Guyot Loop from the Breck Epic in Colorado

Distance: 41.28 mi	Points: 2673	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Preserved River Dredge

Location: 39.483334, -105.995461
Used for mining gold by tearing up the entire river.

Forest Service Gate

Location: 39.482382, -106.013689

Tailings from dredge mining

Location: 39.482340, -106.011136
When they were mining this area for gold, they would basically set up these dredges that dug their own lake, pulling up rocks from where they wanted to go and filling in the area behind them.

Prospect Hill

Location: 39.493576, -106.016951
This steep climb hurts, but there's old mining gear everywhere. You just look at it and wonder how the hell did they get it up here.

Lincoln Park

Location: 39.494437, -105.989227
The roads leading up to this are pretty well established, but after it gets rustic.

Three-way intersection

Location: 39.487416, -105.966139
On the way out, head south from here and make the Guyot Loop. If you're looking to put in some extra miles, it's mostly downhill if you head back the way you came, but most locals take the road to the west back home.

Little French Gulch

Location: 39.476684, -105.951290
Rip rap rock here, kind of like riding on dinner plates. These are mine tailings.

Back to the Valley

Location: 39.476486, -105.954380
We lose a lot of elevation as we head back to the valley floor. The trail goes below the tree line, where there's great singletrack, wildflowers and spectacular views.

Beginning of French Pass

Location: 39.468270, -105.955410
This is tough riding -- 10 to 12 percent grade, with a loose rocky trail. Only about a third of riders make this climb, so don't feel bad about hopping off.

French Pass/Continental Divide

Location: 39.439242, -105.951290
Spectacular views and the highest point on the trail. Take it all in and regroup with stragglers in the group. Get ready for the descent into South Park -- yes, that South Park.

Descent

Location: 39.433210, -105.945969
Singletrack and rustic doubletrack here. There may be some windblown snow around here, which you'll have to navigate over.

Start of Georgia Pass Climb

Location: 39.438182, -105.907345
You know you're on Georgia Pass when you start to see a bunch of fat guys on their ATVs.

Georgia Pass/Continental Divide

Location: 39.458264, -105.915842
You'll come back over the continental divide on this 11,585' pass.

Descent on the Colorado Trail

Location: 39.464626, -105.908203
This long descent goes into the Swan River Valley. Watch the scenery as you pass through several climate zones and into old-growth forests.

Jeep trail to the Great Flume

Location: 39.460517, -105.919833
Go with a guided tour and they'll show you how to get to the Great Flume from the jeep trail. It's seven miles long with a universal grade and highly recommended.

Swan River Valley

Location: 39.498014, -105.927687
A dredge boat mined this entire river, creating a huge section of tailings here.

Beginning of Georgia Gulch climb

Location: 39.497981, -105.948715
The road goes straight uphill on this brutal climb. Sometimes the grade hits 20 percent. This is the most painful climb on the loop.

Decision time

Location: 39.488244, -105.963950
Most locals take the road straight back to town, but if you want the full Breck Epic loop, you'll turn right here and continue on the counterclockwise loop past Lincoln Park.

Finishing up

Location: 39.493411, -105.996137
Turn right for the full 41.8 miles of the Breck Epic Loop. It's mostly downhill, so it's fun riding here.