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Palmer Park
42 reviews
4.38 of 5
a variety of loops are possible, with some of the best technical assaults you'll find on the front range. it's best to take on penn the first time with someone who knows it well, to keep you off trails that are over you head (or you'll wind of with your rear tire over you head). there's some sickly gnarly drops all over, 2,3,4 footers, you name it, including one series of super steep drops that link together to form a trail (?) called the improv (as in, you have to make up your own way down every time you come to it).
there's also some really cool natural formations, including awesome overlooks that give great views of pikes peak and a couple of places where the terrain is so scarred by lightning that it looks almost other-worldly.
Summary: I heard that this trail is supposed to be one of the best so I decided I had to try it. First I went to my local Target and bought their top of the line Jeep brand Full Suspension bike. This thing set me back over $200 so I knew I would have one of the best bikes on the mountain. I arrived on a hot, sunny afternoon and about 100 meters into the ride, I discovered that this trail should not be open to the public. It is literally impossible to ascend this trail, even on one of the best bikes available. I walked my bike almost 2 miles and endured ridicule as people descending the mountain laughed at my bike. I can only assume they were jealous. On the descent, I flipped the bike at least 5 times and broke several parts off of my brand new bike. How is this trail considered rideable? I can only imagine the fate of some lesser bike. I don't think I'll ever return to this trail.
Summary: If new to the system get a map first. The area is a maze of trails and there are trails for all levels. Protective gear is not a bad idea. You can be riding some fast smooth single track and come around corner to discover a nice rocky technical section. Not a particularly big area but you can connect a lot of trails together to make for a long ride. Most of the climbing comes in short steep burst.
Recommended Route: I recommend riding the outside boundary first so you are familiar with where you are in the city then working your way through the middle.
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Summary: Single track, most of the fun stuff is slow and rocky, no fast or flowing sections, no big drops or anything of that nature. Just rocky and rooty. Sandstone and sand patches. Alot of up and down. No big ascents or descents.
If you look you can find some "illegal" lines that incorporate a rock drop or two, but the landing suck. Way too short. There is no high speed DH or FR fun. No stunts and the technicality is just from weaving through rocks and the sandpaper nature of the rock.
It's fun, but just in a trail riding way. Def not DH/FR like at all. AT ALL (I have ridden all of the local spots for six years, trust me). You'd be wasting your time to bring a bike like that in here. More of an "All Mountain" screw around place. Fun, but not technically challenging, don't be misled by other posters.
Recommended Route: Whatever.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Jones DH
Summary: Just wanted to say a few things about palmer park- one of the best trails in the state- for a daily ride. I would recommend for everyone to stay out of the Park- more room for me on my 24 lb. racer boy bike clipped in. Palmer is a great place to gain skills, but you HAVE to stay on top of your game, or pay the price. Very easy to get over your head. The trail rating system can be misleading, parts of the black diamonds are really easy, sometimes the blues are really difficult.
Recommended Route: Lots of variety, anyway you can flow.........
Other recommended trails in the same area: Ute Valley, Waldo Canyon
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Summary: Awsome trails!! Only minutes from my house. What more could you ask for. like a lot of people I got lost the first couple of times I went out there because of all the trails. Get a map from trails.com or buy the big one from one of the LBS. Its helped me choose my routes and enjoy riding at palmer even more. I love the trails for their variety. If you want easy its there, if you want super technical it has that too.
Recommended Route: My current favorite is Palmer Point. Starting at the stables i ride up and around palmer point till it hooks up with Grand view. I follow grand view out to the overlook and turn around and cruise back down Grand View all the way to the parking lot / trailhead. Total distance is in the 10mi range. Lots of climbing, with a nice fast downhill back to the car.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Don't know started riding again in October after a 3 yr lay-off so a lot of the really good stuff is still covered in snow.
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