Review Date
June 7, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: JohnnyU ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This trail is a real gem. It's the one that started all of the magic for me, and quite honestly 95% of the other trails I ride just don't match up. That being said, nobody knows about this trail and I've rarely run into other bikers, let alone hikers. Grew up in Ouray and this trail was an excursion once every couple days. So, mtn. bikers, next time you're on your way to Telluride or Durango, swing by Ouray for this one.

Details: for the real roundtrip version park your car down in Ouray and bike up Red Mountain Pass (2 miles) to the trailhead. Ride the trail up to the point when you're literally in the bowl of the amphitheater (you'll know what I mean when you get there, about 3 miles up). You're surrounded by Peaks. This is the top of the trail, although it looks like the trail keeps going. Another trail splits off to the left, take that one back instead of going back down the way you came up. This way down is more technical, roots and rocks in the path, nothing too insane though. Just coast down the trail with your hands on both brakes, hopping off the rocks and roots. A few miles of this and you'll want to do it again, it's incredible.
Another great benefit to parking down in Ouray is that once you're done with the trail, coast down the highway into town. Great high speed icing on the cake.

Review Date
September 30, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: bstiff ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
We rode up the Portland Mine Road, thinking it would be a better climb than the Portland Mine Trail. Boy, were we wrong. The descent on the trail was a blast, but the climb on the road was misery. Based on the apparent limited ridable singletrack in the area, I'll give this one 4 flamin' chiles for the out-and-back, trail-up, trail-down route.