10.2 miles
Distance
1,005 ft
Climb
-1,556 ft
Descent
01:37:13
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of CDT CT - Monarch Crest Trail

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Dirtbike/Moto
  • Riding Area
    Salida
    , Colorado
  • Ref Number
    #9531
  • AKA
    CO18 - Marshall Pass to Monarch Pass Segment 15 - US-50 to Marshall Pass TH
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Season
    July - Oct
  • Alpine Trail
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Global Ranking
    #1431 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #8035 in E-Biking
    • #28188 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
    • 85 in Dirtbiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Monarch Crest is an epic High Country ride Super popular and for good reason. After you climb the dirt road and do a short climb, the views are amazing, and then more amazing as you navigate between small peaks. The views are 360 and you can see down multiple valleys. After you top out, the descent towards Green Creek is fast and furious. Lots of roots, and super fun.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for CDT CT - Monarch Crest Trail multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -552 ft
  • Altitude min
    10,842 ft
  • Altitude max
    11,965 ft
  • Altitude start
    11,393 ft
  • Altitude end
    10,843 ft
  • Grade
    -1%
  • Grade max
    -52.1%
  • Grade min
    37.1%
  • Distance climb
    4 miles
  • Distance down
    5 miles
  • Distance flat
    4,232 ft
  • Avg time
    01:37:13
  • Avg reverse time
    03:47:39
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Sep 11, 2022
Ideal
Avg: 4.65 (28 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
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  • no data
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  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
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  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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  • mountain biking recent
  • mountain biking (>6 month)
  • hiking (1 year)
  • moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
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  • Downhill Ski
  • Backcountry Ski
  • Nordic Ski
  • Snowmobile
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      Directions to cdt-ct-monarch-crest-trail trailhead (38.492780, -106.320240)
      update trails status or condition

      CDT CT - Monarch... Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Sep 11, 2022 @ 8:36am
      Sep 11, 2022
      Sep 5, 2022 @ 9:02pm
      Sep 5, 2022
      Downed trees have been cleared. Should be good to go
      Jul 9, 2022 @ 10:20am
      Jul 9, 2022
      A couple of downed trees just before Silver creek trail.
      Jul 4, 2022 @ 8:19pm
      Jul 4, 2022
      Oct 27, 2021 @ 11:24am
      Oct 27, 2021
      Over a foot of snow from recent storms
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 0 rides
      •  
      All
      • 1,915 rides
      • Last: Jul 31, 2022

      Photos

      more »
      4 |
      Jun 5, 2023 @ 10:57am
      Jun 5, 2023
      4 |
      Jun 5, 2023 @ 10:57am
      Jun 5, 2023
      534 |
      May 28, 2013 @ 1:41pm
      May 28, 2013
      462 |
      Feb 28, 2012 @ 5:18pm
      Feb 28, 2012

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Monarch Crest - The Classic35 miles
      Monarch Crest / Starvation Creek29 miles
      Monarch Crest to Salida45 miles
      Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Complete2,989 miles

      1 Review & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber This ride didn't go as planned...
      11:57 | 541 | Aug 23, 2018 , Salida
      Riding Monarch Crest Trail. Salida, CO
      6:51 | 148 | Jul 26, 2022 , Salida
      Add this Trail to your bucket list this Summer...
      17:51 | 196 | Apr 3, 2022 , Salida
      #MTB2K21 Day 6 - Monarch Starvation
      5:08 | 142 | Dec 19, 2021 , Salida

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