YOUR AD HERE »

Summit County Bike Guide: Turk’s Trail (video)

Phil Lindeman
plindeman@summitdaily.com

By the numbers

Distance: 1.7 miles

Rating: Moderate

Time: 20-30 minutes

Elevation: 10,055-10,355 feet (300 feet vertical gain)

Trail: Singletrack, out-and-back with loop options

Season: June to October

Connectors: French Gulch Road, B&B Trail, V3, Minnie Mine, Sallie Barber Road

SUMMIT COUNTY — Turk’s Trail is a relatively new little strip of out-and-back singletrack in the mountain bike Mecca of French Gulch. It’s the ultimate southside connector, taking riders on a tight, flowy and occasionally technical journey through pine forests on the southern banks of the gulch.

Like many trails in the area, Turk’s is short and sweet at just 1.7 miles. But, it meets up with three additional trails along the way (B&B Trail, V3 and Sallie Barber Road), all of which then branch out to join nearly a dozen roller-coaster routes dotted by mining tails, dredge-rock fields and countless relics from Breckenridge’s heyday as a mining Mecca. The times, they are a-changin’.

[iframe width=”640” height=”360” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/2YTuHHfJoJc?list=PL2_3maCYkXnGp8bzScs9S_dI3SlpFalfe” frameborder=”0” allowfullscreen></iframe]



Description

The lower entrance to Turk’s Trail is found about 1/4-mile uphill from the B&B Trailhead parking lot. This first portion of wide-open double-track is mellow, with multiple lines through a combination of rocks, roots and packed dirt on a slight uphill grade.



Once you reach Turk’s, the grade increases and the trail narrows to true singletrack. The climbs are quick but often littered with jagged rocks. Luckily, the dirt stays hard and rarely turns to dust, even after long stretches with no rain. This portion is heavily wooded and home to several tight corners lined with trees. Watch your handlebars.

After about 1.3 miles, the trees open up and the trail begins to level out. It crosses several small log bridges in the final 0.4 miles before reaching the junction with upper B&B Trailhead. From here, take a right to remain on Turk’s for a brief uphill loop climb before descending back to the lower entrance, or continue climbing another short stretch directly through dredge rock to the junction with Sallie Barber Road. You can also take a left at the B&B junction to descend immediately on B&B Trail, which connects with Minnie Mine, X10U8 and French Gulch Road. Try climbing up this route to ride Turk’s as a downhill trail.

Parking

Turk’s Trail is accesible from the B&B Trailhead in French Gulch. From Frisco, take Highway 9 south to Breckenridge. Turn left onto County Road 450 (found just north of downtown Breckenridge) and bear right at the junction with Forest Hills Drive. Continue another 0.5 miles over several speed bumps to the stop sign. Take French Gulch Road, and continue through the neighborhood until the road turns to dirt. From there, drive about 1 mile to the B&B Trailhead lot. Parking is on the right in the dredge-rock field. Take the B&B trail east (uphill) for about 1/4 mile until you pass the V3 connector. Turk’s Trail is another 500 feet up the B&B route.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.