Chaffee County Colorado Running Routes

The CCRC feels that it is very important for the public to have access to the best running specific facility in Chaffee County: the Salida High School Track. This is a fantastic facility and great asset to our community and we want to keep it that way.

Browns Canyon National Monument is located next to the Arkansas River, between Buena Vista and Salida. The trailhead shown here is located just past the Ruby Mountain Campground, which can be accessed from CR 301. This area is great for hiking or running most of the year. It’s a beautiful area, and easy to access … Read more

The North Crestone Trail is 5.7 miles long. This was a great trail run, with a little over 3,000 feet of climbing, stunning views, and beautiful, varied terrain.

From the F street bridge, head over across the tracks to the old paved road and head left/upstream/generally west. It is about 1.0 mile from the gap in the fence on F street until this road meets the better pavement of Co Rd. 175 at an intersection.

An accurate 5km has been marked off near Salida, and its point to point downhill (150+ foot net drop) and general with the wind direction will somewhat negate the slowing of the altitude here to a certain extent.

Access: Driving north on 285 from Poncha Springs, drive 3.5 miles north or .9 miles north of CR 160. Rd 5630, a BLM access road is on the left. You can park anywhere you can find a place along this road.

Access: From State Highway 50 west of Poncha Springs about 1 mile County Road 250 goes north into the BLM. About 4 miles up you will come to the Forest Service Boundary at the third cattle guard. This is a good place to park.

The Colorado Trailhead at Angel of Shavano Campground may be accessed off Hwy 50 at Maysville by taking CR 240 north in Maysville. Drive 5 + miles north to Angel of Shavano Campground. On the north side and across the road is a Colorado Trailhead parking area.

The Colorado Trailhead at Angel of Shavano Campground may be accessed off Hwy 50 at Maysville by taking CR 240 north in Maysville. Drive 5 + miles north to Angel of Shavano Campground. On the north side and across the road is a Colorado Trailhead parking area.

Agate Creek run may be accessed from the Monarch Pass parking lot on Highway 50. The entire Agate Creek Trail run is 18 miles long.

Crest Trail North starts at the Monarch Pass Parking lot on Hwy 50.

The Crest Trail can be accessed from the Monarch Pass Parking Lot on Hwy 50.

We call this the Boss Lake Loop but rather it’s a point to point run and requires two cars or one car with a shuttle person. Drive to Monarch Pass, dropping one car at the wide spot parking area across from the Monarch Lodge. Park the other car(s) at the Monarch Pass Parking Lot.

This is a pleasant, relatively flat, smooth & continuous loop above Salida. The loop is mainly on low traffic paved county roads. There are no road crossings or intersections to deal with, so it lends itself to uninterrupted running. There is only 550’ of climbing, with the same amount of descent.

Access: Fooses Creek can be accessed off Hwy 50, 2.9 miles west of Maysville, CO, turn left on CR 225. In the winter the road ends below the lake, in the summer you can drive 2.5 miles further to the South Fooses Creek trailhead.

Greens Creek can be accessed by driving west from Poncha Springs down Hwy 50 to CR 220, turn left and parallel Hwy 50 for a couple of miles until you hit CR 221 and turn left again and go 2.5 miles to the Greens Creek Trailhead.

Access: Pass Creek may be accessed off Highway 50 west of Poncha Springs. Take CR 210 south up Little Cochatopa Creek. In a short distance (2 miles) CR 212 branches off to the west or right off 210. It is marked with a sign saying Pass Creek. Follow this road up to a cattle guard … Read more

Starvation Creek is an out and back trail run which takes place in the dark forest and deep recess of Starvation Creek Canyon. Half the fun of this run is getting to the trailhead.

The West Rainbow Trail Run is an out and back trail run which starts at the Rainbow Trailhead off 285 just south of Mears Junction. This is where the Rainbow Trail crosses 285.

This is a point to point run along the Rainbow Trail. It gets its name because it was an annual run which ended at Terry Pintane’s house where we would have pot luck dinner.