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A nice long loop with forest, meadows, and streams.


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Map Key

14.2

Miles

22.8

KM

Loop

10,142' 3,091 m

High

9,071' 2,765 m

Low

1,765' 538 m

Up

1,725' 526 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

This route is similar to the Soda Creek Loop but adds on some extra mileage and gets you up to a higher vantage point. The loop takes you from Keystone and out to Tiger Road in Breckenridge and then back into Summit Cove.

Need to Know

On Red Trail, there is a marshy section that gets very wet in the spring and after a hard rain. On the Colorado Trail there is a section with a lot of stumps that could catch you off guard if you aren't paying attention.

Description

Starting from the trailhead across from the Elementary School in Summit Cove, hike through the greenbelt to Summit Drive and then take a right onto Vail Circle. Follow Vail Circle around until you see a dirt road that heads towards the Golf Course. Follow the obvious trail up the hill until you reach the main trail at the top called the Keystone Aqueduct Trail, follow this trail for about a mile. Once you've gone a mile the Aqueduct trail ends at the road, and another trail heads back up the hill to the left. The trail to the left is Soda Ridge Trail, take that and follow it another 2.5 miles to the intersection between Soda Ridge and Red Trail. Take a left on Red Trail and follow that across a meadow, through a marsh and finally around a corner to where the climb starts.

Climb Red Trail around quite a few switchbacks for about 3 miles until you reach the Colorado Trail Junction. Take a right here onto the Colorado trail heading south towards Breckenridge. The trail descends here for a half mile and then rolls back up before descending down switchbacks to Horseshoe Trail. At the junction take a right onto Horseshoe Trail and follow Horseshoe Trail past the junction for Blair Witch and Hay Trail back to the Soda Creek Loop.

Follow Soda Creek Trail past two junctions until you reach the split by the fence. Go straight up the hill from the fence and follow the trail as it curve to the right. This trail will lead you back down into Summit Cove. To connect the start and finish you can park a car here, or hike from here back up the hill to your car near the Keystone Aqueduct Trail.

Shared By:

Chelsea Gribbin

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 2 votes

#2920

Overall
  4.5 from 2 votes
5 Star
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Recommended Route Rankings

#432

in Colorado

#2,920

Overall
6 Views Last Month
8,562 Since Mar 14, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

They just reworked the singletrack portion of this trail this past summer, can you spot the border collie?
Mar 13, 2015 near Keystone, CO
Running amongst the sage, I swear that stuff makes you run faster! Gore Range off in the distance.
Mar 13, 2015 near Keystone, CO
Waiting for me to catch up.
Jul 18, 2020 near Keystone, CO
Coming from the Back Ranch, on the road for a bit before you start the climb onto Soda Ridge Trail. Not a bad view of the Tenmile Range poking above the trees!
Mar 13, 2015 near Keystone, CO
This area feels sort of eerie running through all the beetle kill.
Mar 14, 2015 near Keystone, CO
View of the Ten Mile Range from the top of Red Trail
Mar 14, 2015 near Keystone, CO

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