2021 Sawtooth Solstice Showdown JUNE 19th

 2021 Sawtooth Solstice Showdown JUNE 19th 2021

CLOCKWISE!

Join the 3rd Annual Sawtooth Solstice Loop! This year we will revert the direction to the clockwise vs anticlockwise. 

This is an unorganized event! You are officially on your own. There is no registration fee or official support. You are also in the backcountry with no cel signal or support. 

There has been in the past a car at the mid point with drop bags/water....

Details: 7:30am JUNE 19th 2021. Park or ride to the white water park in Gunnison. This is just past the turn off to Hartman Rocks as you head West out of Gunnison. 103mi.

Start: At 7:30 am we will ride over the pedestrian bridge and head south towards Hartman rocks. 

Cue Sheet-The mileages are with in a tenth of a mile. If you are near a road and we say turn you most likely are at the turn. There aren't many options. Several riders will be with you so tracks and partners will help.  

Map link Here View map and download route. 


  • Head South on Gold Basin Road. Stay on the pavement riding past Hartman Rocks. The road turns to dirt after 5.5 miles. 
  • Turn right at 8.46 mi turn right and Climb! You will have a nice steep climb up gravel. Look for flowers, elk, moose, coyotes to distract from the pain. 
  • Turn Left at 15.4 mi. The road turns sharply at a fence where the straight road enters the FS land and if you wanted to climb Sawtooth peak. You will descend with some small climbs to the highway 114. 
  • Turn Right at 24.4 mi on highway 114. Climb the quiet highway through the canyon until it opens. 
  • At 32 mi turn right on NN14 towards Los Pinos Pass the high point. Alferd Packer was found near the Old Indian Agency ahead after spending the winter near where Lake City is today. He had his companions gear after living off of them over winter. 
  • At 35.8 mi turn Right on KK14, AKA George Bush Drive or something stupid. Follow the main road to the top of Los Pinos. 
  • At about 42 mi pass the old Indian agency. The road steepens some as you go to the pass. 
  • Around 54mi you will reach the top of Los Pinos Pass. There may be a car with water here and maybe a drop bag. It is mostly down now! When is isn't up that is. Drop quickly to Cathedral townsite at 60.25mi.
  • Turn Right at 60.25 Cathedral Townsite. There is a stream and some springs for water if you brought a filter. 
    • BONUS CLIMB. If you are looking for a ass kicking, keep going left here to the top of Slumgullion Pass at 11,500ff and highway 149 then then turn around to finish. This is 15 mi up and back. 
  • Descend mostly to highway 149. 
  • Turn Right at 76mi at the Powderhorn townsite. This was a potato farm for the miners in Lake City in the days of land raping. Highway 149 basically follows the Santa Fe Trail (previously an native american trail) that Alferd and the boys missed turning right vs left the turn in a blizzard of 1874 about 10 miles to the west. They ended up near where Lake City is today. Alferd ate them. 
  • Do you have a big climb left in you??? Hope so. It's about 1000 ft to the top with some up and downs to the next turn. 
  • Reach Nine mile hill summit at 79mi. 
    • You have a choice. Follow our route that goes back on dirt with only a few climbs or stay on the highway for about 20mi to the start of pretty easy, wind on back riding. Yes the wind should be blowing you back to town as you turn east. 
  • Turn Right at 81.1mi after the quick descent off of nine mile hill. 
  • Descend with no turns until you hit a larger dirt road at mi 85.66. 
  • Turn Left at 85.66mi rd 31. Descend quickly to a stream crossing. 
  • Turn Right at 90.26mi just past the stream crossing. If you are destroyed you can hit highway 149 in a couple miles staying straight here and can hit Gunnison in about 10mi. 
  • Turn on very rough road at 92.6 mi. Scamper and ride a mile and turn Left. 
    • Alternately to avoid the scamper you can go straight and staying left meet up with our route at 96.1 mi using the better road. There is a spring feeding a trough on this stretch if you are really thirsty. 
  • Turn Left at mi 93.75 on the main road again. Descend quickly as the road improves and you pass a farm and finally pavement on McCabes lane at about 99mi. 
  • At 100.5 mi turn right on highway 50. 
  • At 101.5 we suggest taking the frontage road on the north side of the highway to the white water park. 
  • At 103.2 mi take the bike path under the highway near the river and white water park to the start.
  • YEAH you did it! Beer and Pizza at the brewery? It was a good day. 

Starting 2019

Indian Paintbrush blooming like crazy in 2019



Descent off of Los Pinos Pass






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