Information & Conditions: Doctor Park

Updated 6/20/10

Status: Good to Go!

Detailed Description:

There are a lot of ways to start this ride. The popular way is drive up past Harmel’s on Taylor Canyon Road until you get to One Mile Campground on your left. Turn in and park. Start the ride by riding back to Harmel’s, turn right up Spring Creek Road and head up.

After climbing along Spring Creek for 8 1/2 miles, you’ll cross over a big cattle guard as the terrain opens up. On your left is doubletrack 744.21 that leads up Deadman’s Gulch and Rosebud. Just past that on the right, look for an old road that drops down, crosses Spring Creek and starts a steady climb up a small wash.

The climb is steady at first. Stay right when you come to the first intersection in less than one mile, then climb more steeply. After entering the dark timber, you will come to a signed intersection, turn right. (Or go left for the longer better way, which I will describe later.) Ride through the dark timber, passing a trail that comes in from the left .

You are now at the top of a wondrous downhill. Hang on, for the fun begins. The first part is recently rerouted into several sharp switchbacks. Below these, the trail is now unbelievable buff and fast. The banked turns are perfect and soil is hard and fast. Forget the brakes, Luke. Use the Force. There’s a lot of rocking and rolling!Eventually you reach more switchbacks, all rideable, although a little loose and sandy in spots.
The trail ends at the Northgate Campground, go right and ride out to Taylor Canyon Road, right again to your car.

Oh, by the way, that longer, better way I referred to earlier? If you take a left at the second intersection of the climb that is in the dark timber, continue climbing to Doctor Park. An unbelievable trail that is the Gunnison Spur of the Colorado Trail comes in from the left. This is a ride often referred to as the Matchless Ride, but that is another day entirely.

Ride straight in Doctor Park, past the sign,and drop slightly off the other side of the ridge, look for this trail that continues to the right. It parallels the main ridge for a while then climbs and winds its way around eventually coming into a very large open area. Stay right at the trail intersections out in the open, and ride a big traverse around to the right and up onto the ridge. Ride straight into a group of trees and you will come upon the other trail that stays on the ridge. When you get to that trail, turn left and you are at the top of that delicious ride in to Taylor Canyon.

This can be a confusing ride, the first time…you might want to go with someone who has done it before. After that, it all will become much clearer. Ride well, be safe.