Trail Name: Bucktail Draw Loop
Best Use: Mountain Biking, Hiking (for the first few miles)
Best Time for Use: Spring, Summer and Fall
Difficulty: Mountain Biking – Intermediate Hiking – Beginner
Length: 21.9 miles (35.3 km)
Start Elevation: 6,741 ft (2,055 m) Maximum Elev Gain and Loss from Start Elev: 563 ft, (172 m) gain – 961 ft. (-292 m) loss
Trail Surface and Use: Unmaintained 2-track roads combined with the CCC ditch bank. Rarely used.
Trail Head Access: Good for 2wd via County Highway 25 from Nucla. Park at the National Forest boundary where the road changes from asphalt to gravel.
Trail Head Coordinates: 720,685E; 4,244,500N UTM WGS84 Zone12
Best Feature: Solitude, great views of the San Juan Mountains to the southeast.
Cautions: Few. A short hike-a- bike crossing along the bottom of Bucktail Draw and several short rocky sections during the descent to the CCC ditch (from about mile 7.1 to mile 8.6 (km 11.4 to km 13.8)). Riding/hiking during wet weather should be avoided. When riding along the ditch, stay away from the siphons, flumes and edges of the ditch bank.