Silver Creek - Rainbow Trail Loop
The locals' favorite shoulder-season ride: 9 miles of mellow road climb to 11 miles of singletrack through forest and high meadows with big views.
Trail beta
Park at Hwy 285/Mears Junction at the Rainbow Trailhead. Ride 9 miles up CR 47YY/Silver Creek Road: mellow grade, only steepens near the top. Hop on Rainbow Trail #1336 and ride 11.3 miles of singletrack back to your car. Counter-clockwise is the standard direction (road up, singletrack down). Total ~19 miles. Beaver ponds and willows on the road, dense forest and meadow blowouts on the trail.
When to go
Prime in May and early June before Monarch Crest melts out, and again in October after it closes. Lower elevation than the Crest so it opens earlier and stays open later. The go-to ride when the Crest is still snowed in.
E-bikes
Rainbow Trail is open to motorized use (dirt bikes, ATVs): e-bikes are legal here. Expect occasional moto traffic.