Near Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop
Climbing the Frontside Trail.
Near Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop
View from the top of S-Mountain.
Near Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop
View of S-Mountain
Near Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop
View from Dream On
Near Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop
View from Dream On.

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Driving Directions
Classic Hike Route

Rise-n-Shine - Frontside Loop

4.0 (1 Rating)
An easy loop hike accessible directly from downtown Salida.
6.8
mi
Distance
772
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Regional Classic
A must do route for the area handpicked by local experts.
Family FriendlyViews

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
6.84mi
Distance
772ft
Elevation Gain
772ft
Elevation Loss
65%
Max Grade
7,538ft
High Point
7,041ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
Depart from the F-Street Bridge Trailhead by crossing the train tracks and looking for the signs for Rise-N-Shine. Take a right on Rise-n-Shine and follow the signs along the base of the hills until the trail eventually takes a left up the hillside via a series of stacked switchbacks and corners. Note: As you hike along Rise-n-Shine along the base of the hillside you'll pass a junction with the Maybe Trail. Hiking up Maybe instead of Rise-n-Shine will create a slightly shorter loop if you so desire, but the uphill on Maybe is a bit steeper. Once climbing the hill on Rise-n-Shine, continue upward, gaining progressively better views as you climb. Take a left on Dream On to traverse along the top of the ridge, and then a right at the junction with Maybe to head higher up the hill. You'll continue straight/uphill at the junction with Sweet Dreams until the junction with Cottonwood, where you'll take a left turn to head across the mountainside on Backbone. Backbone rolls up and down along the mountainside on beautiful singletrack. The trail winds in and out of numerous small valleys, providing ever-changing vantage points. Pass the four-way junction with Sand Dunes and the left turn on Tenderfoot until you reach the complex junction on the saddle, at FS 173. Take a hard left onto Little Rattler and begin descending. Follow Little Rattler past all junctions, all the way to the end at the Frontside Trailhead on Spiral Drive. Pick up Frontside and finish descending all the way back down to F-Street.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Greg Heil