head back to town for some well-deserved food and drink. The Salida Mountain Trails website has a map of all the system trails. While we suggest taking the time to ride as many trails as possible, three of our top picks are below.
Uncle Nazty
Clocking in at just under a mile, the Uncle Nazty Trail gives riders a challenging, but thrilling, downhill ride. There are lots of rocky and steep sections that require a good amount of both confidence and skill. This trail is best suited for experienced riders as you’ll come across narrow parts where you’ll have to make a quick decision as to whether you want to attempt them or dismount and walk your bike through them. On a related note, due to the number of drops and the bumpy terrain, it’s best to make sure your bike’s suspension is in tip-top shape before you ride this trail.
Chicken Dinner
The Chicken Dinner Trail boasts lots of different features that are sure to keep you on your toes (so to speak). On this two-mile, intermediate trail, there are rollers, berms, rock gardens, and more. Completed in December 2016, it’s one of the newest additions to the trail system. It’s a great choice for those who are looking for a fun, and occasionally challenging, ride. The trail is considered to be bi-directional, but if you choose to take the downhill route, be aware that trail includes some hairpin turns that can sneak up on you as you gain speed.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood Trail, rated as intermediate, is one of the longest trails in the system at about 7.5 miles. It’s lots of fun, but also, lots of work at times. The downhill route includes some sustained technical sections, but the ride never fails to thrill and entertain. This mountain biking trail has been a local favorite for many years thanks to its variety of features. It’s one of those trails where every time you take it, you notice something else you hadn’t seen before, making every ride feel like it’s unique. The trail includes forested and open sections as well as some great views of Salida and the valley.
