After being closed for a couple years for improvements and paving, Cottonwood Pass finally opened to the west. We decided to ride to the top and down part of the other side, then back. The climb up was steady but not too steep with 8 or so switchbacks. All the while, we had views of giant mountains, streams, and flowers. The pass tops out at the Continental Divide at 12,126′
At the top a flagger was stopping people. He said it was at least a 30 minute wait, and we’d have to follow the pilot car down 12 miles. We decided it wasn’t worth it so we turned around and flew back downhill.
We added on a ride out to Cottonwood Lake to check it out. The lake is 3 miles down a gravel road, surrounded by 14,000′ mountains. Not a bad sight, but then we had to climb back up to our car. All told, 31.3 miles with 4079′ climbing.
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