The South Timberline Loop starts and ends at the Taylor Park Trading Post. The loop goes south to Tincup, east to Timberline Tr, north on the trail, west on an ATV trail, and then returns to the Trading Post. The loop is easy consisting of dirt roads and two easy trails. The loop is about 20 miles long. There is no gas available on the loop.
Most of the loop is shown on Trails Illustrated maps 129 and 131 and also the USFS Gunnison Basin Area Visitors Map. Some of the roads are unnumbered and not shown on the maps.
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 Taylor Park Trading Post.
Start at Taylor Park Trading Post. Ride out from the main parking lot.
Turn left at the STOP sign.
Ride to Tincup. (7mi)
Turn left at the 4-way intersection and ride towards Mirror Lake. (2.5mi)
Turn left at the unmarked road at the toilet facilities.
The Timberline Tr begins on the left side of the building.
Ride up the trail. (2mi)
The trail starts as an ATV trail, but narrows as it climbs the hill.
There is one short rocky section - press on!
When the trail gets above tree-line and the last switchback, stop and enjoy the view.
Ride the trail north. The trail eventually starts to descend
and become technical.
Look for a turn off on the left.
Turn left and ride the ATV trail downhill, thru a mining camp and out to the main road. (2mi)
Turn right onto FR765 and ride back to the Trading Post. (7mi)
End of the ride.
Revised - August 6, 2003.