I highly recommend riding the Monarch Crest IMBA Epic trail. It’s a challenging 36 mile high altitude ride starting at 12,000, offering 2,000 feet of climbing and a 5,900 foot descent. I completed this awesome ride with good buddies in August 21.
For this adventure I stayed in Salida and rented a downtown loft apartment. Salida is located right on the Arkansas River and offers a fun atmosphere with plenty of entertainment and dining options.
Here’s why downtown Salida is bike friendly:
Location - Quick access to the Salida Mountain Trails (Chicken for Dinner, Cottonwood Tour) located just across the Arkansas River. Completing the Monarch Crest Trail requires driving to the Monarch Crest Trailhead and parking another car in Poncha Springs.