The Pitkin Loop starts and ends at the Daly Gulch parking area on the west side of Highway 50, about one mile northeast of Sargents. The long loop goes north to Pitkin, west to Fossil Ridge, back to Pitkin, then south back to the Daly Gulch parking area. The long loop is about 85 miles long. The long loop can be shortened about 32 miles by not going to Fossil Ridge. Gas is available in Pitkin.
The Pitkin Loop is a fun loop, with a few technical sections. For comparison, I consider the Star Trail near Taylor Park to be very difficult; the Pitkin Loop is not nearly that hard. The loop is one of my favorites in Colorado.
The long loop is definitely for experienced riders because of the length and a few technical sections. The loop is a mix of roads and trails. Novice riders could ride a shorter version if they had help in a few spots. Beginning riders should avoid most of the trails on this loop.
The entire loop is shown in pretty good detail on Trails Illustrated maps 130, 132, and 139. You may also consult the USFS Gunnison Basin Area Visitors Map, but the detail is not as good, and there are omissions and errors.
A note on nomenclature: Tr - trail; Cr - creek; FTnnn - USFS system trail; FRnnn - USFS system road; other roads and highways are state or county, as noted.
In the directions below, the loop route generally follows numbered dirt roads and numbered trails. Occasionally, the route follows unnumbered dirt roads, 2tracks, and trails, but these are clearly identified in the directions.
You should ignore all roads and trails that intersect the route
you are on unless told otherwise. This concept of sticking to
the main route and ignoring side routes is informally known as
'main-route rule' (derived from 'main-road rule' of sport rallying).
I will often tell you of side routes to ignore, but I may miss
some. So 'main-route rule' applies!
Park at the Daly Gulch parking area on the west side of Highway 50, about one mile northeast of Sargents.
0.00 Start at the Daly Gulch parking area. Follow the dirt road FR819 north across Tomichi Cr and up the gulch.
0.92 Pass through an orange metal gate.
2.70 Pass through the green gate and turn left. Follow the dirt road around the curve and back to the right; do not turn left off of the road.
3.08 Pass through the barbed-wire gate. Ride a 2-track that becomes the Quakey Mountain Tr FT537 to Black Sage Pass.
8.03 Black Sage Pass. Ignore all turns at the pass, cross the cattle guard and ride FR887 into the large park. (Ignored turns at the pass include two left turns that dead-end, and a right turn that climbs to the power line.) Follow the dirt road to a three-way intersection, ignoring right turns that go to the power line and stock tanks.
11.27 Three-way intersection. The sign at the intersection notes Waunita Hot Springs and Pitkin to the left and Middle Quartz Cr to the right. Turn right onto FR769. At the next minor intersection (at the fence corner), turn left and stay on the main road.
12.02 Turn right and continue on FR769.
12.63 Turn right onto Waunita Cr Tr FT497 and follow the trail along a creek, then over a ridge. The trail over the ridge is rutted and has soft dirt in places but is not difficult.
14.85 Turn left onto Canyon Cr Tr FT481.
16.59 At the Horse Camp, turn left and follow the unnumbered dirt road.
17.27 At Buffalo Junction, turn sharp left (180-degree turn) and continue on the road. Ignore the right turn and the straight-ahead trail at this intersection.
17.43 Turn sharp right (180-degree turn) onto FR769 and ride the dirt road.
19.98 Turn sharp right (180-degree turn) onto an unnumbered dirt road.
21.43 Turn left at the intersection and follow the dirt road as it descends a rutted section, then swings back to the left to traverse the mountain.
22.63 Turn right onto FR769.
23.07 Turn sharp right (180-degree turn) onto an unnumbered dirt road. Follow the dirt road, keeping a sharp eye out for a left turn into the trees.
23.22 Turn left and follow the old 2-track downhill to a cabin in a small clearing. Follow the road leaving the meadow and continue downhill to South Quartz Cr. Cross the rickety wooden bridge over the creek.
23.94 Turn left onto South Quartz Cr Tr FT483 (ATV width at this point) and follow the trail downhill through a rocky section.
