The Midland Bike Trail

Lenhardy Cutoff

One of the most popular trails in the Buena Vista area is Lenhardy Cutoff, an ambitious ride requiring a shuttle.

This ride represents a portion of the Midland Bike Trail. For maps of the entire bike trail system, stop at Trout Creek Pass or Shields Gulch trailheads.

Intermediate 2 Hours     15.5 Miles

Rating: Intermediate.
Distance: 15.7 miles.
Time: Two hours.
Elevation: Start 9,010 feet; finish 7,955 feet; high point 9,750 feet; total climb 950 feet.
Trails: Four-wheel drive road 12.3 miles, graded dirt road three miles, paved 0.4 mile.
Maps: USGS 15-minute Buena Vista Topo; San Isabel National Forest Map.
Access: This ride, as described, uses a shuttle with one end in Buena Vista and the other about eight miles northeast of Johnson Village, at the intersection of U.S. 24-285 and CR 309. A parking area on the east side of the highway is opposite the intersection.
The ride starts on CR 309 on the northwest side of the highway.
Ride description: Ride northwest on CR 309 and turn left onto FR 376.2, 1.7 miles from U.S. 24-285.

This intersection is marked indicating Lenhardy Cutoff, as well as Forest Service road signs. The next 2.4 miles gains 670 feet, and is the most difficult section of the ride.

Riders with some experience who are in good condition should enjoy this climb; most riders should be able to negotiate all but a few short rocky sections.

The ridge crest is at 9,750 feet, a great place for a break, with excellent views of the Collegiate Peaks.

Descend 1.2 miles to an intersection with FR/CR 305. Continue on FR/CR 376.6.

One mile from the intersection with FR/CR 305, you will intersect with FR/CR 315 signed “Shields Gulch.”

Continue on 376.1 bearing right (north), and intersect 376A in another 0.2 mile. Bear right again on 376.1. In 0.7 mile, there is a fork in the road. Bear right going downhill.

The next section descends through trees with unexpected curves — avoid excess speed.

The road opens up into a large open mesa with great views to the west. A short but steep descent takes you into a sandy wash, which crosses Sevenmile Creek and climbs to a three-way intersection. Continue west-southwest, bearing left through the intersection. Cross a draw, and a short steep climb will take you to another intersection with FR 311.1.

Pass through the gate that marks the San Isabel National Forest boundary. Shortly after passing through the gate intersect FR 373, but continue on 376.1 which will descend into another sandy wash, and a crossing through Fourmile Creek.

The creek crossing is easily ridden except during June runoff, when it is most easily crossed on some large rocks just north of the fork.

About 100 yards south of the ford on the east side of the creek is a large circular cut in a rock, known locally as “Spanish Mill,” once part of an early 1900s one-man mining operation.

A steep climb after crossing Fourmile Creek regains the mesa. Bear right as the road forks after climbing out of the creek drainage. Bear left at another fork in a tenth of a mile.

FR/CR 376.1 ends 1.1 miles from the fork. Turn left downhill onto CR 375 (not signed at this point) just below a cattle guard.

Continue downhill for 1.1 miles to the intersection of CR 375 and 371, turn left to return to Buena Vista in 2.3 miles.

Old Midland Railroad Grade

The Midland is the 14ers Region’s and the San Isabel National Forest’s first designated mountain bike trail. Work on the trail started in 1990 under auspices of the U.S. Forest Service, with help of the Bureau of Land Management, town of Buena Vista and volunteers.

Intermediate 1 Hour   8 Miles

Rating: Intermediate.
Distance: Eight miles.
Time: One hour.
Elevation: Start 8,680 feet; end 7,950 feet; total climbing, minimal.
Trails: 5.5 miles of single track; 2.5 miles graded one-lane road.
Maps: USGS 15-Minute Buena Vista Topo, San Isabel National Forest.
Access: As described, this ride will require shuttles at Midland Trail’s Shields Gulch trailhead on CR 315, and at the Arkansas River footbridge, located at the end of Buena Vista’s East Main street.
To get to the Shields Gulch trailhead, drive just over five miles east of Johnson Village and turn left (north) onto FR/CR 315. The trailhead area and an informational display are about a half mile from the highway.
Ride Description: Covering the historic, long-abandoned Midland Railroad grade, users see traces of a bygone era — old ties, hillside cuts, telegraph poles — and stunning views of the Sawatch Range and the Collegiate Peaks, Mt. Princeton, Mt. Harvard and Mt. Yale.

The first five miles of the grade have been isolated from most vehicle traffic by four draws, originally crossed by wooden and steel trestles. These draws are now crossed by trails built on the north side of the old grade.

Stretches of the actual grade are easily ridden with only a few difficult areas where the walls of some of the cuts have partially collapsed.

Trails crossing the draws are more difficult with short, steep and loose descents and climbs. Riders without much trail riding experience will find these sections a nice introduction to “single-tracking.” However, use discretion and dismount for areas that exceed ability.

These few difficult sections are short and easily walked. They should not discourage mountain bikers from attempting this ride.

Approximately 0.3 mile after crossing the last draw, the railroad grade intersects a graded, single-lane road. Continue almost straight west on this road for another 2.5 miles and look for a trail taking off to the left. This is the Barbara Whipple Trail and it descends to the Arkansas River footbridge at the east end of Buena Vista’s Main street. This section is occasionally steep but manageable for most.