Fort Garland Foothills Route

Dogs Unknown

Features Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Views

This is the primary rolling hill loop at the foothills in Ft Garland. You can do any variation of this loop, do it in reverse, stay on Icehouse Rd (out and back), or run the loop multiple times. Watch out for cars on Icehouse Rd. The footing has gotten rocky/washed out over the years. In the winter, the roads can be snowy/muddy.

Veteran's Park is a nice place for a picnic. There's also the Mountain Home Reservoir Lake off of Icehouse Rd. Bring water in the summer - it's hot and exposed.

The first part of Icehouse Rd was paved in 2021. Then it turns to dirt roads. The roads have gotten rockier and washed out over the years. You have to watch for cars on Icehouse Rd. Fontaine Rd and Paine Rd are usually safe and fewer cars. If it's dry, you can wear cushioned road shoes or trail shoes if you prefer. If it's wet or around winter, you'll want a shoe with good traction.

Start on Icehouse Rd near Veterans Park. Run up Icehouse Rd. It mostly climbs and rolls 2.8 miles. Turn left on Fontaine Rd. It climbs for 0.9 mi. Then it's flat for 0.8 mi. Finally, it descends significantly on Fontaine Rd for about 1.3 mi; it's a bit rocky and washed out, so watch your footing.

You reach Paine Rd and turn left. Return to Veteran's Park. Repeat the loop.

You can run any variation of these roads. There's some great views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and Blanca Peak, especially in the early spring when the mountains still have snow. Running out-and-back on Icehouse Rd is also a great option, especially for the views when coming back.

Mostly high desert at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It can be hot and fully exposed in the summer and snowy/muddy in the winter.

Anyone who's lived and trained in Alamosa and Adam's State has probably trained here. It's one of the closest places for rolling dirt roads - great for hill repeats or a medium-long rolling run.