CRK8 Dolores Rim(sh)
Canyon rims on the Colorado
Plateau come in all shapes, sizes, colors and
conditions of accessibility and popularity. The
rim of Dolores Canyon belongs to the less
visited, and more difficult to access areas.
This short track over unmarked jeep trails is
well suited for mountain bike travel. It
contains just one short section with great views
of the canyon area. The rest of the trip, you
could be traveling on an ordinary, low and
rolling grassy plain.
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1.(mile00.0,6750ft)
START-END SOUTH: low point on Co149,
immediately north of jct with Co491
2.(mile10.3,7420ft)Co141 Dove Creek -
Naturita s(u)
3.(mile10.8,7310ft)profile turns right
onto K8 road
4.(mile13.2,7450ft)profile stays right and
uphill at this jct
5.(mile16.6,8000ft)TOP:profile turns left
from K8 onto BLM4020
6,(mile21.6,7440ft) START-END NORTH: same
as point 4
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Approaches
From South. CRK7 is a
wide, fairly smooth gravel road, north of the
summit on Co149 between Dove Creek and Naturita.
The profile includes the paved part on Co149 from
Dove Creek. Riding along it the view stretches
south to the La Sal Mountains over miles and over
many mile of sweeping grassland.
After turning off the paved road, the loop shown
in the profile keeps right and goes uphill at 2
junctions. It reaches a shoulder summit point at a
third junction.
From South. (described
downwards) Once on top of the ever so flat and
rounded hill, a left turnoff goes over a deeply
rutted but, but non rocky and easily rideable
double track trail towards the rim area of the
Dolores Canyon. Once if flattens out, it is
not far from the short section of the track, with
a great view of the canyon, and all the way to
Lone Cone Peak.
Continuing on the well traveled track you have to
cross one gate toward a cow watering station.
Continuing on the road in westerly direction leads
back to CRK7. There is also a way to make the loop
longer and take one of the roads towards the north
to join Co149 at a lower point.
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cLiCk on image , arrows
, or thumbnails to advance slideshow
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Dayride with this point as highest summit:
PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED
( < Dolores
Rim Overlook(ow) | North Creek Rd -
Hart's Draw Rd s(u) > )
CRK7 Dolores Rim(sh) : western end of Dove
Creek > US666 west > Co149 north <> out
and back on CRH1 east past the point of surface
becoming rocky jeep trail >> Co149 north >
CRK7 east > unmarked roads as shown on profile
biack to jct with CRK7 > Co149 south > US666
east back to starting point: 442miles with 3170ft of
climbing in 5:06hrs (garmin etrex30 m3:19.9 28)
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