Distance - 64 miles
Climbing - 5600 feet
BGR (Brad's Gravel Rating) - 45 (washboard from hell)
CRF (Cage Rage Factor) - medium+
Scenery - great
Location - West of Monument
Parking - Mt Herman Trailhead
General Description -
This is a pretty big ride around the Rampart Range area west of Colorado Springs and Monument. The loop can be started from many different places along the way, but is described here from the Mt Herman Trailhead at the Monument Preserve.
Generally, the route goes from Monument to Colorado Springs via the Santa Fe Trail, west along the Sinton Trail to the Garden of the Gods, up Rampart Range Rd past the Reservoir, then down Mt Herman Rd back to the trailhead.
Scenery is great along much of the route. Vehicle traffic can be heavy along Rampart Range Rd as well as Mt Herman Rd. The washboard can be totally brutal and relentless near the Reservoir.
The Loaf N Jug at GoG and 30th is a decent place to stock up on some snacks and drinks before heading into the mountains proper. Stock up before the relentless 3000 foot climb out of the Garden and nearly up to Woodland Park.
Detailed Route Description
Park at the Mt Herman Trailhead (Nursery Rd and Mt Herman Rd) west of Monument
Head east on Mt Herman Rd
Take a left on Mitchell
Take a right on 2nd St
After passing Big Red (school administration building), hop on the Santa Fe Trail going southbound
Continue on the SFT all the way into the Springs, eventually taking a right and heading west on Sinton Trail
The trail basically takes you all the way to 30th St (with a little bit of sidewalk and back road)
Stock up at the Loaf N Jug
Head south on the trail that parallels 30th til you get to GoG
Ride thru GoG almost to Balanced Rock where you take a right and go up Rampart Range Rd
Climb, forever...>3k
Eventually go past Rampart Reservoir, skip the turn left to Woodland Park and reach the top of Mt Herman Rd
Descend Mt Herman Rd back to the trailhead.
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