Monarch Crest trail

Asatrur · 08-26-2012, 01:18 PM

We are a lowly band of pig riders i.e. KLR650's and someone in our group said let's ride the Monarch Crest trail, so I did some searching, but nothing real informative, so I asking you FFs. All the info I found is MTB focused, which is not real comforting to me on a 400lb pig. Are we crazy to even thing this on a KLR? We are moderate riders who have survived Caribou, Rollins, Jones pass, and West Magnolia on the Front range if that helps.

TNC · 08-26-2012, 02:08 PM

For some reason I thought MC is just MTB, hiking, horse.

singletrackslayer · 08-26-2012, 02:25 PM

Thanks to people like Stan Simpson of the AMA and others at the TPA, the "crest trail" (a world class section of the CDNST) is still open to MOTOs.

One of the most amazing(if not the most) amazing singletracks of the local area. Other than a couple of moderate swicthbacks and a short climb or two, I would consider it lower-moderate difficullty. The hardest part about it is focasing on the trail instead of watchin the scenery play out below and around you. Just dont ride it on a saturday or sunday morning, as you will have to share it with 500 or so pissed off MTBs(they believe that they own ALL the trails here). weekdays and evenings are fair game though.

I would ride it on a 650, but thats me . . .

Now paging Ramz! Now paging Hayduke! please pick up the nearest blue phone . . .

Hair · 08-26-2012, 03:46 PM

Several of us have done it on 950 enduros. A couple of guys that I know did it on a GS. The trail is not hard. The slopes are steep. If you take the turnoff to Agate creek you will have a great ride down with quick flowing creek at the bottom to cross.

Hayduke · 09-02-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singletrackslayer

Thanks to people like Stan Simpson of the AMA and others at the TPA, the "crest trail" (a world class section of the CDNST) is still open to MOTOs.

One of the most amazing(if not the most) amazing singletracks of the local area. Other than a couple of moderate swicthbacks and a short climb or two, I would consider it lower-moderate difficullty. The hardest part about it is focasing on the trail instead of watchin the scenery play out below and around you. Just dont ride it on a saturday or sunday morning, as you will have to share it with 500 or so pissed off MTBs(they believe that they own ALL the trails here). weekdays and evenings are fair game though.

I would ride it on a 650, but thats me . . .

Now paging Ramz! Now paging Hayduke! please pick up the nearest blue phone . . .

Crest would be fine on KLR's; But don't go down Agate!

Hayduke · 09-02-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNC

For some reason I thought MC is just MTB, hiking, horse.

Great fun on a moto!

Stephenson · 09-02-2012, 12:02 PM

I think it would be fun - I rode it on the MTB this past July.

It's a beautiful view - definitely tight single track, but not technical really. During RMAR 2011 we rode part of it on our way back to Saguache.

Don't go down Fooses either (the CO Trail Turnoff) - same reasons as Agate. If you do ride it on a Saturday or Sunday - the shuttle times are 8am and 10am, possibly a noon shuttle as well. www.monarchcrest.com. If you look at their schedules, you can see when the flood of bikers will be. So, I would say that if you can enter the trail at 7am - you wouldn't encounter very many bikes.

08-26-2012, 01:18 PM	#1
Asatrur ^OP Newbie KLR adv rider Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Longmont, CO Oddometer: 1,061	Monarch Crest trail We are a lowly band of pig riders i.e. KLR650's and someone in our group said let's ride the Monarch Crest trail, so I did some searching, but nothing real informative, so I asking you FFs. All the info I found is MTB focused, which is not real comforting to me on a 400lb pig. Are we crazy to even thing this on a KLR? We are moderate riders who have survived Caribou, Rollins, Jones pass, and West Magnolia on the Front range if that helps. __________________ 00 KLR650 I wonder what is over that dirt thingamagig? http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...Op8LhphYfeBJ9I

08-26-2012, 02:25 PM	#3
singletrackslayer Legalize singletrack Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Morningwood, CO Oddometer: 423	Thanks to people like Stan Simpson of the AMA and others at the TPA, the "crest trail" (a world class section of the CDNST) is still open to MOTOs. One of the most amazing(if not the most) amazing singletracks of the local area. Other than a couple of moderate swicthbacks and a short climb or two, I would consider it lower-moderate difficullty. The hardest part about it is focasing on the trail instead of watchin the scenery play out below and around you. Just dont ride it on a saturday or sunday morning, as you will have to share it with 500 or so pissed off MTBs(they believe that they own ALL the trails here). weekdays and evenings are fair game though. I would ride it on a 650, but thats me . . . Now paging Ramz! Now paging Hayduke! please pick up the nearest blue phone . . . __________________ "Never been lost, but was i might bit confused for a month or two" William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

08-26-2012, 03:46 PM	#4
Hair 10 fingers 10 toes Joined: Dec 2003 Oddometer: 12,109	Several of us have done it on 950 enduros. A couple of guys that I know did it on a GS. The trail is not hard. The slopes are steep. If you take the turnoff to Agate creek you will have a great ride down with quick flowing creek at the bottom to cross. __________________ Why are we stopping?: Wayne Weber

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08-26-2012, 02:08 PM	#2
TNC Candyass Camper Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Tejas Oddometer: 3,410	For some reason I thought MC is just MTB, hiking, horse.

09-02-2012, 12:02 PM	#7
Stephenson Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Oddometer: 39	I think it would be fun - I rode it on the MTB this past July. It's a beautiful view - definitely tight single track, but not technical really. During RMAR 2011 we rode part of it on our way back to Saguache. Don't go down Fooses either (the CO Trail Turnoff) - same reasons as Agate. If you do ride it on a Saturday or Sunday - the shuttle times are 8am and 10am, possibly a noon shuttle as well. www.monarchcrest.com. If you look at their schedules, you can see when the flood of bikers will be. So, I would say that if you can enter the trail at 7am - you wouldn't encounter very many bikes.