Colorado · Mountain biking · West Magnolia · Near Idaho Springs

School Bus

School BusPhoto: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.3 mi
distance
360 ft
climb
Sep
best months

Is School Bus open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

School Bus is a mountain biking route in Colorado's Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, managed by the Forest Service. The ride covers about 1.3 miles, with a total elevation gain of 360 feet from a starting point around 8,700 feet to a high point of about 9,036 feet. The climb is short and the route is compact, making it a quick outing for riders looking to add a little elevation to a day on the trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Coal Creek Canyon weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 73°F with lows near 48°F, while winter highs stay in the low 30s. The School Bus route sits close to several other destinations. The schoolbus trail is about 0.4 miles away, and the Lost Meadow Trail is about 0.5 miles off. West Magnolia campground is about 1.1 miles away, and Eldora Summer Slab, a climbing area, is about 1.3 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Site 10

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Howlin Wind

    Brewery

    On your way back · 2 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Sep

    Best time to visit School Bus

    Best months: September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      33° / 16°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 15°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 20°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 24°

      13 wet

    5. May

      55° / 33°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 41°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 48°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 46°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 39°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 30°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 21°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 15°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Coal Creek Canyon, CO, 7.9 mi away at 8,950 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors