Lake City to Buena Vista – 144 Miles

Section 3 provides a much different riding experience than the first two sections as you skirt through alpine plateaus on your way to Highway 50. For those looking to camp, beautiful spots can be found near Los Pinos Pass, and keep an eye out for moose. After crossing Highway 50, you’ll ride over Waunita Pass into Pitkin, a charming village worth a stop with food, fuel and lodging options. Cumberland Pass features an incredible climb to over 12,000 feet before dropping into historic Tincup, and you can also detour to Taylor Park for fuel and supplies.

A few small water crossings make the route interesting before hitting the well-traveled and freshly paved surface of Cottonwood Pass. Buena Vista is one of the larger towns along the COBDR with plenty of places to eat and sleep along the base of the majestic Collegiate Peaks.