Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 7874 - 7919 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Main Parking Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Fun and easy
The Meadow Loop is located in the Cerro Summit Recreation Area near Montrose, Colorado. The trail travels around a lush green meadow where it has connections with the Narrow Gauge and Elk Run trails. The Cerro Summit Recreation Area is a group of 7 hiking, trail running and mountain bike trails that are on land that is managed like a park by the City of Montrose.
To get there follow Highway 50 east toward Gunnison from Montrose for about 10 miles to the top of Cerro Summit Pass where the recreation area will be on the right hand side of the road.
This post begins at the first of 3 trailheads that are located along P77 Road after turning off of the highway.
A short access trail leads down to the Meadow Loop out of the east end of the main parking area.
At the base of the hill the Meadow Loop begins by branching off on the left as the access trail continues around and connects with the lower parking lot.
The Meadow Loop starts out by traveling along the base of the hill along the north side of the meadow.
Just past the quarter mile point of the Meadow Loop the Narrow Gauge trail branches off on the left.
From there the trail cuts across the east end of the meadow. Before going another 300 feet the trail reaches the south side of the meadow where it is rejoined by the Narrow Gauge trail.
At that point the trail loops back the other way on a small bench above the lowest part of the meadow.
As the loop gets closer to the lower trailhead it passes through a patch of oakbrush and as it comes back out into the open it comes to its junction with the Elk Run trail.
From there the Meadow Loop runs on down to the road leading into the lower parking area which can be followed on around to close the loop. The Meadow Loop is the easiest trail for both hiking and mountain biking in the Cerro Summit Recreation Area and can easily be combined with any of the other trails in the park for a tailor made outing. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.