Ridgway Area Trails
This network of trails in Ridgway, Colorado is purpose built and they nailed it. With grant money from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, they constructed over 30 miles of single track. The trails are all laid out very well with climbs switch backing up hillsides in a meaningful manner. We rode a 21 mile loop that encompassed most of the network and I have to say I’ve never seen such views! The Uncompagre mountain range spreads out across the horizon and the recent snowfall just made it all the more spectacular. Kudos to Ridgway Area Trails.
Back in the parking lot we chatted with a group who was visiting from Washington and Oregon. They offered up beer from a growler they’d filled the previous day. Again, such friendly people we meet!
When we drove through Ouray last week it was raining and socked in so we decided to check it out on a nice sunny day. The town isn’t very big but it’s spectacularly situated in the San Juan Mountains. It’s referred to as the Switzerland of America and having been to Switzerland myself, I can see why.
We sat on the rooftop patio of Ouray Brewery and enjoyed some beers while people watching and gazing at the surrounding mountains. Location location location.
After our beers, we hiked up to the Little Cascade Falls with Fletcher. It even reminded me of the waterfall we saw in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland!
The Fingers
Montrose itself doesn’t have too much riding. We rode the Uncolada the other day, and checked out The Fingers today. It started with a 5 mile gravel road climb up Cushman Mesa and then we turned off onto The Fingers. This 12 mile singleteack was rocky and loose in spots. It wanders along the mesa and has good deserts views. It was tough riding in that the trail gets beat to hell by motorcycles. We added on a pretty fun Cushman Creek loop at the bottom. Total day was 2800′ in 25 miles.
beautiful pictures – very neat place