- Created: May 6, 2021 1:07 am
- Updated: June 4, 2021 5:45 pm
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 12 miles
- Time 2 h 0 min
- Speed 6 mph
- Min altitude 5712 ft
- Peak 6709 ft
- Climb 2385 ft
- Descent 2382 ft
Never ridden in New Castle? Well we have a ride for you! This 12-mile loop captures a nice mix of old and the new in the Colorow network. This trail system is made possible by many hours of volunteer work by the fine folk at New Castle Trails. We recommend tackling this loop in the morning or evening, for during the summer the sun shines strong on the Stairway to Heaven climb and you'll need plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
The Colorow trail network north of New Castle, Colorado hosts a fun-filled chain of loops high in the hills overlooking Lakota Canyon. To access or exit the upper loops there are three trail options. For access we recommend the Stairway to Heaven trail. To exit we recommend either the East Colorow or West Colorow trails. The West Colorow descent is a little more spicy than the East Colorow descent, but each way down features some fairly technical maneuvers, so be on your guard.
A nice feature of the trail layout is that many routes converge in intersections referred to as "hubs." Riders of differing abilities can often choose different routes and still meet up in the same location.
While the many intersections and different trails can offer many variations in trail choices, a rider new to the system could easily confused or frustrated at the need to choose which way to go. Without knowing where to go, a rider might mistakenly drop down one of the exit trails and need to climb back up to the system.
So to help out, RFMBA has linked a nice 12-mile loop that samples a number of the trails, but leaves plenty of options for exploring on ones own. We call it the Turn and Burn Tour. Featuring a nice mix of the older trails and newly constructed, trails, the Turn and Burn Tour is a real good time.
For turn by turn navigation, we recommend downloading the .gpx file and uploading the route to a cycling computer.
In all, we think this is a great route for anyone unfamiliar with the Colorow network who wants to get a feel of what the fine folks at New Castle Trails have put tremendous effort into.
Park at the Alder Park in the Lakota Canyon neighborhood. Abouat a half block and across the street from the parking area, the first single track climbs up and into the network. From there on it's all singletrack.
The route begins with the Stairway to Heaven trail that features about 12 switchbacks. After climbing Stairway to Heaven riders should veer left onto East Colorow and continue to climb to the Town View/Colorow West/Halftime intersection. At this junction, turn right onto Half time. At this point, riders should be careful not to continue straight onto West Colorow unless they want to descend back to the valley floor.
Riders travel a short distance on Halftime, crossing a few trails until they reach the new Stevie G's trail which climbs and traverses into the northeastern Highlands trails. From Stevie G's veer right onto Jasper to the next intersection going left at Faye's Fury. Follow Faye's Fury through a beautiful sage meadow and cross a doubletrack into the Salley Key connector. After a short descent, follow the middle fork onto the Salley Key climb. At the next intersection, drop down and to the left into Uncle Joey's.
Uncle Joey's spits out at the beginning of the Dante's Inferno loop (currently, this is the furthest east trail in the Colorow network. Any fan of flow trails will enjoy the Dante's Inferno loop. From Uncle Joeys, riders veer right onto Dante's Inferno for the counter-clockwise loop.
Just as you begin the descent of Dante's Inferno, look for the second junction with the newest trail "Further Out" Ride Further out in a clockwise direction that loops back to Dante's Inferno. Continue the same direction you were originally riding on Dante's Inferno and descent a fun-filled flow trail back to the junction with Uncle Joey's, Dante's Inferno and Alpha Beta.
Exit Dante's Inferno on Alpha Beta and climb back to the intersection of Uncle Joey's, Salley Key, Tuck and Roll and Salley Key Flow trail. the middle trail onto the Salley Key Flow for another roller coaster decent to the intersection of Faye's Fury and continue descending through a fun wash that features some fun rock poppers.
Descend Faye's Fury, to Ole Connector, to Ole Roller and into the Lookout Trail that traverses the rim of a mesa in a clockwise direction. Riders will pass an unmarked trail that travels down to Lakota Golf Course. Don't take it.
After the mesa rim, drop down lower East Colorow, but don't let your guard down. There is a tight switchback that you won't want to hit fast! East Colorow exits the system a few blocks from start of the ride at Alder Park. Take a right onto a singletrack and you will find yourself close to the start of the Stairway to Heaven trail.
