Colorado Trail: Tennessee Pass to Holy Cross Wilderness Out-and-Back (COT)
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
12.84 mi
1,653 ft
A buff, flowy out-and-back on the Colorado Trail with a rocky finish.
The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long distance mountain bike trails in the world. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. The COT forms one third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
From Tennessee Pass, the Colorado Trail runs for several miles before entering the Holy Cross Wilderness, where mountain bikes are currently banned. However, the section of trail between Tennessee Pass and the Wilderness is very worth as an out-and-back ride.
The singletrack roughly follows a ridge, climbing and descending brief rises on buffed-out singletrack. A few rocks punctuate the buff trail tread, keeping riders on their toes as the wind and dip through the pines.
Toward the far end of this section, riders will encounter some seriously eroded sections of singletrack traversing extended rock gardens filled with babyheads.
If riding this section as an out-and-back, turn around at the Wilderness boundary and return the way you came. If through-riding the COT, turn left upon reaching Wurts Ditch Road to bypass around the Wilderness. Written by Greg Heil
The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long distance mountain bike trails in the world. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. The COT forms one third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
From Tennessee Pass, the Colorado Trail runs for several miles before entering the Holy Cross Wilderness, where mountain bikes are currently banned. However, the section of trail between Tennessee Pass and the Wilderness is very worth as an out-and-back ride.
The singletrack roughly follows a ridge, climbing and descending brief rises on buffed-out singletrack. A few rocks punctuate the buff trail tread, keeping riders on their toes as the wind and dip through the pines.
Toward the far end of this section, riders will encounter some seriously eroded sections of singletrack traversing extended rock gardens filled with babyheads.
If riding this section as an out-and-back, turn around at the Wilderness boundary and return the way you came. If through-riding the COT, turn left upon reaching Wurts Ditch Road to bypass around the Wilderness. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Parking to Wurts | 2.74 mi | 121 ft | 0.2% |
| Continental Divide Trail Climb | 1.57 mi | 571 ft | 6.9% |
| CO trail climb - TN Creek to Rock Garden | 1.36 mi | 466 ft | 6.5% |
| Rocky downhill from HCW to river | 1.65 mi | -584 ft | -6.7% |
| Tennessee Pass Doubletrack to prarie DH | 1.21 mi | -400 ft | -6.2% |
| Wurts to Tennessee parking | 2.71 mi | -125 ft | -0.3% |