Level: Intermediate
Length: 30 mi (48.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Other
Elevation: +715/710 ft
Total: 84 riders
Mountain Biking Colorado Trail: Buffalo Creek To Lost Creek Wilderness Boundary
#130 of 1,345 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#884 in the world
Colorado Trail from FR 550 in Buffalo Creek area to the Lost Creek Wilderness boundary. Note that bikes are strictly prohibited in the wilderness area so don't even think about carrying them to get through. Turn around and enjoy the ride back to FR 550! Beautiful ride.
First added by Siberian on Aug 18, 2004. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- 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 Denver, take HWY 285 West to Bailey. Turn left (southeast) on FR 543 (Wellington Lake Road) and stay to your right at the few intersections you pass for the next 8 miles. About 1 mile past the intersection with FR 550 you will see a small parking lot on the right side where the Colorado Trail crosses the road. This is the start of the route. You can also start at Kenosha pass by continuing on HWY 285 for 20 miles west of Bailey and parking at the top.
Officially, most of this ride is Segment 3 of the Colorado Trail (Little Scraggy Trailhead to FS Road 560).
| ThankWhat I rode of this section of the Colorado Trail was a two-way back-country ride on a hiking trail with few technical features although it does twist and turn. Very pleasant forest and back-country feel.
| ThankAs noted/tagged by the posters, the upper ten photos in the photo gallery are from "BC to Keno". It appears that most of these photos are maybe on the other side of the Lost Creek WA nearer to Kenosha because the CT Trail from FR 550 in Buffalo Creek to the Lost Creek WA is forested the entire way. There are some nice overlook views here and there and a couple of small meadows but no open grassy areas or open valleys.
| ThankRode almost the full 30 miles yesterday, starting near the junction of FR 550 & Hwy 126. This is beautiful country throughout and tops out just above 9000' at the wilderness boundary. Due to the distance and the moderately high elevation, plus the fact that the snow melts here relatively early for CO, this makes a great early season big ride as a precursor to hitting some of the higher elevation rides like Kenosa, Monarch, the 401 and others above 10,000'.
Reading the comments below, I have to agree with Greg. This is a classic Colorado ride and is a classic cross-country ride. It meanders through BEAUTIFUL mixed conifer forests. It is twisty and fast. It also has some long bomber down hills and some long demanding ascents. There is never a dull moment. It gets you away from the usual crowd of riders on the main BC trails and feels much more remote.
Depending on your level of conditioning, it has the very real potential to fatigue you, so I wouldn't try the whole thing without putting in some decent mileage beforehand. There are different options to shorten it up if you like, as the trail crosses a couple roads along the way. 5 stars as a xc ride. GREAT RIDE.
| ThankHey Skibum, I rode the trail to the wilderness boundary today. It was only the last mile plus that was on wider trail.
| ThankBeautiful, twisting, fast single track through the famous Buffalo Creek area. This is what CO mountain biking is all about.
| ThankGreat ride, trail is very well marked. I would suggest mixing in some other trails in the area for your ride back such as redskin creek to whatever. Just Google search Buffalo Creek trail map. This ride should be ranked much higher.* Review edited 9/20/2010
| ThankI've ridden almost all of this, and it is classic Colorado trail!
| ThankFrom the Buffalo Creek trailhead on the Colorado trail, hop on and head right instead of climbing over the fence with the steps, and follow the Colorado trail for about 5 miles (mostly climbing) to the Lost Creek Wilderness boundary. Turn around, and spend almost 5 miles descending back to where you started.
| ThankYou can also make a nice out and back (13 mi round trip) from the Kenosha Pass trailhead south to the wilderness boundary and back. A good climb at altitude, a fun downhill, and killer scenery.
| ThankI rode about 5 miles (10 miles total) of this trail. In the morning when I woke up, I got on the trail and went for about 5 miles then turned around. That much of the trail was great I would like to ride the rest of this trail some time though.
| ThankWOW!...What an epic adventure!
| Thank