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The Stage and Rail Trail is teaming up with Arkansas Headwater Recreation Area to celebrate Bike Your Park Day on October 1 with a guided bike ride on two sections of the proposed Stage and Rail Historic Route in southern Lake County. Both sections are associated with the AHRA Hayden Meadows Reservoir Recreation Site adjacent to US24 about 10 miles south of Leadville.

Pre-registration is recommended (free!), and required for the shuttle ($5). Register HERE  

The shuttle will be also available to take participants back to Leadville after the ride at no charge.

Meeting times and locations:

8:00 am – Shuttle Departs Absolute Bikes in Salida

8:30 – Shuttle Departs McPhelemy Park in Buena Vista

9:30am – Guided 14-Mile Ride starts Ice Palace Park in Leadville (corner of 10^th & Harrison)

10am – Guided Ride starts at Hayden Meadows Reservoir for High Lonesome Trail

11:30ish – Shuttle returns any riders as needed to Leadville, then returns to depart to Buena Vista/Salida

Option 1 –  Stage and Rail Trail from Leadville to Hayden Meadows Reservoir (14-miles one way)

Starting at Ice Palace Park in Leadville on the Mineral Belt Trail, this is a 14-mile mostly descending mountain bike ride to the AHRA Rec site. It follows the proposed S&R along paved Lake County roads 4, 5 and 11 and then transitions to dirt tracks including the Pipeline Road and Forest and BLM routes. It eventually descends to the valley to cross under US24 on the short newly inaugurated Crossroads Trail and ends at the Rec site parking area. A shuttle will be available to get bikes and cyclists back to Leadville. Although the paved sections are rated easy, the dirt tracks are best for intermediate riders since there are several fairly steep, rough sections before being rewarded with a smooth long downhill at the end. Takes about an hour and a half. Your guide will be Alan Robinson, who has been leading the 70-mile Salida to Leadville S&R project through its 15+ year evolution.

Option 2 – High Lonesome Trail Loop (6 miles)

Another option is to do a 6-mile ride around the High Lonesome Trail loop that begins and ends at the Hayden AHRA Rec site. On the east side of the loop this trail is largely on the original stage road but also has beautiful meanders into the wetlands along the Arkansas. It’s not for complete biking beginners but is mostly flat and smooth, family friendly and has a number of opportunities to stop and read interpretive wayside exhibits. Takes an hour and a half or so depending on how often you stop to appreciate the view of the river and 14ers to the west. Non-biking hikers are welcome to explore some or all of this loop as well.