Route: Manitou Missing Link Loop (CO)

Submitted by mschenberger on Sun, 12/12/2021 - 11:25am
Location
Colorado, US
Distance
29.5 mi
Vertical Gain
6,200 ft
Description

This route combines the two premier mountain running areas in Colorado Springs - Pikes Peak/Barr Trail and Cheyenne Canyon. While these are essentially right next to each other, there was no formal way to easily run from one to the other until the Lake Moraine Trail (locally known as the Missing Link) was built just a few years ago by Medicine ... Read more

Leaflet | Map data © Google
GPS Track

Comments

I love the Missing Link Loop! Done it a couple times previously. Now that I see it's a registered FKT route, I will follow this GPX today and report back later. John 

Well, that was a tough day! Started fairly moderate with reasonable temp (65 F) however it rose to the mid-80s F and it was a scorcher. I only carried 2 liters fluid plus a small can of coke (222 ml). I ran out with 6 miles to go in the heat and I dehydrated. Definitely slowed down and ultimately set the bar fairly low at 7 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds in the Unsupported category. I'd recommend others have a filter (Katadyn BeFree or similar) and resupply water from the few streams along the route. There are four if I counted correctly. In order of the route: Missing Link (Lake Moraine Trail) around mile 9, Jones Park (667) a couple miles later, then not until the bottom of 666 almost to High Drive around mile 19 or 20, and lastly just before crossing Crystal Park Road toward the end. My first FKT submission. It was a lot of fun and I hope to do more in the future!