S Mountain (Arkansas Hills)
Salida's backyard trail system: stacked loops from mellow flow to exposed tech, all starting two blocks from downtown.
Trail beta
Park at the large lot at the east end of F Street downtown. Tenderfoot switchbacks up the west side of Tenderfoot Hill. Frontside is the fast way up but has exposure. Beginners take Tenderfoot instead. Good combos: Tenderfoot to Backbone to Cottonwood connector for mellow, or Frontside to Hooligan to Dude Abides for tech. Chicken Dinner and Rusty Lung are the flow trails.
When to go
Rides year-round. Snow-free most of winter at lower elevations. The closest trails to downtown Salida. Higher loops (Hooligan, Dude Abides) may hold snow longer.
E-bikes
E-bikes only on designated motorized trails. Most S Mountain trails are BLM/USFS non-motorized. Check current regulations.