Round Trip Distance: 9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 9600 - 9871 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Time: 4 hrs.
Trailhead: Transfer Road
Fee: none
Attractions: Multi-use forest trail
The Grays Creek trail is located in the Plateau Division of the Uncompahgre National Forest west of Delta and Olathe, Colorado. The trail begins near the junction of the Transfer Road and the Divide Road. From there it parallels the Divide Road for about 4.5 miles until it comes to an end at a junction with the Pool Creek and Parallel trails. Grays Creek serves as a segment of the 150 mile long Tabeguache trail that runs between Montrose and Grand Junction.
This post begins at the southern end of the Grays Creek trail. To get there it is 28 miles from Olathe via the Transfer Road, 38 miles from Montrose via the Divide Road, and 47 miles from Delta via the 25 Mesa Road. Google Maps can be used to tailor make your own directions.
The trail starts out on an easy level course. One spot near the beginning is overgrown with aspen saplings. If you are on a mountain bike they are a bit of a pain but you can either use one hand to move them aside or put your head down and pedal through them.
Near the half mile point there is a side trail that splits off on the right that heads down to Grays Creek where an irrigation ditch begins.
Staying up on the main route the trail continues for another tenth of a mile or so before it begins a very rocky descent.
Around the 0.9 mile point the trail crosses Grays Creek and climbs out the other side of the drainage.
Other than a few tree roots the trail is pretty good after crossing the creek.
After climbing out of the creek drainage the trail becomes more of a pleasant roll through the forest.
As the trail once again gets close to the Divide Road it begins passing through an occasional open area. In several places the Divide Road is less than a stones throw away.
The trail comes out on a road that it follows for a short distance to the left.
That road connects to another road that began off of the Divide Road. Looking across the intersection of the two roads the Grays Creek trail can be seen taking off on another section of singletrack. The trail sign on the other side of the road indicates that the road is part of the Paradox trail. The 110 mile long Paradox trail links the 150 mile long Tabeguache trail with the 142 mile long Kokopelli trail to form the 360 mile long Grand Loop. If you are riding the Grand Loop this would be the point where the Tabeguache and Paradox trails connect.
