This loop starts and ends at Sargents. The long version goes west to Barret Park, then swings back east on Razor Cr, follows the Continental Divide Tr across Sargents Mesa and Cameron Park to Marshall Pass, and eventually goes down Agate Cr and back to Highway 50 and Sargents. Shorter versions of the loop using numerous bail-outs are also noted. There is no gas available on the loop.
The long loop can be broken into several shorter loops. For example, ride the loop as described to the first or second bailout, then ride the bailout back to Sargents. For a second short loop, ride in on one of the bailouts and ride the rest of the loop normally.
The entire loop is shown in pretty good detail on Trails Illustrated map # 139. I hope to provide several pictures showing corrections that I made to the Trails Illustrated map. You may also consult the USFS Gunnison Basin Area Visitors Map, but the detail is not as good and there are more 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.
Mileages are estimates; I plan to get accurate mileage in June 2003. I estimate the entire loop is about 100 miles long. Shorter loops could be as short as 15 miles.
The long version of the loop is definitely for intermediate riders or better because of the length and a few technical sections. Novice riders could ride a shorter version if they had help in a few spots (noted). Beginning riders should avoid most of the trails on this loop.
Highway 50 to Sargents.
0.0 Ride through Sargents to get to FR780 on the southwest edge of town.
0.6 Dirt road FR780 - Turn left and follow the narrow dirt road to USFS buildings at Long Branch Station.
2.0 Pass through the gate to the left, staying on the road as it swings back to the right and follows Long Branch Cr to the trail head.
3.0 West Fork Tr FT491 - Turn right off of the road, cross the creek, and follow an ATV route, climbing through aspen to arrive at a gate in the fence next to the trail.
5.0 Hicks connector FT492 - Turn right and pass through the gate. This trail has several side-hill sections where the tread is steeply sloped downhill. Do not turn off at the Hicks Gulch intersection (to the right). After about one mile, as the trail descends to Dutchman Cr, look for the left turn in some tall bushes/foliage.
6.0 Dutchman Cr Tr FT490 - Turn left and cross Dutchman Cr. The trail runs up the creek and eventually climbs out of the canyon on three steep switchbacks to a very steep section of trail (Hernia Hill) before intersecting Left Hand Tr.
7.5 Left Hand Tr FT495 - A three-way intersection marks the start of Left Hand Tr. Turn right and drop back down the hill. The trail eventually intersect an old wagon road as it descends a steep, rocky hill.
8.5 Turn right onto the road and follow it as it passes through a rail fence and drops down to Owens Cr. The wagon road gets wider and changes to a regular dirt road. The USFS and TI maps are incorrect here. Follow the road as it merges with another from the right, then after about .4 mile, look for a left turn.
9.0 Hill Climb Road FRxxx - Turn left onto the road, climb the steep hill, then descend the other side to follow Left Hand Cr downhill. After leaving the trees, continue about .4 miles to reach a gate to private property. Do not go through the gate.
12.0 Turn left and follow the fence line, then left again up the hill to a gate. Turn right and pass through the gate. Follow the trail downhill, through a primitive camping area, to reach Needle Reservoir Road.
13.0 Needle Reservoir Road FR781 - Turn left and follow the road as it climbs to the reservoir and goes around the west (right) side. Near the south end of the reservoir, look for a trailhead on the right.
14.0 Right Hand Tr FT493 - Turn right and follow the trail, crossing the creek several times, and after .75 miles arrive at an open meadow. The trail continues to the left going along the creek, but don't take it.
14.75 Dirt road FR782.1A - Turn right onto the dirt road. This is not shown on the USFS map, but is shown on the TI map. The route climbs the hill to the west, then descends to meet another road. Do not take any turnoffs in the scrub.
16.0 Dirt road FR782 - Turn left onto the dirt road and follow downhill to ride along the creek. Look for the Barret Cr Tr sign on the left.
17.0 Barret Cr Tr FT494 - Turn left onto the trail and climb back up to the aspen. There is one steep section of trail. Eventually come to a three-way intersection.
18.0 North Gulch Tr FT502 - Turn right and follow the trail to Lower Park where it becomes a 2-track. At the first intersection, turn left and climb the hill. CHECK THIS. Continue along the hill, avoiding turnoffs to reach the Middle Razor trailhead.
19.0 Middle Razor Tr FT501 - Continue on the trail as it climbs out of the scrub and back into woods. One hill is steep with a few roots and is slimy when wet. Pass through a gate. The trail becomes a 2-track (FR781.3B) as it approaches Razor Park.
20.0 Cross the creek and bear right at Razor Park. Continue on the 2-track along Razor Cr. There may or may not be an actual trail sign for Razor Cr Tr, but continue following the 2-track as it narrows to a single-track trail.
21.0 Razor Cr Tr FT487 - Follow the trail along Razor Cr. Several sections are rocky and are slimy when wet. After woods sections, the trail passes through several large meadows. You can see the Razor Cr Spur trail marked by a treated post in one meadow.
23.0 Razor Cr Spur FT487.A - Turn right, cross Razor Cr, and climb the easy hill to the Cont Div Tr.
24.0 Continental Divide Tr FT486 - Turn left onto the Cont Div Tr. After about one mile, Razor Cr Tr intersects the Continental Divide Tr coming in on the left. Continue straight on the Cont Div Tr. From here to Marshall Pass, the Cont Div Tr is also named the Summit Tr. The trail is rocky in places and there are a few hills to climb, but nothing too difficult until later.
