Englewood Trailhead To Kirk Trailhead
Milepost 98.5 to milepost 105.3 or vice versa.
When coming from Englewood Trail north or coming from the Kirk Trailhead south there are 2 different ways to continue onto the Mickelson Trail. Both offer great views and interesting things to see and around milepost 100.5 they meet up again and continue on. This section we went from Englewood Trail and took the trail that goes to the right to the Kirk Trailhead. It is a little bit more rockier and felt like a mountain bike trail at times in the beginning. I definitely would not want to ride up this trail, but going down it was fun. It took you to the Wasp Trail Stop and a couple of old mine ruins. Going straight to the Kirk Trailhead also takes about 2 miles off the total trail since you skip going to the Sugarloaf Trailhead to Kirk Trailhead which is another 2.1 miles.
Englewood Trail Stop.
Close up of the map. We will be going to the right and onto Kirk Trailhead. This is the trail marked in yellow.
Beginning of the trail.
This explains your options.
Trail now divides. We took the trail to the right that goes to Kirk Trailhead. It is the shorter trail and takes about 2 miles off the whole trail.
Very rocky and goes downhill pretty fast.
Trail starts to smooth out a little.
Wasp Trail Stop.
Wasp Mine.
Bismarck Mine at the top of the hill.
Made it to the Kirk Trailhead.