Salida in 3 Days: Town Trails to the Continental Divide
Salida sits at 7,000 feet with trails starting two blocks from downtown, so you can ride the day you arrive and still walk to a brewery on the Arkansas River that evening. This three-day plan stays on intermediate terrain: town loops on S Mountain, a shuttle lap down Cottonwood, and the Silver Creek-Rainbow loop that shares its finish with the famous Monarch Crest. If you're a strong intermediate who's good with long days and altitude, the Crest is the obvious upgrade, and we flag exactly where to add it.
The plan
Three days building from downtown town trails to a self-powered alpine loop, with the Monarch Crest as an honest optional stretch.
S Mountain and acclimation
Morning: Rent at SubCulture Cyclery on N G St, right at the base of the Arkansas Hills, then ride straight up from the F Street lot. Take Tenderfoot's switchbacks to skip the exposed Frontside climb, then link Backbone and the Cottonwood connector for a mellow first loop while your lungs adjust to 7,000 feet.
Afternoon: If you feel good, add the Chicken Dinner and Rusty Lung flow trails, or spin over to Methodist Mountain and ride Little Rainbow Trail, the mellow 5-mile starter on the south side.
Eats: Tres Litros Beer Co., walkable from the S Mountain trailhead with maps all over the walls and outside food welcome.
Cottonwood shuttle
Morning: Book the Absolute Bikes shuttle (Fri, Sat, or Sun at 8am, $30 per person) up CR 175 to the top of Cottonwood. The descent runs 7.5 miles of singletrack through pine, starting on Beasway Trail before the notorious 'Waterfall,' a technical canyon section with big rock features. Walk it first if it looks over your head, then enjoy the Cottonwood Gulch payoff below.
Afternoon: It's a short ride, so cruise back to town and spin an easy S Mountain lap or just rest the legs for tomorrow.
Eats: Soulcraft Brewing on W Rainbow Blvd, the best post-ride patio in town, with the Soul Shack food truck so you never have to move.
Silver Creek-Rainbow alpine loop
Morning: Drive to the Rainbow Trailhead at the Hwy 285/Mears Junction and ride the loop counter-clockwise: 9 miles up Silver Creek Road at a mellow grade, then 11.3 miles of Rainbow Trail #1336 singletrack back to the car, about 19 miles total. This is the section Monarch Crest descends into, so it's your honest taste of the high country before you commit to the full Epic.
Afternoon: Optional upgrade: if you rode strong all week and you're comfortable with exposure, long days, and afternoon weather, this is the day to swap in Monarch Crest instead (rated advanced, shuttle from Absolute Bikes or High Valley Bike Shuttle). It's a real step up from everything else here, so be honest with yourself.
Eats: The Biker & The Baker downtown, rooftop patio over the Arkansas River and a menu built for hungry riders.
Getting there
Fly in
- COSColorado Springs2 hr 15 min to town
- DENDenver IntlMost flight options2 hr 45 min to town
Drive in
- From Colorado Springs, CO2 hr 15 min
- From Denver, CO2 hr 45 min
- From Crested Butte, CO2 hr 15 min
No commercial airport in town.
Drive times are approximate.