The Vapor Trail 125 course is a buffet serving of Colorado mountain biking. Riders should expect everything from variable dirt roads to very technical singletrack to lengthy hike-a-bikes to rough jeep roads to butter smooth singletrack. Below you can find detailed explanation of the course. The course is right around 125-miles long with 17,000 ft of climbing.
VIEW / DOWNLOAD THE VAPOR TRAIL 125 COURSE
Start to Aid #1
26.5 miles, 4,000 ft climbing
The race starts at 10 PM on the F Street Bridge in Downtown Salida and heads out of town via Poncha Boulevard and County Road 140. After crossing Hwy 285, you will continue on paved CR 140 to dirt CR 250 then right onto dirt CR 250A. These dirt roads will take you up to the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail is the first section of technical singletrack, which will have you headed north towards famed 14er, Mount Princeton. After this amazing section of the Colorado Trail, you will turn left onto CR 290 and pedal for 0.4 miles to Aid Station #1 (Cascade) at 26.5 miles.
Aid #1 to Aid #2
30 miles, 5,100 ft climbing
Leaving Aid #1 you then climb the old Chalk Creek railroad grade and turn left (West) on CR 162. Your next turn is South onto CR 295 and head towards the Hancock town site. For 2025, we are going back to our OG course! Once you are to the Hancock town site, you will continue straight on the Alpine Tunnel RR Grade for approximately 2.7 miles where you will then turn left onto the Continental Divide Trail singletrack. You will push and pedal...mostly push....to the top of Altman Pass where you will descend down to the old Alpine Tunnel Depot. After descending 2.5 miles past the Alpine Tunnel Depot and The Palisades, turn left (South) onto Tomichi Pass Rd. You will make your way up to Tomichi Pass traveling over a popular jeep road with a few water crossings and variable road conditions. After crossing over Tomichi Pass, you will ONLY DESCEND for 0.25 miles, where you will then turn right on to the infamous Canyon Creek Trail. The ascent of Canyon Creek Trail is just shy of 1-mile long, however, 98% of it is a hike-a-bike and takes you to the high point of the race at 12,600 feet. The descent is 8.5 miles long, it is the most technical descent of the race, and nearly all racers will tackle this in the dark. There is a short climb after this amazing descent, which will then have you drop down to USFS Road 888 (Tomichi Pass Road). Turn left onto the road and an immediate right into Snowblind Campground, which is Aid Station #2 (56.4 miles).
Aid #2 to Aid #3
14 miles, 2,500 ft climbing
From Aid Station #2, you will proceed south on USFS Road 888 for ~ 4 miles to the bottom of Old Monarch Pass Road, where you will turn left. Old Monarch Pass Road, while not steep, is a long and tedious climb. Settle in. After cresting Old Monarch Pass you will descend for less than 0.2 miles and take a right onto singletrack which will bring you to Hwy 50. Take care crossing the highway and turn left (North) to reach the Monarch At The Crest Store and Aid Station #3 (70.5 miles). Aid Station #3 is well stocked and here you will have access to your drop bag. Aid Station #3 is also a great place to decide how much you have left in the tank, as you will still have 55 miles to ride with 35 miles of it being singletrack.
Aid #3 to Aid #4
11 miles, 1,050 ft climbing
From Aid #3, you will take the glorious Monarch Crest Trail to Marshall Pass, Aid Station #4 (80.9 miles). The Monarch Crest Trail is some of the best riding on the entire route! Each summer people come from all over the world to ride this iconic trail.
Aid #4 to Aid #5
11 miles, 2,100 ft climbing
Aid Station #4 is also Aid Station #5 as you will pass through it twice. From Aid Station #4, you will ride a sweet little section of the Colorado Trail to the Starvation Creek Trail intersection, where you will turn left and descend Starvation Creek. At the bottom of Starvation Creek Trail you will turn left onto Poncha Creek Road, which is a 4.5 mile climb and for many past racers it is the cracking point, as it is usually in the heat of the day. You will then hit Marshall Pass again, which is Aid Station #5 (92.1 miles).
Aid #5 to Finish
29.2 miles, 900 ft climbing
You will then ride the same section of Colorado Trail singletrack back to the Starvation Creek Trail intersection, but this time you will turn right and stay on the Colorado Trail. Stay on the Colorado Trail until the Silver Creek Trail, where you will turn left. Enjoy the amazing descent down to the Rainbow Trail, but remember that the very last section of single track on Silver Creek is privately owned by Steve Miller (not "fly like an eagle" Steve Miller) and he has granted us permission to cross this section of his land. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL of this, as without his permission we'd be SOL! Then jump on the Rainbow Trail, and savor the last fun, but cruel joke, the VT125 course will play on you. The Rainbow Trailhead to town is about 20 miles with ~ 1,000 feet of climbing. The Rainbow Trail has a few annoying power climbs and then finishes with a fun descent to Hwy 285. The last road section of the course is Hwy 285 to County Road 120 (turn right on CR 120) after going through Poncha Springs. CR 120 is 95% DOWNHILL to the finish line at Absolute Bikes!