Stock Trail to Kawuneeche Visitor Center Trail
Chosen Trail
On the 2nd day of riding we chose to take the right fork or the Stock Trail. This trail took us along the resort road, crossed highway 34 and led us to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. From the visitor center we rode to the fork for the Tonahutu Creek Trail. It took us an hour to reach the Kawuneeche Visitor Center and we rode a total of 5.9 miles in about 2 hours. If we had more time it would have been lovely to continue north on the Tonahutu Creek Trail. We visited after a September snow storm and other riders had told us there were several down trees along the Tonahutu Creek Trail. Check trail conditions before planning to ride a loop or you may end up turning around at down trees. There was some brief riding along the road but the traffic was very good at slowing down for us. The trail was well marked although at times I thought we may have been lost until I saw the next trail marker.
Trail Experience
At the 3 way fork the river trail, blue, is left, the valley trail, green, is the middle trail and the stock trail, red, is marked and to the right.
Below you can see the valley fork, straight, and the stock trail to the right.
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We went through a pretty meadow.
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We crossed the road to the resort and wove between some trees. The trail was well marked across the road.
Although this is a connector trail, the trail was really pretty between the trees.
We rode along the resort road CR 491 and traffic slowed to pass us.
Going around the curve of CR 491 I felt a little lost but we found the sign for the continuation of the stock trail up a hill.
We passed a service road but the trail was well marked.
We crossed another minor road by the national park services office and again the trail on the other side was marked.
We enjoyed trotting through the pine trees.
We crossed another Trail Ridge Road or Hwy 34. It was a minor road to reach the parking lot for the visitor center, then continued on the main trail which was called the Kawuneeche Visitor Center Trail.
This part of the trail was really lovely!
There was a downed tree but it was easy to go around.
After 0.5 miles we reached the fork for the Tonahutu Creek Trail. We needed to start back due to time constraints but we walked straight first to overlook a river.
We turned around and headed back the way we came. It took us an hour to ride to our turn around point.
We did cross a few roads on this trail. The way back was much clearer to us. We rode pretty close to the road and the traffic but all the drivers were very slow and cautious along CR 491.