24.38 Turn right onto FR769 and follow the road as it crosses Middle Quartz Cr.
24.75 Turn left onto FR767.
26.50 Turn left onto FR765 and follow the road to Pitkin.
27.50 Pitkin. ORVs are allowed to be driven on the streets in Pitkin at a reduced speed limit. There is gas at the Silver Plume General store on the north side of town and you can buy snacks and sandwiches at the store. The Gold Mine Restaurant (aka Road Kill Cafe) in the middle of town has film, maps, souvenirs, and food. They serve hamburgers and other sandwiches, pizza, popcorn, and other food.
Turn right at the STOP sign and left at the next corner to ride through town. Pass the Post Office, town buildings, and leave town.
28.60 Turn right onto the dirt road that enters the Quartz Creek subdivision. Follow the road uphill.
29.30 Turn sharp left and cross the concrete cattle guard. Ride uphill, ignoring turns into private drives.
29.99 Turn left onto FR879.
31.55 Turn left.
32.30 Campbell Town (aka Camel Town).
34.06 Turn left onto Gold Cr Rd FR771.
37.45 Ohio City. Turn right onto the paved road.
38.25 Turn right onto Willow Cr Rd FR882. The road becomes rocky, then narrows to ATV width (FT479) as it climbs to Fossil Ridge.
45.47 Turn right onto Fossil Ridge Tr FT431.
52.23 End of Fossil Ridge Tr. Turn right onto Gold Cr Rd FR771.
53.79 Turn left across the small wooden bridge and onto FR879. Ride uphill, ignoring minor turns.
57.47 Turn right and follow the road downhill, ignoring turns into private drives.
58.16 Turn right at the concrete cattle guard and continue downhill to the highway.
58.85 Turn left onto the paved road and ride to Pitkin.
59.58 Turn right at the Gold Mine Restaurant (aka Road Kill Cafe).
59.62 Turn right at the State St and 5th St intersection. Ride State St as it leaves town, then crosses a small bridge.
60.28 Turn left onto the ATV route and climb the steep, rocky hill.
60.59 Turn left (at the second turn) and continue uphill.
60.97 Straight ahead at the intersection.
61.31 Ride around the right side of the meadow, looking for a trail uphill to the right. Ride the trail uphill.
61.47 Turn left and follow a narrower route.
61.67 Turn left onto a main ATV route. Look for a right turn in about 150 feet.
61.71 Turn right.
61.85 Turn right and ride up the steep, rocky hill.
62.45 Turn right onto FR779.
64.37 THE Intersection. Turn right onto FR769.
64.84 Turn right onto an unnumbered dirt road (leads to Little Baldy).
65.18 Turn left and ride downhill.
65.45 Turn right onto FR774. Ride around the down tree.
65.54 Turn left and continue downhill.
67.45 Turn left onto an unnumbered dirt road.
68.56 Turn right onto an unnumbered narrow dirt road and ride down a steep soft hill. At the bottom of the hill, turn left.
69.17 Turn right onto FR769.
70.64 Turn left onto Waunita Cr Tr FT497.
72.81 Turn right onto Canyon Cr Tr FT481.
74.34 Horseshow Tr intersection. Turn right and continue on Canyon Cr Tr.
76.69 Turn right onto dirt road FR888 and ride to Highway 50.
84.xx Turn right onto Highway 50.
85.xx Turn right and pass through the gate at the Daly Gulch parking area.
End of the ride.
FR819
Quakey Mountain Tr FT537
FR887
FR769
Waunita Cr Tr FT497
Canyon Cr Tr FT481
unnumbered dirt road
FR769
unnumbered dirt road
FR769
unnumbered dirt road
South Quartz Cr Tr FT483
FR769
FR767
FR765
Quartz Creek subdivision road
unnumbered dirt road
FR879
FR727.2A
FR771
paved road SH76
Willow Cr Rd FR882
Willow Cr Tr FT479
Fossil Ridge Tr FT431
Gold Cr Rd FR771
FR879
unnumbered dirt road
Quartz Creek subdivision road
paved road SH76
ATV route
FR779
FR769
unnumbered dirt road
FR774
unnumbered dirt road
unnumbered narrow dirt road
FR769
Waunita Cr Tr FT497
Canyon Cr Tr FT481
FR888
Revised - August 7, 2003.