Boulder/Denver Mountain Biking
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So I'm a little burned out with climbing right now, and wanted to get some miles on my bike. I'm looking for insight on the some of the best trails in the Denver/Golden/Boulder area, and where in general the trail heads are. |
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A lot of stuff is snowy or wet right now but MTBR.com in the Colorado-Front Range forum has current conditions reports almost all the time. I'm Pivvay over there although I don't post often. You can't go wrong with the JeffCo trails, Lookout Mtn/Apex, Mt.Falcon, Dakota Ridge/Zorro, etc. I enjoy all of them and ride whatever is dry during the winter. In Boulder the new Heil to Hall connector and Picture rock trail are sweet too. |
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mbpost.com is a pretty good start. My favorite areas in that area are the Red Rocks trails which connect to Matthews Winters OS. You can either park at Matthews Winters right off I-70 just west of the roadcut. A bit further north, Hall Ranch is about 1 1/2 miles past Lyons. A friend in Boulder told me Betasso is another good trail (killer singletrack) but he told me bikes aren't allowed on Wed or Sat. I think this is up Boulder Canyon, but im not 100%. HTH
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Yes Betasso is up BC, turn up Sugarloaf and follow the signs. The closure on Wed and Sat to bikes is also correct. |
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From south to north: |
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I've never rode in that area so sorry i have no useful info but, if you ever get the chance to get down to Fruita don't miss it! my friends and I rode down there this summer it was a blast and you don't have to deal with quite as many people as you would find in Moab. |
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Oooh, Fruita. Just thinking about Steve's Loop, Horsethief or 18 Rd (shudder) makes me want to go back this year. Forget Boulder/Golden, take a long weekend and hit up Fruita. You won't be disappointed, especially if you ride singlespeed :) |
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In Boulder county, I'd say the Heil/Hall ride is the best. |
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Jeremy Monahan wrote:Oooh, Fruita. Just thinking about Steve's Loop, Horsethief or 18 Rd (shudder) makes me want to go back this year. Forget Boulder/Golden, take a long weekend and hit up Fruita. You won't be disappointed, especially if you ride singlespeed :)Fruita rocks. Spent 6 days there last June. Take a long weekend and go bike there. You'll be in nirvana! |
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The East Face of Mt. Falcon is in the "best" shape on the front range at this very moment acording to my sorce. |
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The best areas that may be dry right now are White Ranch, the trails off 93 between Golden and Boulder, and all the fire roads and little side trails around Boulder Reservoir. Hall ranch in Lyons may be good too. The soil is really sandy there and dries out fast. With the recent snows, as minor as they were, Walker Ranch and Heil Ranch will probably be a little soggy. As we move through spring, depending on the snow, you can start moving up into the foothills, Walker Ranch and the Jamestown loop and fire roads, then the money, the Ceran St. Vrain. This area between Jamestown and the peak to peak highway has the best riding in the Boulder area. Nederland and Ward have some fun stuff too, and I don't really know about Evergreen. |
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Nick Grue wrote:So I'm a little burned out with climbing right now, and wanted to get some miles on my bike. I'm looking for insight on the some of the best trails in the Denver/Golden/Boulder area, and where in general the trail heads are. I'd buy a trail guide if I had money... But I don't... So there.www.singletracks.com You live in one of the best states to mtb- don't need no stinkin guide just some energy |