more stats
1.5 miles
Distance
522 ft
Climb
00:18:26
Avg time
523 ft
Altitude change
7,031 ft
Altitude min
7,554 ft
Altitude max
7,031 ft
Altitude start
7,556 ft
Altitude end
6.6%
Grade
21.3%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1,004 ft
Distance flat
00:18:26
Avg time

Dead Bird Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Methodist Mountain Trail System
    Salida, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    70 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 55 in Trail Running
    • 60 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #71714 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #45455 in Trail Running
    • #79359 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    Bureau of Land Management

Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) made major improvements to Dead Bird and Lost in late 2021 to create a better up/down loop while retaining the old-school character of both trails. Minor reroutes to Dead Bird nixed a few flow-killing cruxes, making for a more comfortable climb. Reroutes to Lost dramatically improved sustainability (much of the trail was fall line, and prone to washouts) while adding fun features and berms.

Trail Supporters
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 23 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 255 rides
  • Last: Sep 23, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Dead Bird Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Oct 8, 2024 @ 2:00pm
Oct 8, 2024
Sep 6, 2024 @ 4:36pm
Sep 6, 2024
Aug 19, 2024 @ 4:44pm
Aug 19, 2024
 Tacky and nice with a few damp spots
Jun 2, 2024 @ 1:30pm
Jun 2, 2024
Aug 25, 2023 @ 12:26am
Aug 25, 2023
more »
Status:
on Oct 8, 2024
Dry
Avg: 3.68 (10 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (1,362)
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      Directions to dead-bird trailhead (38.513790, -105.978310)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      2 more »
      mtb
      21 |
      May 26, 2026 @ 10:27am
      May 26, 2026
      mtb
      32 |
      May 26, 2026 @ 10:26am
      May 26, 2026

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Dead Bird yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      7
      Lost Trail
      4 miles • 605 ft • 3 •
      20
      Methodist Flow Trail Tour
      6 miles • 870 ft • 12 • Loop •
      A quick tour up Race track and Sun Up then down both ends of Sol Train with finale choice of Dead Bird,...
      3.5 ★★★★★
      10 Ratings
      5 ★ 20%
      4 ★ 30%
      3 ★ 30%
      2 ★ 20%
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments

      Srichter
      TF has this listed as a green. Trailhead says blue. Let's call it 'bluegrass' (a challenging green). Climb was steady all the way up.
      spacemanDan
      Found this to be more fun than Racetrack, even though its so short. The steeps arent that badly washed out like the description says. Just dont brake too much.

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Dead Bird located?
      Dead Bird is located in Methodist Mountain Trail System, Salida, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Methodist Mountain Trail System trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 38.51379, -105.97831.
      ▼ How hard is Dead Bird?
      Dead Bird is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Dead Bird?
      Dead Bird has 522 ft of elevation gain. The elevation ranges from 7,031 ft to 7,554 ft.
      ▼ How long is Dead Bird?
      Dead Bird is 1.5 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Dead Bird?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Dead Bird. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Dead Bird?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Dead Bird are:
      • July (31 activities)
      • August (25 activities)
      • June (21 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Dead Bird? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Dead Bird are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Dead Bird?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 5 minutes to ride Dead Bird. The trail is 1.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Dead Bird?
      Dead Bird is a very popular trail. There have been 1,287 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,362 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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