Rundown:
Pipeline Loop takes riders on a tour up to Hardscrabble Mountain
starting and ending in Eagle Ranch.
Distance:
12.5 miles
Difficulty Level:
Medium
Vail Velo Members Rating:
Elevation Profile:
Season:
April 15 - December 15
Directions:
Drive west on Interstate 70 to Exit 147 (Eagle). Go right through
the roundabout and then turn left on Capitol St. Drive 0.75 through
Eagle to an intersection with Brush Creek Rd. Continue straight
through the stop sign and down the hill. Go past the Capital Hill
Movie Theater and take a left onto Sylvan Lake Road. Then take the
next right onto Eagle Ranch Road. Drive a short distance and look
for Brush Creek Elementary on the right. Parking is available
here.
Description:
From Brush Creek Elementary, ride about 1.25 miles on Eagle Ranch
Rd to Haystacker Dr. Turn right and ride the paved bike path. After
0.5 miles the path will bend right. Continue straight and look for
the Mayer Gulch Trail. This section of the ride climbs gradually
through sagebrush for about 1.5 miles. The trail will change from
tight singletrack to open doubletrack before coming to an
intersection with another doubletrack. At the intersection turn
left and ride 0.35 miles to Hardscrabble Rd. Turn right here and
take the road about 5.0 miles up to Hardscrabble Mountain. The
route travels through many areas of oakbrush before reaching the
aspen and pine forests. As the road levels out and nears a
livestock corral, look for a small rock formation on the right.
Take this to start the Pipeline trail. The first section
immediately dives into an aspen grove and then crosses a creek. As
the trail continues, it weaves through the trees and crosses the
creek again before coming to an intersection with a doubletrack.
Turn right at this junction and ride 2.85 miles down Third Gulch.
The doubletrack exits on Fourth of July Rd. Ride to then end of the
road and turn left on Eagle Ranch Rd. Ride 1.15 miles back to Brush
Creek Elementary.
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