On Sourdough, no knead for speed

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On Sourdough, no knead for speed

In an area not known for tolerating off-road activities, the Sourdough Trail is one of the few single-track trails in the hills northwest of Boulder. The name suggests a smooth and easy ride, but it is instead a mostly rocky undertaking. There are no long, steep climbs or descents, but a steady barrage of loose and embedded stone are a constant reminder of why suspension forks were invented for bicycles.

The forest is thick and very dry, lending few scenic views. One exception is a power line road at 4.1 miles marking the highest point of the ride.

This ride can also be done by parking at a lot near the entrance to Brainard Lake and heading south on the signed trailhead.

If you go

Bicycle: Mountain bike

Location: Between Nederland and Ward west of Colorado 72

Surface: Mostly rocky single track with some gravel and exposed roots

Distance: Out and back is 12 miles

Difficulty: Moderate, with numerous more-technical rocky sections

Ride time: Two to three hours

To reach Sourdough Trail: From Nederland, take Colorado 72 north for seven miles and look for the signed road for the University of Colorado Research Station. Go west of FR 298 about a 1/2-mile to the parking lot.

Map of the ride

Other rides

-Brainard Lake Loop: Near the end of the ride is the entrance to Brainard Lake. Bicycles can enter for $1. The two-mile, paved road leads to a scenic lake loop that's a great spot for a picnic. The loop is about two miles as well.

-Left Hand Reservoir: Also near the end of the described trail, a four-wheel-drive, dirt road climbs southwest for about two and a half miles to Left Hand Reservoir. Bad weather did not permit a ride, but the road appears to be wide and fairly smooth with only a few rocky sections.

-Sourdough Trail continued: From the end of the described trail, Sourdough Trail continues for about five more miles to Beaver Reservoir. This is also a rocky endeavor with more advanced sections requiring more stamina and a good suspension fork.

-Colorado 72 return option: If the bumps and stumps have made your teeth hurt and your eyes blurry, a good return option is to take the road to Brainard Lake east to meet Colorado 72. Unlike Sourdough Trail, this option offers many scenic views. There is little elevation gain or loss, and cruising on a smooth road is a refreshing change. The shoulder is wide, but heavy auto and road bike traffic is likely on the weekends. It's about 7.7 miles back to the described parking area.

E-mail Ted Crawford at tcrawford@dslbroadband.com. His column is also available online at RockyMountainNews.com.

August 25, 2000

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