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Sourdough Trail

Ride Details
Region: 
Boulder
Ride Type: 
mountain
Date: 
Aug 27 2011 - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Fitness Rating: 
Strong/Difficult
Technical Difficulty: 
Blue/Medium
Distance: 
15 Miles
Elevation Gain: 
1,150 Feet
Ride Leader
Ride Leader: 
Craig Topp
Phone: 
303-552-8708
Email: 
craig_topp@hotmail.com
Co-Ride Leader: 
Helen Dohrman
Phone2: 
(720) 470-0445
Email2: 
helendohrman@comcast.net
Meet-up
Meet-up Location and Directions: 
El Rancho - 8:15 for 8:30 departure. or meet at trailhead at 9:45 for 10 AM departure. Directions to trailhead: Drive into Nederland from Golden/Blackhawk or from Boulder. From downtown Nederland, at the roundabout, drive north on Colorado Highway 72 (Peak to Peak Highway) about 7 miles to County Road 116 (also called FS 298); you will see a sign on the right side of the road for the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station. Turn left and follow gravel road about half a mile to the trailhead. Park on the left.
Departure: 
All rides will depart promptly at the time noted in each of the ride descriptions. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to sign in and get ready to ride.
Cancellation: 
Rides will be canceled when temperatures are below 40 degrees and/or trail conditions are obviously too wet. When conditions are questionable, call the Ride Leader for a last-minute check. If you have any questions concerning the route, please contact the ride leader.
Helmets: 
Helmets are required on all Team Evergreen Bicycle Club rides.

Route: The Sourdough Trail northbound is one of the most enjoyable single tracks in Western Boulder County. This ride is an out-and-back. The trail is 5.8 miles each way.

Description: It starts with a ~1 mile rocky and technical climb, then some flatter stretches, switchbacks and rolling hills. The trail remains mostly in the trees with occasional views onto the plains. After about three miles, it flattens out and circles along Niwot Ridge at about 10,000 feet. The last mile or so drops and passes the Little Raven Trail, which turns left (another trail option but most difficult), and climbs a short, steep bank to the Red Rock Trailhead at Brainard Lake Road.

Once at BL, we have options to continue on before turning back: further north on Sourdough towards Beaver Reservoir intersecting the Wapiti and Baptiste trails (most difficult - a great warm up for those of us riding SufferFest), west towards the lake on South St. Vrain trail (more rocky and difficult), riding the road to the lake (easy, $2 to enter the Recreation Area) and trails back, or tooling around on other trails up to and around the lake, all of which are rideable to varying degrees (about 1/2 mile past the lake is wilderness boundary).

Sourdough Trail #835 runs north from the Research Station up to Brainard Lake Road on mostly smooth singletrack with varying sections of rolling hills and rocky climbs. It is a 'woodsy' ride with great views. The leaves should be turning right about now!

We'll begin climbing on a wide, rock- and log- studded trail north, then west some. Alternate descents and climbs on a smoother trail surface take us up to the Peace Bridge (2.6) where the trails begins a longer extended climb along the east side of Niwot Mountain. As the climb finally mellows (3.3), the trail rolls a bit rockier for about 3/4 mile, before beginning a long descent. After a short ridge climb (5.2) the trail makes its final descent towards Brainard Lake Road. The return will be the same.

Trail options include continuing on Sourdough B towards Peaceful Valley or even riding newly remodeled trails at Brainard Lake area.

NOTE: Sourdough B is much rockier and rougher riding.

Lunch TBD.

Directions to Trailhead and meet up: There are 2 ways to get to Sourdough from the Denver/Golden area:

1. Drive 119 from Golden through Rollinsville and Nederland up the Peak to Peak Highway (Highway 72) north of Nederland. At about 7 miles, turn west on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 298, signed as the turnoff for the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station. In about half a mile, park in the large parking lot on the left. There are bathrooms. Meet at 9:15 AM for a 9:30 AM ride.

2. Drive into Boulder and meet at the Justice Center, 6th and Canyon blvd. to carpool. If coming from 36, get off at 28th Street, turn left on Canyon and drive about 2.5 miles west to 6th. If driving in from Golden, come into downtown Boulder, turn left onto Canyon and drive about 1 mile to 6th. No bathrooms here. Meet at 8:15 for 8:30 departure.

RSVP requested.