The Trail of Tears

Terrain Distance (approx): 9.89 miles
Climbing Distance: 2,244 feet
Highest Altitude: 5,396 feet
Trip Time: 2 hours
Bill Trip Time: 1.5 hour (6/14/2005)
Average Grade: 8
Difficulty: Moderate.

Not the official "trail of Tears", this is my version. This last Thursday for the annual Thursday Night Group Ride we did what was described as the trail of tears. Here is how it goes. Start by parking at the trail head for the Rattlesnake Recreation Area. Follow the map on the right [click to enlarge]. Start north but only for about 1/10th of a mile to take a sharp left onto trail 106 I believe. The route is high lighted in yellow. Trail 106 takes you up into Sawmill Gulch. After passing the gate for the second upper trailhead take the next right and climb in earnest. Follow this trail straight. Just as the trail begins to level out and eventually plummet into Curry Gulch (nest to the 22 on the map), take a left. This is the beginning of the Trail of Tears.

After a short climb take a right at the junction and climb some more. Climb and climb eventually reaching Snow Bowl Lookout. This happens to be the place to hang out. When we were up there we ran into at least 8 others. If we would of had a keg, it would of been a party. descend off of the lookout and keep descending to the Stewart Peak Trail. Take a right onto it and begin the downhill. Enjoy this long and haplessly fast decent all the way down Spring Gulch. Follow to the main corridor and then a right will get you back to the parking lot.

I give this ride 5 stars, a perfect ride.