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Alpine Tunnel Loop (Tunnel Lakes CDT / Continental Divide Trail)
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
17.78 mi
2,609 ft
Traverse the Continental Divide Trail above 12,000 feet and enjoy historic sites and high-alpine lakes.
While the Alpine Tunnel Loop has a relatively low singletrack to dirt road ratio, this ride is still an absolute gem. The portion that IS singletrack is located largely above treeline--the longest stretch of bike-legal above-treeline singletrack in the region after the Monarch Crest. However, this singletrack reaches even higher elevations than the Crest: over 12,000 feet.
Unlike many other trails in the Salida area, the Alpine Tunnel is relatively non-technical, making for a great high alpine cross country mountain bike ride in the Sawatch mountain range. In fact, the Continental Divide Trail runs concurrent with the singletrack on this route.
Even the dirt roads used to get up to and down from the Alpine Tunnel singletrack are quite entertaining, with the road from St. Elmo to Hancock passing by numerous historic sites, like old mines, cabins, and eventually an old town site once you reach Hancock. And St. Elmo, where the ride starts/ends, is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the area. If you enjoy touring historic sites on your mountain bike rides, this is the ride for you!
The Alpine Tunnel gets its name from an old railroad tunnel that runs through the mountain. While it's now collapsed, you can see the entrance to the tunnel, and a placard that explains the history of the area.
Part of the route runs along the railroad grade as you approach the tunnel itself. But after you pass the tunnel, the trail turns into classic singletrack, climbing up and over high-alpine passes, and running past beautiful alpine lakes. Despite breaking above 12,000 feet, the nearby mountains rise higher still, providing jaw-dropping views.
Eventually the trail turns back downhill, dropping out of the alpine and entering a forest of tall pine trees. The soil transforms into loamy, dark dirt--a rarity in this area. Flowy trail punctuated by switchbacks drops down to a 4x4 road, and a fast descent down the boulder-filled road ends in St. Elmo. Written by Greg Heil
While the Alpine Tunnel Loop has a relatively low singletrack to dirt road ratio, this ride is still an absolute gem. The portion that IS singletrack is located largely above treeline--the longest stretch of bike-legal above-treeline singletrack in the region after the Monarch Crest. However, this singletrack reaches even higher elevations than the Crest: over 12,000 feet.
Unlike many other trails in the Salida area, the Alpine Tunnel is relatively non-technical, making for a great high alpine cross country mountain bike ride in the Sawatch mountain range. In fact, the Continental Divide Trail runs concurrent with the singletrack on this route.
Even the dirt roads used to get up to and down from the Alpine Tunnel singletrack are quite entertaining, with the road from St. Elmo to Hancock passing by numerous historic sites, like old mines, cabins, and eventually an old town site once you reach Hancock. And St. Elmo, where the ride starts/ends, is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the area. If you enjoy touring historic sites on your mountain bike rides, this is the ride for you!
The Alpine Tunnel gets its name from an old railroad tunnel that runs through the mountain. While it's now collapsed, you can see the entrance to the tunnel, and a placard that explains the history of the area.
Part of the route runs along the railroad grade as you approach the tunnel itself. But after you pass the tunnel, the trail turns into classic singletrack, climbing up and over high-alpine passes, and running past beautiful alpine lakes. Despite breaking above 12,000 feet, the nearby mountains rise higher still, providing jaw-dropping views.
Eventually the trail turns back downhill, dropping out of the alpine and entering a forest of tall pine trees. The soil transforms into loamy, dark dirt--a rarity in this area. Flowy trail punctuated by switchbacks drops down to a 4x4 road, and a fast descent down the boulder-filled road ends in St. Elmo. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| to Alpine Tunnel | 8.05 mi | 1,562 ft | 3.7% |
| County Road 295 Climb | 1.96 mi | 404 ft | 3.7% |
| County Road 295 Climb | 1.99 mi | 371 ft | 3.5% |
| Hancock townsite to Altman Pass | 3.20 mi | 879 ft | 5.2% |
| County Road 295 Climb | 0.78 mi | 443 ft | 10.7% |
| Alpine Tunnel First Push | 0.41 mi | 312 ft | 14.3% |
| CDT Alpine Tunnel to Tincup Pass Road | 4.62 mi | -1,243 ft | -3.5% |
| County Road 295 Climb | 0.26 mi | 289 ft | 20.2% |
| CDT Alpine Tunnel Loop decent complete | 7.71 mi | -2,293 ft | -5.6% |
| Continental Divide Trail Descent | 0.66 mi | -331 ft | -9.4% |
| Switchback magic | 1.92 mi | -994 ft | -9.7% |
| CDT long switchbacky descent to log bridge before Tincup Rd | 2.17 mi | -945 ft | -8.2% |
| Just the switchbacks | 1.17 mi | -545 ft | -8.8% |
| CR267 to Elmo, AKA - TX Wheelchair Convention Road | 3.79 mi | -1,050 ft | -5.2% |
| Can't see straight at the TX Wheelchair Convention | 0.59 mi | -292 ft | -9.2% |