Blue Sky, Ice Hill, Serenity, Upper Cherokee

We have so many trails and ride options that it can be a challenge just to decide where to go. Do you challenge yourself with a big climb and high speed descent or do you go for something a bit easier that gives you a permanent grin?

These are certainly hard choices but that is the price we pay for living in our version of paradise. There is a route that I like to do when I can get away during the day and sneak a few miles in. It’s has a bit of a challenge but overall I give it more of the permanent grin feature.

It starts out by taking a leisurely ride up Vasquez Road. A couple of miles up after the end of the pavement I pass by FS 159 and take the next two lefts. This brings me to the top fo Blue Sky. Blue Sky is one of my favorite trails. Slightly downhill, two track that rides like singletrack and corners that give you a bit of a challenge but let you carry just a bit of speed.

Blue Sky ends at Little Vasquez Road. Directly across from Blue Sky begins Ice Hill. Ice Hill begins as a two track climb that is a bit rocky at first, just enough to make you pay attention and work just a bit. Soon the rocks give way to a nice smooth singletrack descent. The first descent is a bit short lived as the trail takes a right and begins to climb just a bit. Not too steep but narrow with an occasion smattering of roots that will keep you on your toes. Once  you top out be prepared for a short but exciting descent on some very sweet single track. Ice hill rolls downhill and drops you out near the railroad tracks on the Tracks Trail.

Turning right finds you on an old road that rolls along just off of the railroad tracks. You first pass by Lower Cherokee on your way to Serenity. Serenity is your first right after Lower Cherokee. Serenity is some of the finest singletrack anywhere. Rolling through the pine forest with a slight uphill grade this is one of those trails that makes you want to come back for more. Serenity is justly named. You feel as if you have left the world behind and have the mountain to yourself. Be aware as there is one section where the trees are very narrow, so much that your handlebars may not fit between them. Serenity ends once again on the tracks trail.

Turning right on the tracks trail will bring you to the Winter Park Ski Area. Here I turn right and climb up Turnpike. Turnpike at this point is a gravel road that climbs enough to let you know you are going uphill. After about half a mile you will see Tunnel Road on your right. Turn right here and enjoy a smooth level gravel road. Be sure to look ahead as it is common to see deer in this area. After traveling a mile or so and just before the road begins to climb uphill you will see the top of Lower Cherokee.

Lower Cherokee is one of the more fun and technical descents in this part of the valley. Not too steep but certainly enough grade that you have to pay attention to your speed. The track has one clean line even though the surface is an old logging road. Rocks abound and if you have the potential to flat this is the place. Be careful not to let some of the easier sections overbuild your confidence, as they are short lived. Lower Cherokee drops you into the Tracks Trail just above the bottom of Ice Hill where you were just half an hour before.

Turn left on the Tracks Trail then left again and retrace your route up Ice Hill. Ice Hill will ride much differently in reverse as the grade is much steeper, thankfully it is short as your legs will be talking back to you on this one.

At the end of Ice Hill turn right on Little Vasquez and roll back into Winter Park.

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