![]() 18.1 Turn right across the bridge over Chalk Creek. Watch for traffic! Ride through Saint Elmo. Many 4WDs and ATVs also use this road, especially on weekends, and you can encounter them at any point along this road. This road is rocky and fast with huge water bars. 14.1 T-intersection with a dirt road, Tin Cup Pass. 13.7 Cross 2 wooden bridges over the North Fork of Chalk Creek. ![]() 11.9 Drop through the deep forest on smoked singletrack served on a bed of fragrant pine needles. Keep your eyes open and look ahead so you don’t loose the singletrack – it does not follow the most logical contours. There is only one trail and no trail markers. 9.6 to 11.9 This singletrack winds through challenging high alpine terrain. Return to the CDT and ride north up the short steep hill. There are several restored buildings below and part of a round house. For a great view of the West Portal of the Alpine Tunnel, leave your bike at the CDT sign and walk to the southern edge of the saddle. This is a stiff climb, crank or push! 9.6 Top of the hill. 9.1 Turn right on this steep traversing singletrack. Turn around and ride back to the singletrack that heads uphill to Tin Cup Pass. Both ends of the tunnel have collapsed, but the last explorers to weasel their way inside found the entire central section of the tunnel intact. They had to shore up the entire length of the tunnel with California redwood. Engineers expected to blast through this “hardrock” section quickly, but instead of finding solid rock they found loose rock. 9.0 The East Portal of the Alpine Tunnel, used from 1882 to 1910, and built by the DSPPR as part of the great railroad race to cross the Rocky Mountains. This trail leads to Tin Cup Pass and you will come back to it. 8.9 Stay straight ahead as a singletrack splits to the left. Step over the low gate and continue riding. Take the right hand trail to the Alpine Tunnel. This road is closed to motor traffic and is the original railroad bed. Turn right, following the sign to the Alpine Tunnel Trail. Continue across a bridge, until the road forks. Look for an interpretive sign off the trail on your left. 5.3 Pass one of the most interesting old mining buildings in the area. 3.5 Stay on the railroad grade as a road turns left to the Mary Murphy Mine. Choose the left hand road through the rocks across the wooden bridge. 0.4 Turn right on the uphill road to Hancock, FSR 295. 0.0 Ride east out of town on the road you drove in.
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