South Fork Loop

Starting at Shirley Site or Sargents, ride to South Fork on the Continental Divide Trail, then on trails over Bowers Peak and Mesa Mtn. Spend a day riding trails north or south of South Fork. Return via La Garita area trails, stopping for lunch at the La Garita Trading Post. Finish by riding the meadows on the flanks of Antora Peak, the Skinny Trail, and the Summit Trail.

This loop can be two or three days long; the middle day is optional.

Bikes must be street legal and riders must have a drivers license, bike registration, and proof of insurance.

A "maintenance box" containing common maintenance items and spares will be available at the motel. There is only one box that everyone will share. If you need special parts or service items, plan to carry them on your bike or ship them to the motel via UPS. I'll leave the box at the motel all summer and restock as necessary. Contact me for the maintenance box lock combination

You may want to ship clean clothing, toiletries, and other personal items to the motel the week before the trip; soiled items can be return-shipped to your home.

I talked to the Foothills Lodge owner; he has a place to store the box and a bike maintenance area (covered). He will also take care of UPS in and out. The lodge has several two bedroom units with two double beds in each room (other arrangements also). Full kitchens and a living room are included. See the South Fork motel page and Foothills Lodge web site for more info about the Foothills Lodge.

I rode several scouting rides in late August and September 2003 to determine route difficulty. WA, JackG, and MikeT joined me on the first complete through-ride to South Fork and back on 9/21/03 and 9/22/03. We started at Sargents to keep the mileage manageable. We rode 100 miles on the first day and 109 miles the second day. We had a great ride and can hardly wait for the next ride.

If you want to organize your own ride, you may use the maintenance box as needed. Contact me for maps, route information, and the maintenance box lock combination. There are many possibilities for routes, riding days, layovers, etc. Try an easy two day ride first, then go whole hog and plan a week-long ride-a-thon!

You should avoid going over Bowers Peak and Mesa Mtn in the afternoon when there are clouds around during the monsoon season (July and August); the lightning is deadly.

The routes listed below are tentative. ALL MILEAGES ARE ESTIMATES.