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1.START-END EAST:low point in park along San Juan River in Pagosa Springs 2.profile turns right onto one of the city streets that leads to FR645 3.profile turns left onto FR634 4.TOP,8960ft 5.route turns left onto Piedra Road 6.route turns left onto US160 7.START-END WEST:same as point 2

Approaches

From East. 5th to 7th Street in Pagosa Springs is located between the two parts of the town, the old town centered around the river and the springs, and the new part, centered around nothing, but spread out to distribute the real estate investments as uniformly as possible. After a few blocks this road splits again. Both options eventually converge again, but the profile tays right on FR645. A gradual climb through a neighborhood of rich ranches leads closer to the southern edge of low jagged peaks of the San Juan Mountains. By the time the road crosses the National Forest boundary, the area to the south into New Mexico spreads out like a vast thrown out green forested carpet.

After diverging onto FR634, the surface stays the same excellent smooth dirt, suprisingly. The rolling summit over the top affords a few more interesting views, but stays at considerable distance from what could be mistaken as a mountain peak. Over the top a few more San Juan Peaks to the west come into view.

From West. (described downwards) A curvy decent through the forest leads to a kind of ranching land extravaganza. The peaks in the Wemenuchi wilderness make the the million dollar view. The road stays hard gravel when it joins Piedra Road. Along the way the road passes a historic old schoolhouse, that stands in contrast to today's properties, where inhabitants seem to require a lower density of occupational density. Accompanied by a little more thraffic, the road makes its way over small hills into the real estate developments of western Pagosa Springs, centered around lakes, golf courses and money. Along the way is also an area on national forest land, developed with mountain bike / hiking trails.

Out and Back to Fourmile Trailhead:

The trailhead is only about 200ft higher than the summit of FR634, but about a 900ft climb from the junction. It's a little streeper than the rest of the loop, and I would say it does not offer any additional interesting views. I like the loop better.