Leg 11 Directions

Leg 11 – "Grand Finale" (West Ridge)

North Fork of the Swan to Horseshoe Gulch

• Description: This leg starts climbing 1,000 feet nearly immediately, but the grade is constant and not-too-steep. Once atop the ridge, pick up some speed and cruise down switchbacks enjoying great views down into the Blue River Valley and across to the Tenmile Range. 
• Difficulty: Blue-square/Black-diamond
• Length: 9.5 miles
• Elevation gain/loss: 1,400/1,900

Driving Directions to the Start of Leg 11

• 53 miles, 90 minutes from the start of Leg 10 at Jefferson Lake Road.
• From the Beaver Ponds Trailhead, head southish on Jefferson Lake Road (County-37) for about 3 miles.
• Turn left on County-54, Michigan Lake Road. (Don't turn right here - see below*.)
• After 2.0 miles, turn right on US-285 and go 15.9 miles.
• Turn right on CO-9 and go about 23 miles to Breckenridge. Continue on CO-9.
• About 3 or 4 miles north of Breckenridge, turn right on Tiger Road. (If you get to the Gold Hill Trailhead on the left, you've gone just a little too far. Don't turn on Tiger Run Road. That's different.)
• Go 5.7 miles on Tiger Road.
• Just before a one-lane bridge, turn left on FS-354a. (If you get to "Good Times" dogsled camp, you've gone 0.25 miles too far.) 
• Drive up FS-345a for 0.7 miles until the Colorado Trail crosses. There is a spot for one car to park on the right. If it's full, head up the road for another ~0.1 miles and find another pullout.
• *Absolutely do not follow Google Maps unless you are ready for some pretty serious offroad driving. It tells you to take Michigan Creek Road, which is rated a 3 on TrailDamage.com and basically means that you need a a Jeep wrangler or better.

Running Directions

• 0.0 – From the dirt road, start running northwest on the Colorado Trail singletrack.
• 2.9 – After cresting the big hill, continue straight on the Colorado Trail as another trail goes right.
• ~3.3 – At an unsigned intersection, take the left fork (downhill) as another trail goes to the right.
• ~6.0 – Emerge from the trees and bound down several broad switchbacks.
• 6.2 – Come to a three-way junction. Make a hard left to stay on the Colorado Trail. There is a single small signpost with a little "U-Turn" arrow.
• 8.8 – After coming down some switchbacks, turn left on doubletrack under some high-voltage power lines. Follow this rocky trail around a gate and over two bridges.
• 9.5 – Arrive at the Dredge Boat Trailhead. (There is a pond here.) Finish!!

Driving Directions to the End of the Race

• 3.9 miles, 15 mins from the start of Leg 11.
• Head back down FS-345a for 0.8 miles.
• Turn right on Tiger Road and go 3.2 miles. Turn right into the Dredge Boat Trailhead parking area (unsigned). There is a big pile of rocks here as well as a small pond with the ruins of an old dredge boat in it. 
• (If you miss the trailhead and find yourself back at CO-9, you've gone 2.6 miles too far.)

Running Map:

Driving Map to the Start of Leg 11:

Driving Map to the End of the Race: