The Pitkin Dual-Sport 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, north to Terrible Mtn, swings back south and east to cross Tomichi Pass and returns to Highway 50 and the Daly Gulch parking area. The long loop is about 70 miles long. The long loop can be shortened about 11 miles by not going to Terrible Mountain. Gas is available in Pitkin.
The Pitkin Dual-Sport loop is a fun loop that takes you to Pitkin and the Alpine Tunnel. You can have lunch in Pitkin. A few optional easy trails are included to keep things interesting.
The long loop is definitely for experienced dual-sport riders because of the length. The loop is mostly dirt roads, but there are several optional easy trails included. Novice riders could ride a shorter version if they had help in a few spots. Beginning riders could ride some of the easy road sections.
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 a few numbered trails. Occasionally, the route follows unnumbered dirt roads and 2tracks, 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. Ride through the gate to US Highway 50, turn left and ride on the highway to the first intersection.
0.30 Turn left onto Tomichi Cr Road FR888. The blacktop stops and dirt starts at about four miles. Stay on FR888 as you pass the intersection of Old Monarch Pass Road FR237 on the right and an unnumbered 2-track on the right.
6.39 Turn left onto Black Sage Pass/Waunita Hot Springs Road FR887.
7.91 Turn left onto an unnumbered 2-track. Follow this route uphill to Black Sage Pass.
9.02 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/or stock tanks.
12.28 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.
13.03 Turn right and continue on FR769.
13.64 Waunita Cr Tr FT497 intersection.
The trail option takes Waunita Cr Tr,
then Canyon Cr Tr, then a dirt road back to FR769. Otherwise,
continue on FR769.
15.58 Stridiron Cr turnoff intersection. Ignore the left turn and continue on FR769.
17.24 Ignore the right turn and continue on FR769.
18.86 Turn right and continue on FR769.
20.09 THE Intersection. Turn right and continue on FR769.
21.27 Intersection.
The trail option turns right and follows
an ATV route to South Quartz Cr, then a rocky route back to FR769.
Otherwise, continue on FR769.
22.33 Turn right and continue on FR769. Ignore turnoffs to campsites.
23.36 Turn left onto FR767.
25.11 Turn left onto FR765 and follow the road to Pitkin.
26.11 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 and
town buildings.
26.70 Intersection. Turn right onto Third Street. The house on the corner has an address of 303. Ride two short blocks.
26.75 Turn right at the Hall's Gulch
sign onto FR770. This dirt road eventually leads to Terrible Mtn
and Fairview Peak. The first couple of miles are a steady uphill
grade with gravel and small rocks. Press on!
Note: all "Private Property"
and "No Trespassing" signs are for the property adjacent
to the road. The road is not private.
27.08 Turn left and stay on FR770.
29.07 Turn left and stay on FR770.
30.45 Turn left and stay on FR770. Ignore the right turn FR766.
31.26 Turn right and stay on FR770.
31.45 Bear left and ignore the right turn at One Eye's Patch.
31.58 Turn sharp right. Small sign notes Hiline Drive.
32.15 Pass the four stumps across the road and ride the last short rocky section up to Terrible Mtn and the mine site.
32.60 Mine Site. Old building foundations
and wood remains. Look north to see Fairview Peak. Other nice
views from high spots.
Turn around and start back down the way
you came.
33.63 Turn sharp left. Small sign notes Hiline Drive.
34.77 Turn left onto FR766. Climb the short, rocky hill.
34.82 Turn right and stay on FR766.
35.00 Turn right and stay on FR766.
35.20 Turn right and stay on FR766.
35.46 Turn right and stay on FR766. This intersection is "Pie Plate Intersection" for the small aluminum pie plate on the tree at the intersection.
38.51 Turn right onto FR765.
40.45 Intersection. Continue about 150'
beyond the intersection to the sign.
Consult the Alpine Tunnel Historic District
brochure for details about the following landmarks identified
by letters on brown carsonite signs.
40.48 Milepost A - The Quartz town site is identified by the sign. Return to the intersection.
40.51 Turn right onto FR839. Follow the road as it runs east towards the Alpine Tunnel turnoff.
43.84 Milepost B - Midway water tank. Continue on the road.
47.11 Milepost C - Tunnel Gulch water tank. Continue on the road.
47.xx Milepost D (possibly at the two posts) - Woodstock. Continue on the road.
48.07 Milepost E - Sherrod Loop. Continue on the road.
48.13 Milepost F - Sherrod. Turn left to go to the Alpine Tunnel.
xx.xx Milepost G - Palisades. Continue on the road.
50.39 Alpine Tunnel parking area. You can walk to the tunnel entrance. After the visit, return to the last intersection.
52.70 Turn left onto FR888.
53.38 Turn right to Tomichi Pass.
54.56 Tomichi Pass. Views/photo op. Continue on the road, ignoring turns.
59.02 Cemetery. Stop and gawk. Continue on FR888.
57.65 SLOW DOWN for the small town of Whitepine.
69.91 Turn right onto Highway 50.
70.08 Turn right and pass through the gate at the Daly Gulch parking area.
End of the ride.
Revised - August 7, 2003.