If you are up for some more action, take a few laps on the short Maverick and Goose flow trails. Or finish your ride and hit the town of New Castle for a post ride refreshment!
Link Sharing
Never ridden in New Castle? Well we have a ride for you! This 12-mile loop captures a nice mix of old and the new in the Colorow network. This trail system is made possible by many hours of volunteer work by the fine folk at New Castle Trails. We recommend tackling this loop in the morning or evening, for during the summer the sun shines strong on the Stairway to Heaven climb and you’ll need plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
The Colorow trail network north of New Castle, Colorado hosts a fun-filled chain of loops high in the hills overlooking Lakota Canyon. To access or exit the upper loops there are three trail options. For access we recommend the Stairway to Heaven trail. To exit we recommend either the East Colorow or West Colorow trails. The West Colorow descent is a little more spicy than the East Colorow descent, but each way down features some fairly technical maneuvers, so be on your guard.
A nice feature of the trail layout is that many routes converge in intersections referred to as “hubs.” Riders of differing abilities can often choose different routes and still meet up in the same location.
While the many intersections and different trails can offer many variations in trail choices, a rider new to the system could easily confused or frustrated at the need to choose which way to go. Without knowing where to go, a rider might mistakenly drop down one of the exit trails and need to climb back up to the system.
So to help out, RFMBA has linked a nice 12-mile loop that samples a number of the trails, but leaves plenty of options for exploring on ones own. We call it the Turn and Burn Tour. Featuring a nice mix of the older trails and newly constructed, trails, the Turn and Burn Tour is a real good time.
For turn by turn navigation, we recommend downloading the .gpx file and uploading the route to a cycling computer.
In all, we think this is a great route for anyone unfamiliar with the Colorow network who wants to get a feel of what the fine folks at New Castle Trails have put tremendous effort into.
Park at the Alder Park in the Lakota Canyon neighborhood. Abouat a half block and across the street from the parking area, the first single track climbs up and into the network. From there on it’s all singletrack.
The route begins with the Stairway to Heaven trail that features about 12 switchbacks. After climbing Stairway to Heaven riders should veer left onto East Colorow and continue to climb to the Town View/Colorow West/Halftime intersection. At this junction, turn right onto Half time. At this point, riders should be careful not to continue straight onto West Colorow unless they want to descend back to the valley floor.
Riders travel a short distance on Halftime, crossing a few trails until they reach the new Stevie G’s trail which climbs and traverses into the northeastern Highlands trails. From Stevie G’s veer right onto Jasper to the next intersection going left at Faye’s Fury. Follow Faye’s Fury through a beautiful sage meadow and cross a doubletrack into the Salley Key connector. After a short descent, follow the middle fork onto the Salley Key climb. At the next intersection, drop down and to the left into Uncle Joey’s.
Uncle Joey’s spits out at the beginning of the Dante’s Inferno loop (currently, this is the furthest east trail in the Colorow network. Any fan of flow trails will enjoy the Dante’s Inferno loop. From Uncle Joeys, riders veer right onto Dante’s Inferno for the counter-clockwise loop.
Just as you begin the descent of Dante’s Inferno, look for the second junction with the newest trail “Further Out” Ride Further out in a clockwise direction that loops back to Dante’s Inferno. Continue the same direction you were originally riding on Dante’s Inferno and descent a fun-filled flow trail back to the junction with Uncle Joey’s, Dante’s Inferno and Alpha Beta.
Exit Dante’s Inferno on Alpha Beta and climb back to the intersection of Uncle Joey’s, Salley Key, Tuck and Roll and Salley Key Flow trail. the middle trail onto the Salley Key Flow for another roller coaster decent to the intersection of Faye’s Fury and continue descending through a fun wash that features some fun rock poppers.
Descend Faye’s Fury, to Ole Connector, to Ole Roller and into the Lookout Trail that traverses the rim of a mesa in a clockwise direction. Riders will pass an unmarked trail that travels down to Lakota Golf Course. Don’t take it.
After the mesa rim, drop down lower East Colorow, but don’t let your guard down. There is a tight switchback that you won’t want to hit fast! East Colorow exits the system a few blocks from start of the ride at Alder Park. Take a right onto a singletrack and you will find yourself close to the start of the Stairway to Heaven trail.
If you are up for some more action, take a few laps on the short Maverick and Goose flow trails. Or finish your ride and hit the town of New Castle for a post ride refreshment!