Gravel Grind #2 - SFT -> Palmer Lake -> Forest Lakes Loop

Distance - 16.8 miles
Climbing - 1270 feet
BGR (Brad's Gravel Rating) - 35
CRF (Cage Rage Factor) - medium
Scenery - not bad
Location - Monument / Palmer Lake - west of I25
Parking - Sante Fe Trailhead at Baptist Road and Old Denver Highway

General Description - A combined gravel / paved ride around the Tri Lakes area. About 75% gravel. Fairly nice mountain and lake scenery with a reasonable amount of climbing, but nothing sustained. This loop can be started from many different trailheads around the area (Baptist Rd, Mount Herman TH, Palmer Lake TH, 105, etc). Traffic is generally light except through Palmer Lake. Finding your way through the Glen can be a challenge, with a maze of roads (sometimes one way).

Detailed Description
Park at the trailhead and head north on the Sante Fe Trail. This can be windy and/or sandy depending on conditions.
Once you pass Palmer Lake, take a left on County Line Rd and cross the railroad tracks.
Take a left on 105 and go into town.
At the Speedtrap (coffee/restaraunt), take a right on Glenway
Pass the elementary school playground and take a left on High St
Go onto Old Carriage Rd and descend past the Palmer Lake reservoir trailhead
Take a right on Walnut
Veer right onto Crescent
then left onto Chatauqua
which turns in Buena Vista, then Wall St
Take a left onto Truman
Then right onto Virginia
At the red British telephone booth, take a left on Sun Crest
Continue down until you hit Forest View Rd, where you go right
Continue til you hit Red Forest, where you go right
Take a left at Red Rocks Dr
Take a left at Mount Herman Rd
Take a right at Nursery Rd (location of the Mt Herman Trailhead)
Veer right onto Schilling
Left on Lindbergh
Climb the steep, but short hill :-)
Left onto Mesa Top Dr
Left onto Forest Lakes Drive
Go past the lake, cross over the rail road tracks
At the roundabout, the trailhead is on your left

Comments

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Monumentally Afflicted

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