Reverse Point to Point Race Course

The route starts at Winter Park Resort, rolls on some popular trails and finishes at the St. Louis Creek Campground. What makes this route unique is that the direction is opposite of what bikers normally ride. Along the way, you will have challenging climbs and quick descents on exhilarating single-track trails. A good warm-up for this ride is to take Fraser River Trail to Winter Park Resort.

At the Resort, you begin the Reverse Point to Point ride by starting up Turnpike. Continue on Turnpike, past Tunnel Hill Road, and through the gate. After the gate, continue past the service road. You will see a sign for Long Trail on your right. Turn right onto Long Trail. This takes you past the base of Eskimo ski lift. Continue uphill and cross the ski area service road. At this point, Long Trail climbs on a single track to the junction with Upper Cherokee.

This intersection is not well marked. Turn right off of Long Trail and right again onto Upper Cherokee. You will see a sign indicating you are leaving Winter Park Resort. Ride down Upper Cherokee, a tight speed-gaining single track. The trees have overgrown the trail, which feels like you’re riding through a tunnel. At the end of Upper Cherokee, turn right on Tunnel Hill, then turn left and continue your plunge down Lower Cherokee. Lower Cherokee is a rocky yet somewhat fast descent that twists and winds down the mountain. Complete with banked turns, high speed and rocky technical sections, Lower Cherokee will keep your heart pumping. Lower Cherokee turns into Tracks Trail. Stay left. Your next left is Ice Hill, a short “wake-up” climb. Don’t let the first part intimidate you, as it is quite steep. The trail will roll into a challenging single track, which connects to an old rocky roadbed. Stay alert; the rocky terrain has flattened many a tire. At the end of Ice Hill, cross Little Vasquez and continue up Blue Sky. Blue Sky rates very high on the fun scale. This is normally ridden as a descent, but is just as nice as a climb. Blue Sky is a two track that rides like a single track, not too difficult, with just enough rocky and root sections to challenge you. The climb is just enough work to give you a feeling of accomplishment when you reach the top. Turn right at the top of Blue Sky, which will lead you to Vasquez Ford. At this point you will cross Vasquez Creek (best to walk across). Just after the creek crossing, turn right on Vasquez Road for a slight descent. Your next turn is D4.                                        

Continue down Vasquez Road all the way to the town of Winter Park. Start your ride here with D4. Turn left onto D4 to begin one of the harder sections of the ride. D4 is a semi-rocky two track that has enough grade to work your legs. The hardest part is at the bottom. After a hard climb, the trail will flatten. A sign for WTB will be on your right. Turn right on WTB. Technical at the top, a challenging climb in the middle and a great downhill at the end, this ride is one not to be missed.

WTB merges into D2. Stay right. This is a very fast Jeep road with several large waterbars, so pay attention. Continue on D2 until you reach Elk Meadow. Turn right on Elk Meadow. Your reward is a smooth single track to a meadow, which will connect to an old road. Keep an eye out for moose in this area.

Continue down Elk Creek Road all the way into Fraser. Start your ride with Chainsaw. Elk Meadow ends at Elk Creek Road. Make a right turn, then a quick left onto Chainsaw. Chainsaw has a gradual climb then turns into a relaxing two track that travels through thick stands of pine and aspen. The top of the trail flattens to a gentle crest and begins an exciting descent. Your descent will take you past two ponds. (Watch again for moose.)

Chainsaw will intersect with Flume Trail; stay left. Flume Trail is a gentle twisting climb ending at FS 159. Turn right here, cross over St. Louis Creek, then take the next right to Creekside, a deceivingly technical trail. Large rocks and slick roots abound. Creekside follows St. Louis Creek (hence the name) as a single track. About halfway through, the trail leaves the creek and connects to an old road stay left that will lead you to the end at the St. Louis Creek Campground parking lot. If you choose, take St. Louis Creek Road back into Fraser and pick up Fraser River Trail back to Winter Park.