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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 13 mi (20.9 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +450/ -410 ft
Total: 41 riders
Mountain Biking Turquoise Lake
#154 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
To do this as a loop, you can go either direction around the lake--it just depends on whether you want to do the pavement first and the singletrack last or vice versa. I perfer to get the pavement out of the way first, which means clockwise. The singletrack is also funner this direction. Of course, you don't have to do a loop as the singletrack (counterclockwise) makes a great out and back. As you head counterclockwise, the singletrack by the campgrounds is smooth and fast (but watch for campers). The further out you get, the rougher the singletrack gets. Although there is little elevation change, the elevation and rough tread will make the ride take longer than you might think. Combine the loop with the Hagerman Tunnel ride for a real epic.
First added by John Fisch on Oct 13, 2007. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: yes
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Leadville, head south on US24 3.5 miles. Turn west on 300. Go right on CR5. Go 1.9 miles and turn left, following the signs to Turquoise lake. Go 1.3 mi and turn right at the sign to Matchless Boat Ramp. Follow signs toward the boat ram. After the fork to the boat ramp, take the second right into the parking area closest to the water. FEE AREA.
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This is a better trail than you would expect. Straight out of the campgrounds and it will give you a little challenge. Skip the loop and do an out and back from May Queen to the dam and back.
| ThankThis is a super fun, varied trail that has excellent sections of difficult rocky and rooty impasses as well as sections with nice flow and fun grades. The nicest thing about it is the fact that it's a Lakeside Rim trail, so there's no sustained climbing, just little pitches here and there which makes it so you get these nice quick descents that you don't ever feel like you really have to work for. The scenery here is amazing, typical Colorado living and riding. There's camping at the lake, and a number of trails you can connect to very easily from here as well so it would be a fun spot to spend a weekend in with all the riding and exploring one could do. Definitely worth the trip. Make sure to pop into the old weird bar that's in town. It's weird man... weird.
| ThankThis review is based on winter fat biking. The winter route follows a groomed snow mobile trail on a 15 mile loop around the lake. I've uploaded a separate GPS file for this route. My 5 star rating is given with the full disclaimer that the riding is VERY conditions dependent. The trail is groomed on Mondays and Fridays. Our first attempt at riding this was on a Friday after many days of significant snow fall. It was okay to start but after 1.5-2 miles the fresh groomed track got so soft that forward progress was nearly impossible. We turned around on this attempt. However, the snow stopped falling and the weather through the weekend warmed up quite a bit. Between the warm weather, weekend sno-mo traffic and a subsequent grooming on Monday the trail was VERY firm when we gave it another go on Tues. The conditions were perfect. Hard packed snow, warm weather and spectacular views. I recommend do this route counter clockwise as it will give you a good warm up on fairly flat trails before hitting the big climb. Also, the views are best on the 2nd half going this direction. For this ride park at the end of the road closure on county road 4 at the dam.
| ThankThis trail is definitely scenic and beautiful, but the lack of a full singletrack loop subtracts from what would otherwise be a challenging and fun ride. I probably had to walk my bike 5 or 6 times over various sections that are only do-able for experts. Gets a little frustrating after awhile when you have to clip in and out of your pedals all day!
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