Fun new trail found I'll admit I might be biased. I lived in Leadville for a couple of stints when I first landed in Colorado (after a month of camping in the Walmart parking lot in Salida got a little old. In January). But I really feel that Leadville has it going on. If you are not riding there, at least a few times a summer, you are doing something wrong. And I know most of you are not riding there, because nearly nobody is. I suppose that's part of the allure.
For me, today began at 3 am, when my phone screamed for me to get up and go to the ER for a very long case. After all the evidence was collected and both patients were discharged, I felt too sleep deprived to head to Keystone and bomb down lift-served terrain all afternoon. Add to that Tucker's big, brown eyes, begging for me to take him somewhere with an abundance of ground squirrels, and I decided to get out of Summit County for a the rest of the day.
I landed a half hour away in another world. "Cloud City" is sort of a thriving ghost town. In the late 1800's, Leadville rivaled Denver in size and stature. Today, its a colorful collection of run down, saggy-roofed homes and mine tailings. Its an EPA Superfund site. Despite the toxic waste and the lack of oxygen, Leadville holds a mysterious allure.
For me, today began at 3 am, when my phone screamed for me to get up and go to the ER for a very long case. After all the evidence was collected and both patients were discharged, I felt too sleep deprived to head to Keystone and bomb down lift-served terrain all afternoon. Add to that Tucker's big, brown eyes, begging for me to take him somewhere with an abundance of ground squirrels, and I decided to get out of Summit County for a the rest of the day.
I landed a half hour away in another world. "Cloud City" is sort of a thriving ghost town. In the late 1800's, Leadville rivaled Denver in size and stature. Today, its a colorful collection of run down, saggy-roofed homes and mine tailings. Its an EPA Superfund site. Despite the toxic waste and the lack of oxygen, Leadville holds a mysterious allure.
You are here The Cloud City Wheelers, in cahoots with IMBA, have been doing an incredible amount of trail work over the past few years since I last lived in Leadville. The result is a delightful network of well- engineered, well-maintained, flowy, subalpine, single track. The Timberline Trails were likely named for the Timberline campus of CMC where the trailhead is located. Riding them was a blast today and gave me an ear-to-ear grin, despite the sleep depriation. Tucker had fun too.
For starters, unlike so many trail systems, Timberline is really well-marked with maps and signs. It is virtually impossible to get lost there. Paranoia caused me to take a picture of the map at the trailhead with my phone, but this proved unnecessary as there was an abundance of maps and signs at nearly every junction. Which was handy, because unlike other trail networks that you find on the edge of a town (Emerald Mountain in Steamboat, Lunch Loops in Grand Junction, Telegraph in Durango, Phil's in Bend or Cortez to name a few), there was not another soul on the trail. There was nobody to ask me directions (and vice versa). On a Saturday afternoon, mind you. Blue skies. 70 degrees. Perfect. PERFECT.
Meanwhile, back in Summit County, bikes are whizzing by my house in hordes while Oktoberfest rages in Breckenridge. Summit County, according to some, is basically a suburb of Denver. Yet, Leadville, just 30 miles south on Hwy 91, is a peaceful gem of mountain biking shangri-la.
Behold:
For starters, unlike so many trail systems, Timberline is really well-marked with maps and signs. It is virtually impossible to get lost there. Paranoia caused me to take a picture of the map at the trailhead with my phone, but this proved unnecessary as there was an abundance of maps and signs at nearly every junction. Which was handy, because unlike other trail networks that you find on the edge of a town (Emerald Mountain in Steamboat, Lunch Loops in Grand Junction, Telegraph in Durango, Phil's in Bend or Cortez to name a few), there was not another soul on the trail. There was nobody to ask me directions (and vice versa). On a Saturday afternoon, mind you. Blue skies. 70 degrees. Perfect. PERFECT.
Meanwhile, back in Summit County, bikes are whizzing by my house in hordes while Oktoberfest rages in Breckenridge. Summit County, according to some, is basically a suburb of Denver. Yet, Leadville, just 30 miles south on Hwy 91, is a peaceful gem of mountain biking shangri-la.
Behold:
The trails are varied and all quite enjoyable. I particularly fancied Golddigger and Cold Feet, which included playful natural rock and boulder features as well as some new man-made park features. I would highly recommend Cold Feet to any ladies out there looking to start hitting drops and features. I rode it twice today. If you want a jaw-dropping view of Mt Massive and Mt Elbert with a sprinkling of golden quaking aspens all around you, pedal up to Upper Deck. Bring a beer. The deck is a nice place to soak up some sun and some suds.
Tucker wishes he'd remembered to bring beer.
Other enjoyable rides in Leaville:
- Various segments of the Colorado Trail.
- Twin Lakes- Interlaken.
- Turquoise Lakeshore out and back.
- Mt Elbert Enduro.
- Hagerman Lake/ Tunnel trail.
- Various unmarked secret trails on the East Side of town.
- Check out the pump track in the middle of town. I challenge you to find a pump track with a finer view.
- Various segments of the Colorado Trail.
- Twin Lakes- Interlaken.
- Turquoise Lakeshore out and back.
- Mt Elbert Enduro.
- Hagerman Lake/ Tunnel trail.
- Various unmarked secret trails on the East Side of town.
- Check out the pump track in the middle of town. I challenge you to find a pump track with a finer view.
Pump track in the heart of Leadville
Best pie in Colorado. After your ride, stop in for a slice of the best pizza pie in Colorado at High Mountain Pies. Its almost worth the trip by itself. I'm not kidding- they catered my wedding. Sit outside in the backyard and BYO Beer. They don't mind, which is nice, as they don't serve alcohol.
If you're not sold on Leaville by this point, and your still reading, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you should consider going bowling as there is a lovely bowling alley in town. If you are ready to ride in Leadville, drop me a line and I'd love to ride with you there. Or just show up and stop by Cycles of Life, the local bike shop.
Either way, get thee to Leadville already.
Either way, get thee to Leadville already.
