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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
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaMethodist Mountain Trail System
Salida, Colorado -
Difficulty Rating
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Local Popularity75 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 85 in Trail Running
- 70 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land OwnerBureau 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
BLMLand Manager
Local Trail Association
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-
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 2 rides
- 13.0 km average
6 Months
- 22 rides
- 26.0 km avg distance
All
- 249 rides
- Last: Jul 4, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Dead Bird Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
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- < 50%
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- < 2 weeks
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- < 6 months
- > 6 months
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Directions to dead-bird trailhead
(38.513790, -105.978310)
Videos
no videos have been added for Dead Bird yet, add a video.
Routes with this trail
4 miles • 605 ft • 3 •
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,...
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Nearby Trails
- Burmac Road 115 ft
- Highway 50 Bike Path 1,959 ft
- Old Railroad Grade Connector 2,651 ft
- Cr 102 3,422 ft
- Dirt Road 3,425 ft
Methodist Mountain Trail System
- By todd
Trailforks & contributors - #13959 - 1,696 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dead Bird
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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.
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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.
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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.
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How long is Dead Bird?
Dead Bird is 1.5 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
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