Buffalo Creek-Long Route
7-11-10
If you are looking for a long ride but don't want to have to shuttle cars or do an out and back this is a great ride. Total time is just under five hours including stops for food. Starting at Pine Valley Park head up Strawberry Jack (tree across trail after first descent)to Charlies Cutoff. If you haven't been on Charlies this year they have made some changes to it, major improvement. Both Strawberry and Charlies are in great shape. Heading down Sandy Wash you will find a couple sandy spots but overall it's in great shape. Take a right on road 543 to Shinglemill. 543 has couple muddy spots but they are easy to avoid. Shinglemill is a little soft in spots but completely rideable. Cross the road and take a right on Colorado Trail. This is a great section of trail. It is outside the burn area so you aren't baking in the sun and the trail is more hardpacked. Blowing past Tramway to the Green Mountain trail you will find much of the same. The climb on the Green Mountain trail is worth it, the descent to the Meadows Campground is awesome. This is where it gets a little tricky. As you approach the campground veer right and follow the sign for the Colorado Trail. Once you cross the road be careful you will come to a gate quickly at the bottom of a short descent. Go through the gate and turn right. You will soon come to the a parking lot at the Buffalo Trailhead. The map is a little inaccurate at this point but we quickly got our bearings. Go out of the parking lot and take a left on the road. You will go a short distance and come to a stop sign. Take a right at the stop sign and you will soon see a sign that points you to Baldy. Take the road (543) to the Baldy/Gashouse Trail and return to the top. We took Baldy back to the top and then returned to the parking lot via the Strawberry Jack Trail.
