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Level: Intermediate
Length: 3 mi (4.8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +625/ -612 ft
Total: 59 riders
Mountain Biking Sandy Wash
#184 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
Sandy Wash begins at the bottom/junction of Charlie’s Cutoff, Homestead Trail, and Blackjack. From there, it descends 3 miles down to the main gated forest road that runs up along Buffalo Creek.
This is, in my opinion, the hands-down best decent at Buffalo Creek! Can anyone say flow?! While other trails have washed out sandy turns that are hard to rail, the dirt (for the most part) on Sandy Wash is actually LESS gravelly, and even if some sections are gravelly all of the turns have been perfectly banked and bermed by the passage of tires over the years that this trail just holds you in and begs you to go faster and faster and faster! Sandy Wash is a must-ride descent if you are in the Buffalo Creek area, and if you park down at the bottom of the Buffalo Creek forest road, this is the most convenient and most fun way to return to your car.
First added by Greg Heil on Jun 7, 2012. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Colorado Springs, take US 24 to Woodland Park. Turn right onto CO 67 and go to Deckers. Continue straight onto CO 126 approximately 20 miles. Parking is on the right just before the bridge at the Buffalo Creek Forest Service Work Center. The trail starts on Buffalo Creek road on the left of CO 126 just over the bridge. Ride about 3 miles and turn right onto Baldy Trail and stay on Baldy through the climb. Turn right onto Gashouse, and make your next turn right onto Miller Gulch Trail. Go left onto the Homestead trail, then right on Charlie's Cutoff. This becomes Sandy Wash trail, take this back down to Buffalo Creek Road.
As I was railing down Sandy Wash today, I was thinking that this trail just keeps on giving and giving. What an awesome fun downhill. Actually it's all amazing fun from the top of Charlie's Cutoff and below.
| ThankI have ridden Sandy Wash a few times. It always takes me a moment (a few curves) on top to get a feel for it. After that though, it is one rippin' DH. Very smooth, but very fun. It's a great trail to chase one another. Somehow strangely enough, it seems to me that all the lose scree just adds to the fun of this trail. This trail is a hoot.
| ThankI'm learning to enjoy my climbs at least for the exercise but also for the technical improvement. Mostly I am learning to enjoy climbs because that is when you can take in the beauty of creation. Buff Creek has a bit of that.
| ThankSandy Wash is just steep enough to keep you rolling downhill, but not steep enough to be threatening or to cramp your hands from excessive brake use. It's just fun and flowy over an extended distance.
| ThankCrazy fun!! The speed you can carry is unbelievable. Fast flowy trail, hats off to whoever cut this trail.
| ThankGreat downhill, but not as fun as Charlie's Cutoff. Great, twisty turns and smaller obstacles on the way but nothing crazy. This downhill can get fast and fun all the way down to the creek.
| ThankAfter Charlie's Cutoff and Homestead, the same great flowy descent continues!
| ThankSome great little obstacle mazes and steep steps. Like on Charlie's, I was pushed to the edge of my comfort zone on my rigid bike, but nothing crazy.
A bit sandy indeed in places!
Sandy Wash is a great trail. Depending on when you ride it, it can be pretty sandy. But the majority of the trail is smooth descent and fast. Make sure you take a quick left just before you hit the road at the bottom for and added nice section of trail that will take you out even further down the road.
| ThankThis descent simply can't be beat. Super flowy, good speed, and some very interesting scenery. Riding through the dead forest is a little eerie, but it makes for an awesome atmosphere for ripping back down to the trailhead. Remember that Sandy Wash meets up with Buffalo Creek Road twice—when you see it the first time, turn left and continue on Sandy Wash for a cool above-road section.
| ThankGreat little downhill at the bottom of Homestead and Blackjack. Not too sandy and plenty of room for decent speed.
| ThankAs you can tell from my description above, this is a five-star flowy descent! There are a couple of rocks, but for the most part it is just smooth and fast!
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