This is the 2024 Lifetimes's The Rad Dirt Fest's 70 mile course.
We had the pleasure to participate in this growing gravel event in Trinidad, Colorado which attracts a wide range of inspiring cyclists from the pro/elite to the gravel newbies. It was thrilling to watch the pros zip across the finish line and to cheer on all those doing their first organized gravel ride!
If you want to do this route with others, don't miss signing up for for next year! They offer three course lengths: 40, 70 and 110.
The Rad Dirt also offers qualifying "coins" for UNBOUND. (Think Willy Wonka, but with bikes and more dusty goodness.) More info on their site.
The route is quite scenic, but unlike any other region in Colorado! From the quaint town of Trinidad, you'll quickly be biking on relatively untouched gravel roads and trails that are deep in the Southern Colorado plateau. The towering Spanish Peaks, expansive mesas and Trinidad Lake will be your backdrop, and you will also see the historic Trinidad sign that sits high above the town on a sandstone bluff.
The South Shore Trail in Trinidad Lake State Park, (at approximately miles 5-9 at the beginning and 60-64 at the end), is a challenging and fun single/double track section with a little bit of chunk and some short and steep rollers. When the trail is less technical you can look around and see the beautiful blue reservoir which is nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Burro Canyon offers a nice slice of gravel and a solid climb (Approximately miles 14-23). The road is well packed with very few washboards and the 9-mile climb was mild with an average grade around 2%.
The Loop portion of the route was particularly nice as you get into a little more tree cover with shade. In this section, the late September air was scented with Sage, Juniper and Pinyon.
Throughout the whole route, car traffic was very low to nearly nonexistent and we found the people of Trinidad generally pretty friendly and welcoming.
The paved hills as you are leaving and then coming back into town are quite steep!! Especially when you are spent from the previous 65 miles the last few hills are real killers. During the event, there were many people who opted to walk the final pitches.
There is one very small section of rocky downhill trail around mile 43. It required hopping off the bike and walking down the roughest bit.
Once you get out of town, you are really "out there" and there are no services of any kind.
If you are doing this route on your own (not on the race day), you will need to take your own water and nutrition. There is not much in the way of water to be filtered so we recommend several bottles and a lightweight hydration pack. Cell phone service may be spotty so also consider taking your Garmin InReach or other satellite tracker.
Do this route if you want to bike the best roads and trails the Trinidad area has to offer, with several punchy hills and the Spanish Peaks, expansive mesas and Trinidad Lake as the backdrop.
This route starts from Trinidad's Main Street. We parked in the Safeway Parking lot, which is just a block away.
Since we did this on event day, there were port-a-potties at the start, but you can find restrooms in the the downtown businesses if you visit them.
We recommend visiting Perkatory Coffee House for pre-ride caffeine and Bella Luna Pizzeria for post-ride food.
If you need bike maintenance supplies or just enjoy stopping in the local bike shop, go to Tarantula Cycles.
Trinidad Lake Park is a great camping option if you are staying overnight. Campsites are reservation only and can be made year-round at a maximum of six months in advance of arrival date. You can secure your campsite online or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Laura & Rose
Laura Karpinski and Rose Barcklow are the creators of Gravel Bike Adventures. Click on the About page to learn more about them.
