St Elmo Loop - 4/1/13 version
Click pictures to supersize.
The St Elmo Loop is a series of 4WD and graded dirt roads connected together to take you over Tincup Pass, Cumberland Pass, and Hancock Pass with return to St Elmo.
The motorized routes are easy USFS and county graded dirt roads and more difficult USFS 4WD roads. The total riding mileage is about 45 miles, so the loop can easily be ridden in a day.
There is no gas on the loop, but two side trips lead to gas at the Taylor Park Trading Post near the reservoir and the Silver Plume General Store in Pitkin.
The Taylor Park Trading Post is a general store about 7 miles up the road from Tincup. It has groceries, snack food, limited hardware, maps, gift items, hunting and fishing licenses and supplies, and fuel - gasoline, diesel, propane, kerosene and firewood.
The Silver Plume General Store in Pitkin has soft drinks, candy bars, snacks, ice cream, microwave sandwiches (and a microwave), and some other food. Also found are maps, fishing supplies, oil, auto and camping odds-and-ends, AND GAS. The Silver Plume is about 2.5 miles southwest of the closest point on the loop.
Eat a light breakfast before the ride so you can enjoy lunch at Frenchy's in Tincup. The lunch menu is outstanding and the Tincup pie is one of the best desserts I've ever eaten.
The map shows the loop (red and blue segments) and side trips (purple: Taylor Park Trading Post, Pitkin, Alpine Tunnel Station). Click the map to see a larger jpg version (print for reference) or right-click and save.
DIRECTIONS: I usually haul my bike in my van to St Elmo. There are parking spots just east of town, including a parking lot at the USFS public toilet. Unload, ride to St Elmo and follow the signs to Tincup Pass. The rest of the route is easy to navigate.
No YouTube video yet; check back later in the spring.
See Dual Sport Riding in Central Colorado for information about other areas and rides.