TR: Riding Beneath Beautiful Mount Sopris (Hay Park) – 30 Sept 2016
(Last Updated On: October 18, 2016)
Mount Sopris has always fascinated me. Before I was even a backcountry skier and paid attention much to that sort of thing, Mount Sopris caught my eye. Rising over 6400 feet from Carbondale at the valley floor with it’s twin east and west summits both sitting at 12,953′, Sopris is simply the Queen of the Valley.. It’s vertical rise reminds more of what I’ve experienced while skiing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve loved Mount Sopris for all the fabulous skiing that it has to offer, but now I love it for the biking too.
Though the summit of Mount Sopris lies in Wilderness where mountain bikes are not allowed, the lower slopes of Sopris on the west, north, and northeast still lie out of Wilderness Boundaries. Great mountain biking can be found on Prince Creek Road, but our destination was a bit higher in the Hay Park area.
Though the skies were gray, the leaves brightened the mood as they were in their full golden glory. Frank on the ascent.
Golden Pow. Hay Park was beautiful!
Me.
Frank.
Our descent began in the open fields. Frank.
Me.
The mountains were beginning to transition to winter.
Views of the valley below.
Riding through the fallen yellow aspen leaves was amazing! Frank.
Me.
Lower down, the forest alternated with more sage-like terrain.
One last one of Frank toward the end of our ride.
Now you’ve seen it – Hay Park makes a great fall ride! Mount Sopris seems to deliver the goods all times of the year!
Brittany Walker Konsella
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