This is a shorter and more accessible loop than the one through Lagunitas
Camp Ground.
Trail details:
Continue down Hwy 17 on your bike for 1.86 miles. There is a large turnout
on your right and the start of USFS Rd 117. Turn right and follow this road.
By the way, if you are familiar with the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
running from Canada to Mexico, this road is part of that route. If you are
looking for dispersed camping areas, there are some nice spots along this
road.
At mile 4.82 you reach the New Mexico state line which means you leave
the Rio Grande National Forest and enter Carson National Forest.
At mile 7.57 you reach a fork in the road. Turn right and follow USFS Rd.
87H.
At mile 8.97 the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) crosses the road. You will
need to be alert. There are small signs on both sides of the road, but the
trail itself is not very well traveled right here. Turn right. You will follow on
the right of the low-lying drainage area for a ways, but will need to cross to
the other side. The CDT is still very indistinct across the meadow. You can
differentiate it from cattle trails if you look for old signs of machines used in
cutting in the trail. Continue due west, have faith and start up the hill, the
trail becomes more distinct starting here.
At mile 11.8 you intersect a double-track jeep road. Turn right.
At mile 12.21 you intersect a larger, graveled forest service road. Turn left.
At mile 13.24 the road forks. Stay right.
At mile 14.05 turn left onto the CDT singletrack. Continue to follow this trail
all the way back to Hwy 17.
At mile 19.48 you arrive at your vehicle.
