Methodist Mountain is one of the newest trail systems in the Salida area, and is one of two trail systems starting right from the town of Salida. Located on the southern side of town, Methodist Mountain is very dry, with a high-desert environment. Consequently, the trails are rocky, sandy, but stay dry and rideable for almost all of the year.
While the Arkansas Hills trail system were all built by hand, the Methodist Mountain trails are machine-built. The machine work is all very well done, and the trail is still very narrow, but the main trail, Little Rainbow, has a nice, wide corridor, is very flowy, and quite smooth. As a result, this is the most beginner friendly trail in town... but it's still a ton of fun for advanced riders!
While the main trail might be easier, there are several intermediate and advanced trails in the system, too. Check out the Little Rainbow Extension for a great intermediate trail with some serious exposure, and the steep, frequently washed-out Lost Cause trail for a screaming fast, rocky, advanced descent back down to town. If you want a milder yet way-fun descent, be sure to rip down the Race Track trail!
This loop is a Salida mainstay. This trail has it all, a grueling gut-buster of a climb, sweet singletrack, a technical decent, and some pavement to round things out. The loop can begin/end at any number of locations. The following description starts in downtown Salida. However many people begin their journey at a pullout on CR 101 3.2 miles from US Hwy 50. By the way, the rainbow trail is dirt bike friendly so don't be shocked if you see a few.
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