MO Heights, Reudi Rez-Carbondale Road

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Carbondale, CO, US

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Route Overview

We Ride 4

Nonprofit addressing child obesity and healthy lifestyles by getting more kids riding bikes

70 mi.

4,177 ft.

This route has it all. Beautiful views, challenging climbs, and long winding descents. It is a showcase ride for the Missouri Heights area, Reudi Reservoir and the Roaring Fork Valley.

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Route Details

This ride starts and ends on Main St in downtown Carbondale. [https://www.carbondale.com/about/history/](http://www.carbondale.com/about/history/)

When you are finished with your ride, there are a good number of places to grab some food and drink. Our personal favorite is the @photo[Marble Distilling Company & Distillery Inn](15837667). The owners Cary Shanks and Connie Baker have built a one of a kind distillery with creatively crafted spirits with a committment to sustainable business practices. Plan ahead and reserve a room at the Inn. They have 5 rooms and a suite that will give you an upscale experience at a very  reasonable price. We've stayed at the Inn several times and walked down into the distillery tasting room. These guys make everyone feel like friends they've known forever.

From Main St in Downtown Carbondale, the route puts you right onto the @photo[Rio Grande Trail](15836934) to take you through town without worrying about roads with motor vehicles. While you're on the path, keep your eyes open for a number of art sculptures and remnants of the old railway that are sprinkled intermitantly along the way. The Carbondale Public Art Commission was established several years ago to bring attention to local artists and the outdoor art that is displayed for public viewing which is rotated annually.

After you cross over Hwy 133, stay on the RG Trail for a little over @slice[5 miles](d,1842.5,10114.7) to the traffic light at Spring Valley Rd. Turn right here and start the @slice[8 mile climb](d,10347.6,22704.8) up into Missouri Heights to the high point of the ride at approximately mile 14. The grade on the climb is mostly reasonable (Avg 3.5-4 percent) with a few short sections of 9-11 percent. Take the time to look around while you are climbing as the views up there are spectacular. While you are on the climb, you will pass the campus for @poi[Colorado Mountain College's Spring Valley Campus](128436777).

After you crest the highpoint, begin your long @slice[11.5 mile descent](d,22704.8,40798) down into the town of El Jebel. Along the way you will continue to have spectacular views the entire way down. Take the time to stop and take a few photos. @photo[Mt Sopris](15836928), stands large to the West and every photo you take will have it in the background.

On your way down, you will pass two historic school houses. The first at @poi[mile 16.5](128427334) @photo[(Circa 1888)](15836925). This was the first of 5 schoolhouses built in Missouri Heights. The second at @poi[mile 20.5](128427327) @photo[(Circa 1917)](15836929). This was the fifth and last schoolhouse built in the Heights. Click on this link for a history of Missouri Heights and the schoolhouses. [https://www.mhschoolhouse.org/mhs_history.html](http://www.mhschoolhouse.org/mhs_history.html)

Also make sure to stop and take photos at the stop sign at @poi[mile 23.5](128428064) where you will be treated with a most impressive @photo[panoramic view of the valley and Mt Sopris](15836930) before finishing the last two miles of the descent into the town of El Jebel.

When you arrive in El Jebel around @point[mile 25](d,40570.82), there are several options noted on the route map to grab food, water and restrooms. After you cross over Hwy 82, continue following the route which will lead you back onto the Rio Grande Trail and take you East towards the town of Basalt. [https://basaltchamber.org/discover/history/](http://basaltchamber.org/discover/history/)

After you go through Basalt, the route puts you onto Frying Pan Road where you will follow the infamous @photo[Frying Pan River](15836927) and the @slice[gentle 14 mile climb](d,50008.8,72191.8) (Avg grade 2 percent) up to @photo[Reudi Reservoir](15836933). Once you leave Basalt, there aren't any services up to the reservoir and back, so bring as much food and water as you think you will need to complete the roundtrip back into town.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruedi_Reservoir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruedi_Reservoir)
[https://riversmith.com/blogs/news/fly-fishing-on-the-frying-pan-river-in-colorado](http://riversmith.com/blogs/news/fly-fishing-on-the-frying-pan-river-in-colorado)

After you complete your descent back into Basalt, follow the route back to the @photo[Rio Grande Trail](15837631) and it will take you all the way back to Main St in downtown Carbondale.

MO Heights, Reudi Rez-Carbondale Road

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