Coney Flats Road on mountain bike?

[rdp32]

I would love to hit several of the peaks (Algonquin/Sawtooth/etc) around the Buchanan Pass area in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, but I don't have a 4x4 vehicle and it looks like a long day-hike from any of the other trailheads. I was wondering if mountain biking to the Coney Flats TH from the Beaver Reservoir TH would be a good idea. How rough is that road? Would that save me much effort over just hiking in? Thanks!

[Alpine Guy]

Not sure I can help but I hiked it May 2017. Shortly after leaving Beaver Res you come to a split and a sign says bikes and vehicles take the (left) FR507 cutoff. It rejoins the main trail just before entering the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Bikes not allowed beyond there. I recall the road being about 3miles to the IPW border and it climbed about 600ft.

[Wildernessjane]

You can get an idea of how rough the road is and judge for yourself by looking at some videos and images online. I believe it is rated as a moderate 4WD road. I was up there this past weekend to do Ogallala and Elk Tooth. We drove in on the Middle Saint Vrain road and out on the Coney Flats road. We did see one mountain biker coming up Coney Flats. There are long stretches that are pretty mellow interspersed with sections of big river rock. However, I think whether there is benefit to riding over hiking it all depends on how good of a mountain biker you are. Here's one video that will give you a good idea of what to expect: https://youtu.be/_ZMjdO0ebK0

[Derek]

I've hiked the road a half dozen times or so...

It is a very quick road to hike, not a lot of elevation or up and down. Pretty consistently I make it to the coney flats bridge (end of the road / start of trail) in just under an hour. I dont think I would be able to bike it fast enough to save the effort, but Im not much of a mountain biker. I will note that I've kept pace with some vehicles at times, too. Its an extra 6 miles to the day, but its an easy 6.

[rdp32]

Thanks all. Sounds like it might be easier just to walk it. That makes it a very long day to hit those peaks though!

[justiner]

Do it!

It'll actually take 3 miles off, as that last downhill will be mostly coasting!

[12ersRule]

https://www.trailsoffroad.com is a site I found recently.

It's a good resource for these kinds of questions. For me, generally, if a road is a 1-2 - I'd probably just drive it. If it's a 3-4, it's usually a decent candidate for a mountain bike. It just depends what the cruxes are and how many.

Some roads I've done have been rocky messes the entire way that were only rated a 4, but usually it works out.

[SkiFree]

Its Alive!!!!

Way to bring this thread back from the dead!

It makes me wonder if they biked it or hiked it?

Or maybe they are still trying to decide