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Guffey Huffer

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
126.91 mi
11,428 ft
A challenging 200km double loop through the Arkansas Hills region.

The Guffey Huffer is a massive 200km double loop running from Salida to Guffey, down to Cotopaxi, and back to Salida. Dreamt up by the [Colorado Endurance Series]( most years there is a coordinated non-commercial ride on this route.

But is this a race? As the Colorado Endurance Series says, "This isn’t some heavily marketed, corporate sponsored, contrived route on a grid of dirt roads. This is an adventure. This is an experience. This is a big ride. Times will be kept and recorded but is this a race? That is up to you.”

The Guffey Huffer doesn’t take it easy on you—the first climb from the town of Salida to the top of the Arkansas Hills and Fremont County is one of the most difficult on the route! Once to the eastern side of the Arkansas Hills the route rolls through wide-open prairie and low hills to reach Guffey. Guffey is one of the few resupply points during the ride.

After swinging around to complete the far loop, the ride doubles back on the same section of dirt road before dropping south toward Cotopaxi.

The ride south to Cotopaxi crosses over some beautiful mountains that feel wet and wild after the high-and-dry prairie near Guffey. The beautiful aspen groves and pine trees provide a refreshing change of pace. After crossing the ridge, you’ll drop into a canyon and descend all the way to Cotopaxi—the low point of the route.

After a resupply in Cotopaxi, all that’s left is a gradual, scenic climb along the Arkansas River to return to Salida. While the climb is gradual, the roughest and rockiest portions of the route are found in the last 15 miles. Skillful bike handling on these rough roads is mandatory!

Source:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Up to Cottonwood6.42 mi1,729 ft5.1%
CR 175 Cottonwood Climb5.96 mi1,706 ft5.4%
Ute trail climb: Spiral Drive to top10.89 mi2,720 ft4.7%
cottonwood climb6.03 mi1,660 ft5.2%
Up Ute trail to N. Backbone2.04 mi525 ft4.8%
Piñon push1.86 mi548 ft5.6%
Ute Trail First Dirt to Second Cattle Guard5.01 mi1,490 ft5.6%
Ute Trail Climb, 1st dirt to Fremont Co Line9.73 mi2,457 ft4.8%
Ute dirt incline to first reprieve7.77 mi2,156 ft5.3%
earn your turns3.92 mi1,152 ft5.6%
County Road 175 Climb - Long 3.90 mi1,109 ft5.4%
case of the steepies0.75 mi279 ft7.0%
County Road 175 Climb1.21 mi269 ft4.2%
County Road 175 Climb1.69 mi348 ft3.9%
(gravel) CR175 NB 5.3%2.40 mi676 ft5.3%
County Road 175 Climb1.00 mi272 ft5.1%
Ute Trail Descent to Whitehorn2.09 mi-581 ft-5.3%
(gravel) Ute EB 3.5%0.37 mi72 ft3.5%
(gravel) Bottom of the Ute Chute1.47 mi-194 ft-2.4%
(gravel) Land of the 5 mile rollers4.79 mi476 ft1.9%
(gravel) CR2 grade1.55 mi161 ft1.9%
County Road 11 Climb1.05 mi279 ft5.0%
Send it like a Musketeer8.31 mi-1,713 ft-3.9%
Cinder Road stock sale barn to Salida1.38 mi30 ft0.4%
Tracks back from Chicken1.48 mi39 ft0.3%