The Taylor Park Loop starts and ends at the Gunnison Spur trailhead near Dinner Station, about 6 miles north of the Taylor Park Trading Post. The loop goes southwest on the Gunnison Spur, west across the Reno Divide, west to Cement Cr, north to Crystal Pass, then south back to the parking area. The loop is about 70 miles long.
The long loop is definitely for experienced riders because of the length and a few technical sections. Beginning and novice riders should avoid most of the trails on this loop.
The entire loop is shown in pretty good detail on Trails Illustrated map 131. 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 Gunnison Spur FT424 trailhead near Dinner Station.
Start at the trailhead. Ride across the bridge and up the hill.
The trail climbs onto the hilly area west of the Taylor River. The trail climbs and descends until it reaches its highest extent near Doctor Park. Along the way, you encounter Slimy Hill, a steep hill with sharp switchbacks going down, then a short climb to a meadow. Don't cut the switchbacks!
Look for Doctor Park Rd (FR550/544) turnoff, and exit the trail, descending to Spring Cr.
Cross Spring Cr and turn left onto Spring Cr Rd FR744.
Turn right onto Deadman Rd FR744.2C.
Turn left onto Rosebud Gulch Tr FT423.
Turn right onto Cement Mtn Tr FT553.
Turn left onto Deadman Gulch Tr FT420.
Turn right onto Reno Ridge Tr FT607.
The trail becomes a road.
Turn left onto Italian Cr Rd FR759.
Turn right onto Grassy Tr FT562.
Turn right onto Cement Cr Rd FR740.
Turn left onto Hunters Hill Tr /Hunters Cr Cr.
Turn right onto Hunters Hill Tr FT410.0A.
Turn right onto Double Top Tr FT405.
Ride over the saddle near the end of the trail.
Turn right onto Brush Cr Tr FT400 and ride up to Crystal Pass.
Continue on the trail to Taylor Pass Divide Rd FR761.1A.
Turn right onto Taylor Divide Tr FT440.
Turn left on Mt Tilton Tr TR582.
Continue on Taylor River Rd FR742.
Turn right near Dorchester CG at the Lily Pond Tr sign.
Cross the bridge and ride up the hill.
Turn left onto Italian Cr Rd FR759.
Turn right onto Lily Pond Tr FT534.
Pass by Lily Pond. Turn right onto FR760 at the bottom of the hill.
Turn left onto FR748.
Turn right onto Taylor River Rd FR742.
Turn right to get to the Gunnison Spur trailhead.
End of the ride.
Revised - August 6, 2003.