Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce

Snowmobile Trails Around Buena Vista, Colorado.

Cottonwood Pass & Chalk Creek Canyon

Some of the most spectacular views and adventure riding are available around Buena Vista. Ride the divide with over 100 miles of groomed trails. Ride over Cottonwood Pass just west of Buena Vista or over Tincup Pass out of St. Elmo and into Taylor Park. Gas and limited groceries are available at Taylor Park Trading Post. Both Cottonwood and St. Elmo have plenty of riding on this side of the pass, too.

Cottonwood Pass: Turn west at the stoplight on Main Street in Buena Vista and trailer your snowmobiles to the trailhead at Avalanche Parking Lot or Denny Creek. Ride the pass road while watching for a variety of trails that take off to the right before you get to the bowl at the top of the pass. Snowmobile trails are marked with orange triangles.  Venture on into Taylor Park for more trails that go north to the Upper Taylor and south to Union Park. Trails vary from easy to difficult.  

Mineral Basin: Turn west at the stoplight on Main Street in Buena Vista, turn left on CR 344 and trailer your snowmobiles to Cottonwood Lake. Ride to just below the divide for a look at the high country.

Tincup Pass: Go south from Buena Vista to CR 162 and turn right. Go about 22 miles to the trailhead in St. Elmo. Unload your machines and go through town and turn right just before the old Town Hall. Follow the orange arrows to go over Tincup Pass, past Mirror Lake and into the ghost town of Tincup. Another 7 miles takes you to the Taylor Park Trading Post.

Hancock Pass:  Go south from Buena Vista to CR 162 and turn right. Go about 22 miles to the trailhead in St. Elmo. You will see the trail up Hancock just before you get to St. Elmo. The trail takes you up to Hancock Lake and,when weather conditions allow, over Hancock Pass into Pitkin.

These are the most popular trails around Buena Vista. Remember you ride from 9,000 feet to over 12,000 feet into the back country. Be aware of avalanche conditions when you go.

Call the Chamber of Commerce for trail conditions at 719 395-6612 or pick up a detailed map with more complete instructions of these and other snowmobile trails.

For guided tours check with Cottonwood Country Snowmobile Tours at 719 395-6727 or visit them at www.colorado-snowmobile-tours.com or All Season Rentals at 1- 888-530-0651 or visit them at www.allseasonrentals.com.

For Rentals call All Season Rentals at 1- 888-530-0651 or visit them at www.allseasonrentals.com or Colorado Adventure Rentals at 877-641-3525 or visit them at www.coloradoadventurerentals.com.

For snowmobiles, parts, clothing or service work visit Mountain Tech Yamaha at 28395 County Road 317, or call 719-395-0438. Their website is www.mountaintechbv.com, or the Arctic Cat dealer, Timberline Motor Sports at 29770 Hwy 24N, or call 719-395-4272. Their website is www.timberlinemotorsports.net.

At the end of the day, enjoy dinner in one of our restaurants, soak in Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, www.mtprinceton.com  or Cottonwood Hot Springs, www.cottonwoodhotsprings.com, and spend a peaceful night at one of our lodging businesses.

Have fun in the snow, enjoy the spectacular scenery and, above all, be safe.

For more information about trail conditions go to www.snowmobilecolo.com.