Little Rainbow Trail

By denver-gazette April 2, 2017 | updated 9 years ago

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Things To Do

Hiking Running

Methodist Mountain towers over the Arkansas River town of Salida, with a popular trail network that starts in town; no wonder locals have been hiking and mountain-biking on the mountain for decades. The Little Rainbow Trail is the most popular trail here, wide and not rising or dropping too steely as it winds through the high desert forest of pinon and juniper trees, the forest floor littered with spiny yucca. Most hikers and bikers start on the west side, at the trailhead off Chaffee County Road 110. How far you go depends on where you parked, your energy level and if you have arranged a pick-up or shuttle car. If you’re worn out, turn around at the crossing of County Road 108; otherwise, continue on until it begins to lose elevation down the east side of Methodist Mountain.

Pro Tips

This wide, mostly level trail is a great introduction to mountain-biking. It even offers a bailout at the junction with Chaffee County Road 107 to return to Salida or back the way you came.

There are many ways to make a shuttle loop using the Little Rainbow Trail. You can leave a car or arrange a pick-up at the Burmac Trailhead just east of town and follow the Dead Bird, Lost or Racetrack trails down off the mountain to the trailhead. You can also pedal a mile back into Salida from here.

For an even longer hike/ride, follow Chaffee County Road 108 south to the Rainbow Trail, an epic trail that runs along the eastern crest of the Sangre de Cristos for 100 miles. You don’t have to go all the way, though. There’s a bailout on the Columbine Trail to Chaffee County Road 101. It also runs east to U.S. Highway 285 after nine miles, though the last six are steep and not recommended for riding.

Recommended season(s): Spring – fall.

–R. Scott Rappold

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