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1.(mile00.0,8840ft) START-END NORTH: low point on Homestake Rd, crossing Homestake Creek 2.(mile10.2,10390ft)profile turns east on top of Tennesee Pass 3.(mile14.5,11670ft)TOP 4.(mile15.4,10850ft)route rejoins road along Tennesee Creek 5.(mile20.7,9950ft)START-END SOUTH: jct Tennesee Creek Rd - US24 south of Leadville

Approaches

From North. The profile starts where Homestake Rd crosses the creek of the same name. But you could start lower on US24. From Tennesee Pass a short paved road goes to the "Ski Cooper" ski area. On the right an unpaved path appears to go to a maintenance shed. It turns out to also be FR101, and it climbs at a good workout grade through the forest towards the north. After passing yurts and other ski area signs, the good and narrow dirt road finally crosses North Tennesee Creek, near the highest point of the North Tennesee Creek Rd summit. But here the profile stays left and follows a sign for FR102C Cooper Loop. A steep path climbs to a summit, that even though is very difficult to get to and requires much walking, still provides practically no views. Low forested hills cut off the Sawatch range viewshed. The highest point is marked with cairn, and a sign forbids vehicle travel beyond here.

From South. (described downwards) But Lord behold, the GPS shows a road not far down towards the west. A few hundred feet down from the summit, the route skirts a boulder field -the one place along the entire upper route with great views. After that, it's a walk without views through a moderate amount of undergrowth. The recorded gps track joins the North Tennessee Creek Rd at just about the same point where the FR102C Cooper Loop began. Here the profile heads south on the North Tennessee Creek Rd until it meets Co24. At the junction with the paved road one sign calls this road "North Tennesee  Pass" (the only reference I have ever seen to such a thing), while the sign facing the opposite direction sticks with the "North Tennesee Creek Rd".

Dayride

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED / 0TRACK