From this point of the loop until the end, there are many places where you can bail out and return to Sargents, making the loop shorter. If you are bailing out, take the indicated turn. Otherwise, continue straight at each intersection.
27.0 Dutchman Cr Tr bailout - Just before reaching West Baldy, there is a three-way intersection. The left turn is Left Hand Tr FT495, which intersects Dutchman Cr Tr FT490 about .25 mile down the hill. Follow Left Hand Tr, Dutchman Cr Tr, Hicks Connector, West Fork Tr, and the dirt road back to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
30.0 Baldy Lake Tr bailout - Near Baldy Lake, there is a four-way intersection. The left turn is Baldy Lake Tr FT491. Baldy Lake Tr has one rocky spot near the lake and two easy switchbacks further down. Follow Baldy Lake Tr, West Fork Tr, and the dirt road back to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
34.0 Long Branch Tr bailout - In a flat open area, there is a four-way intersection. The left turn is Long Branch Tr FT489. Long Branch Tr is a narrow sidehill trail which is actually easier to ride up than down. There is one rocky section with some exposure, but careful riding will get you through ok. Follow Long Branch Tr and the dirt road back to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
34.1 Continuing the main loop - Just east of the Big Bend Tr, the Summit Tr intersects a dirt road FRxxx. Turn left onto the dirt road. This section of the Summit Tr remains a dirt road until Sargents Mesa, when it reverts to a single-track trail again.
36.0 Big Bend Tr bailout - In a large meadow on Sargents Mesa, there is a three-way intersection. The left turn is Big Bend Tr FT488. Follow Big Bend Tr to return to Sargents. Near the bottom of Big Bend Tr, ignore the right turn to Milk Cr Tr. Also, after the trail hits the road, be sure to turn left on the short trail that leads downhill to Long Branch Station. CHECK THIS FOR NAME. If you miss the turn, you'll be on roads back to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
37.0 Continuing the main loop - On the east end of Sargents mesa, the trail curves to the right then left along the edge of a large meadow; pay attention.
38.0 Milk Cr Road bailout - At Cameron Park, the trail intersects a graded road FR578. Turn left and follow the road to the first intersection. Turn right at the intersection and continue. Look for an old road to the right about .5 miles past the intersection. CHECK THIS. Turn right onto the old road. This is Milk Cr Road FR578.2. This road has one rocky section which is not too bad going down but is difficult going up. Follow the road to Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn left and follow the road to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
38.0 Continuing the main loop - After Cameron Park, the trail swings left (north) and follows a creek downhill, going over tank traps. The trail is an old logging road here. Look for a trail sign on the right about .3 miles down the trail.
38.3 Tank Seven Tr bailout - If you're going to bail out, stay on the logging road for about 50 yards until you see Tank Seven Tr FT480 next to the creek, then ride over to it. Tank Seven has one rocky section (the Rock Garden) and several creek crossings. Near the north end, the trail takes an easily-missed sharp right turn in a small meadow. The very end of the trail has a steep downhill section with two switchbacks and a sometimes problematic creek crossing. Follow Tank Seven Tr to Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn left and follow the road to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
38.3 Continuing the main loop - Turn right and cross the creek. If you miss the turn, you'll hit a dead-end eventually.
42.0 Franks bailout - After a long trail section in heavy trees, the trail crosses FR243.3E. Turn left onto the road. The road is easy to ride. Follow the road to Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn left and follow the road to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
42.0 Continuing the main loop - Just as you cross FR243.3E, the trail climbs up a steep hill with two switchbacks. The hill is rocky and is slimy when wet.
43.0 Continuing the main loop - East of Windy Peak, the trail turns left and passes through a green gate as it goes around the north side of a small peak. This section is usually very muddy early in the season. Later, the trail widens to an ATV trail. Follow the the trail until it ends at a dirt road.
44.5 Dirt road FR243.2D. Turn left onto the dirt road and follow it to Marshall Pass. Do not turn onto the non-motorized trail on the right as you follow the road downhill.
46.0 Marshall Pass Road bailout - At Marshall Pass, the road intersects Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn left and follow the road to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
46.0 Continuing the main loop - At Marshall Pass, the road intersects Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn right and follow the road about .2 miles to the Crest Tr turnoff (across from the rest area).
46.2 Continuing the main loop - Crest Tr FT531 - Turn left at the Crest Tr/Cont Div Tr/CO Tr sign and follow the dirt road about one mile. The road becomes a trail. Follow the trail for about one mile to a three-way intersection.
48.0 Continuing the main loop - Agate Cr Tr FT484 - Turn left at the intersection and follow Agate Cr Tr downhill and then through meadows and woods.
51.0 Lime Cr Tr bailout - After several meadow and woods sections, come to a three-way intersection. The left turn is Lime Cr Tr FT485. Follow Lime Cr Tr to FR777.1C, then to FR777. Follow FR777 to Marshall Pass Road FR243. Turn right and follow the road to Sargents (about xx.x miles).
51.0 Continuing the main loop - Continue on Agate Cr Tr as it enters the canyon below US Highway 50. The trail along the creek is rocky in sections. Follow the trail as it crosses the creek eight times. Two of the crossings can be deep, especially during high runoff periods. After the last crossing, climb out of the canyon and ride to the trailhead near Highway 50. Follow the dirt road to Highway 50. Turn left and follow the highway to Sargents.
57.0 End of the trail.
Revised January 2003.