Rainbow Trail – Salida Colorado

On Friday was touring Salida with a Realtor looking at regional properties. Afternoon ride through town and up the Arkansas for a couple of miles. Saturday visited the Little Rainbow trail by way of the trail ‘Race Track’. First two miles were mostly uphill and steep, but the views and a hidden rock valley was worth every breath.

Sunday drove home early but visited a segment far south of Chatfield State park infrequently visited. Overall an awesome weekend. The new drive train was awesome. Pedaled comfy like up some inclines that previously may have been walked.

Above – photo from the overlook to Collegiate Peaks. Bright and early you see fresh snow that fell last night.
Above: Looking southwest. Monarch Pass is directly ahead in the center. Somewhere.
Westward facing towards Mt. Antero (14k).
Mt Antero got a fair amount of fresh snow.
This is intersection of Little Rainbow trail and trail ‘Race Track’. In the distance is the conical spiral drive road and giant S for Salida.
Awesome reward for deciding to ride up the Race Track trail. The little valley seen has rock erosion similar to eastern Colorado and the badlands.
Above, stopped on the trail which passes this ledge with deadly drop-off just feet ahead.
Above: the small but deep valley is pedestrian only. I could see some single tracks far below if you wanted to spend a couple of hours down there.
Above: Nearly at the top of the hill which proceeds up on the right.
Above: the valley erosion and rocks are different from other trail segments.
Hey Helene, I’ve been dreaming for years, Imaging me living 10 minutes from getting views like this. I know that working from home would be effective.
Mt Princeton (14K) dead ahead and the main intersection far below for 285 and 40. Buena Vista is just a couple miles north if you take right turn. Way down there.

 

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