Waterton Canyon / Indian Creek

DIRECTIONS TO START: Take Wadsworth Ave south, drive to its intersection with C-470. Staying on Wadsworth, go under C-470, drive five miles and turn left on the Waterton Canyon/Roxborough State Park Road. Take your second left into a large parking lot. The trail begins across the road from the parking lot. Look for ride leader at the far left end of parking lot.

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Backcountry riding the Front Range! This awesome ride takes us into the heart of the Pike National Forest. It's a 30 mile loop that includes the Waterton Canyon Fire Road, up to Colorado Trail through Roxborough trail and Indian Creek.We start this one early to avoid intense heat and possible afternoon showers. Bring snacks and plenty of water and a rain shell.  There is a bail out option as well as options for out and back rides.

RIDE DIRECTIONS: From parking lot take Waterton canyon fire road to the second left past the dam. Climb this smooth rolling singletrack to a bench called "Lenny's Rest." Wait for group. At Lenny's Rest take left on Roxborough trail, follow for a quarter mile. Turn right at intersection with Indian Creek Trail. Climb through about a mile of steep singletrack to top of ridge. Follow ridge until it drops into an intersection with an unnamed trail. Go right down to Indian Creek and follow this gradual climb alongside the creek to the Indian Creek campground. Go left (north) on the Indian Creek trial which begins near second restroom. Climb through singletrack until you connect with fire road. Go left and ignore all turns down this fast descending road which eventually winds down to doubletrack. Follow this doubletrack which winds down to some of the best sweet twisty singletrack along the Front Range. Reconnect with Roxborough loop, go right. Reconnect with Waterton canyon Fire road, go right and follow back to parking lot.

ON THE BIKE RIDE SEGMENTS:
0.0 Start riding at Waterton trailhead, 5500' elevation 6.5
6.5 Pass the dam and make second left on singletrack, 5830' 8.3
8.3 Wait for group at Lenny's Rest; continue on Roxborough Loop 8.6
8.6 Right on Indian Creek Trailhead, 6650' 10.3
10.3 Intersection with unnamed trail, go right. Or, bail out to Roxborough loop to the left, 7090' 12.9
12.9 Indian Creek campground. Left at 2nd restroom, 7460' 14.7
14.7 Connect with Fire Road 800, go left. Ignore all turns. 7900' 21.9
21.9 Reconnect with Roxborough Loop. Go right. 6465' 22.9
22.9 Reconnect with Waterton Canyon Fire Road. Go right. 5920' 29.6
29.6 Arrive back at parking lot. 5500'

LIBATIONS:
We tailgate in the car park after the ride, so pack a chair, snacks, sandwiches, and a 6 pack.