Trail Name: Paradox Trail
Section Description: Tabeguache Trail to Pinto Mesa
Best Use: Mountain Biking
Best Time for Use: Late Spring, Summer, Fall
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate icon-beginnericon-intermediate
Length: 20 miles
Start Elevation: 9,900 ft 2,615 ft loss
Trail Surface and Use: Seasonally graded Forest Service and County roads and rough two track. One short hike a bike.
Trail Head Access: Suitable for 2WD auto.
Trail Head Coordinates: Tabeguache Trail 742,841m E, 4,245,450m N WGS84, UTM Zone 12; Pinto Mesa 719,063m E, 4,246,820m N
Best Feature: Fast and fun descent off the Uncompahgre Plateau with fantastic views of the San Juan and La Sal Mountains with the Lone Cone and the San Miguel Basin seen to the south. Rarely seen views above the Tabeguache Canyon and North Fork.
Cautions: No potable water exists on this section. Leave gates as you find them.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION, GPX VERSION, OR KMZ VERSION OF THE PT TABEGUACHE TO PINTO MESA TRAIL.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION, GPX VERSION, OR KMZ VERSION OF THE ENTIRE PARADOX TRAIL SYSTEM.

Description: The Paradox Trail intersects the Tabeguache Trail high on the Uncompaghre Plateau just off the Divide Road 3.7 miles north of Antone Springs Campground. Follow the Divide Road north for about one half mile to the Hauser Road. (FS 603) The seasonally graded road offers a fast descent with nice views to the south and west. Watch for ruts and occasional traffic on the road. After 10.7 miles you intersect with the Delta Nucla Road. Turn right and look for a small jeep road dropping off to the left (north) after a few hundred yards. if you drop into the Tabeguache Creek drainage on the county road you’ve missed the turnoff. This section marks the southern boundary of the Tabeguache Area SMA which is off limits to mountain bikes. Follow the old and sometimes rough two track down the bench for 8 miles. It can be wet and boggy in places in the early spring. Make sure you leave gates as you find them as this area has cattle grazing. The trail will round a rocky point before a steep and gnarly descent and climb back up onto the mesa with a short hike a bike. Turn left at the first T intersection and ride another half mile to the next T intersection. The new reroute to Nucla starts here by turning right (west) or to access the Delta Nucla Road turn left.