Story by
Winston Churchill
All content © San Juan Publishing Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Cradled
in the center of the San Juans, Silverton has long been a
destination for mountain bikers, and its popularity continues to grow.
The town’s proximity to the Molas Pass section of the Colorado Trail,
as well as the numerous
spurs off of it, make Silverton an ideal base camp for
cyclists.
San Juan County terrain is both challenging and breathtaking, offering singletrack and views not easily found anywhere else. Trail use is free, and there are plenty of free designated campsites around, but climbing technical singletrack at 12,000 feet is enough to tax anyone. The better prepared you are, both in fitness and gear, the more enjoyable your experience will be.
Afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the summer, so it is highly recommended that you try to have your rides finished by early afternoon. Thus, an early start is a necessity. And early starts mean chilly temperatures. Jackets, arm warmers and leg warmers are standard attire here. It warms up quickly, so ride with a hydration pack to shove all your clothes in, and have the sun-block at the ready.
San Juan County terrain is both challenging and breathtaking, offering singletrack and views not easily found anywhere else. Trail use is free, and there are plenty of free designated campsites around, but climbing technical singletrack at 12,000 feet is enough to tax anyone. The better prepared you are, both in fitness and gear, the more enjoyable your experience will be.
Afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the summer, so it is highly recommended that you try to have your rides finished by early afternoon. Thus, an early start is a necessity. And early starts mean chilly temperatures. Jackets, arm warmers and leg warmers are standard attire here. It warms up quickly, so ride with a hydration pack to shove all your clothes in, and have the sun-block at the ready.
The trails in the San Juans are buried beneath snow a good part of the year, and traffic can be relatively light on some of them, so overgrowth is common in some instances. Always carry a map with you and be sure to get a good explanation of the trail and its markers before heading out. Getting the right advice can be the difference between a great bike ride and a miserable bike-carrying hike.
This summer, Mobius Cycles & Café will undertake the project of cataloguing the trails in and around Silverton. This data will be available in book form and via a Web site. Trails will be given difficulty ratings, as well as recommended direction, potential connectors and extensions, shuttle options, mileage, estimated ride times, altitude gained,
altitude descended, geographical markers, terrain descriptions and points of interest. Video footage from a helmet cam of these trails will also be shot this summer and could be available for viewing as early as August or September, so stay tuned to www.mobiuscycles.com.
Photo © James Burke