Chainsaw

Chainsaw is a fun and varied trail that connects from CR 72 (Elk Creek Road) to Zoom, Flume, and Creekside Trail. The trail starts with an uphill through aspens and remnants of lodgepole pine, making a large, sweeping turn to the west as you climb. The first half mile of the trail is the steepest, and the grade mellows out for the remaining half mile after that. Just after you pass the intersection with Zoom, you'll reach the top of the climb, about one mile in. From here, the trail is an equally steady descent, winding through a section of forest that has seen a lot of clear cutting due to beetle kill. While not shaded, this section is still pretty as the recovering undergrowth is green and in years when the fireweed blooms, the wildflowers can be quite stunning. The trail then twists and turns back down into the forest where you can spot columbines growing in the spring. From here, the trail flattens out for about a half mile, coming to an intersection with Flume and then ending after crossing St. Louis Creek on a wide bridge at the Creekside Trail.