Review Date
May 31, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: misfit27 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Best on the Front Range. Most important, they have done a lot of very good work to the top of the Mustang trail. Make sure to take Mustang from the very top, not from the first bench - ridden the wrong way, Mustang is awful. I just want to thank the people who built the bridges along the top of the trail, they are a blast!

Recommended Route:
Ride Belcher all the way to the top (it's not that bad, great workout). From the very top, make a left and take Mustang all the way back to Belcher. Then go back up to the Maverick trail. Connect it to Longhorn and enjoy. 4" or more travel recommended.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Apex, Matthews Winters, Chimney Gulch, Dakota Ridge (if you like technical), Keystone and Winter Park if you like DH/FR

Review Date
May 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: animusman ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is an extensive trail with long climbs and many very technical sections. The initial climb is brutal IMO. It's 45 minutes of lung burning climbing. Worse yet the side of the mountain you're climbing has direct sun exposure the whole time. Once past the initial climb you have lots of options. This is good and bad. Some routes are not good rides if you take them in the wrong direction. On the other hand there are so many trail options you could ride White Ranch many times and it will seem somewhat different every time.

Recommended Route:
The safe route is to stay on Belcher Trail throughout if you're new to the trail. Then take the Rawhide loop if you still have gas in the tank. Take Belcher back to home base.

If you have time or a partner who knows the trails try some of the other trails at White Ranch.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Apec, Walker Ranch

Review Date
July 25, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: mtnmatt8 ,  Racer

Recommended Route:
The comments that I am submitting are for a ride that I recommend for riders who have friend’s visiting from lower elevations that may not have time to acclimate but want to get the feel of what Colorado Mountain biking is all about. We parked one car in the lower parking lot, and then loaded the bikes into another car and headed to the upper parking lot and parked at the first lot where Belcher trail crosses the road. From here you can do about a 12-mile ride to the lower parking lot. Start by going north down Belcher Hill trail to the junction of Rawhide, and turn left. Take Rawhide trail on double track to the outer limits of the park. This loop does involve more climbing that I had anticipated but the fast single track combined with the views makes it worth it. There are some technical downhill sections and one grueling climb out the valley up to the Longhorn trail. There are several options to shorten the loop, but I suggest taking the whole loop, turn right on Longhorn and ride up to the parking lot. If you want to avoid virtually any climbing turn right at the junction of Rawhide and Belcher Hill and ride up to the parking lot. From this parking lot take Sawmill trail single track from the southwest corner of the parking lot and ride sweet single track across the meadow. This trail turns into double track and climbs slightly to the junction of the Belcher Hill trail. Turn left on Belcher Hill and ride for a very short distance and look for the Maverick trail on your left. Maverick is a really nice single track that ends in a short climb, and joins up with the Longhorn trail. Take the Longhorn trail right down more fast technical single track down through the valley and up the other side. You will come to the junction of the Longhorn and Shorthorn trail. Take the Shorthorn trail up to the right and ride some more fast technical single track. There are some sections where you may have to walk, but most of it is nice and fast on the side hill through the pines. The next junction will be the Longhorn again, here you can turn left and right the technical single track downhill with tight switchbacks or continue on the Longhorn trail until it meets Belcher and go left down to the parking lot. I recommend turning left down the Longhorn trail. The most technical section is the very beginning. The Longhorn trail winds down the mountain to the junction of a new trail called the Whipple Tree Trail. Take this trail to the right and follow the nice rolling single track to the junction of Belcher Hill. Take Belcher Hill left all the way to the parking lot. Jefferson County open space has made some huge improvements to this section of trail. It’s a fun ride to the parking lot, and the sandy rock garden will keep you on you toes, or your ass. There are a lot of variations of this ride to make it longer or shorter, just take a map and make your own ride up as you go. I prefer to ride from the bottom to the top and then back down, but as I said in order to include your friends that are not in great climbing shape this is a great ride. Allow about 3-4 hours to shuttle and ride.

Review Date
June 28, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: rmalling ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Gr8 trails sytem, well marked and yes, they ARE technical in many spots!

Recommended Route:
North side of the main parking lot:
1. Ride the "Rawhide" Loop Counter-Clockwise; Fun up and down single track with many tech spots, double track at the end.

South Side of main parking lot:
2. Take a break at the parking lot, short climb up the road to the "Belcher Hill" trail; Hike-a-bike up the stairs, then a gr8 downhill with gr8 views.
3. Intersect with the "Maverick" Trail; Down then up.
4. Intersect with the "Longhorn" Trail back to the Main Parking Lot.

About 8 miles total.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Golden Gate just up the road (daily state park fee required), Apex, Dakota Ridge, Red Rocks.

Review Date
June 1, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: blt ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I have posted some video I shot in May 2006 with a helmet mounted video camera. turned out pretty good. I have a section of Maverick and Longhorn downhills for your viewing pleasure!

http://broadbandsports.com/user/2405

Trail is pretty good all around. Get some steep climbs, long climbs, technical climbs, great rolling single track, fast downhills, etc.

Recommended Route:
Park in the East parking lot(not west ben)ride up Belcher then Shorthorn to top parking lot then add more if wanted. Make sure you hit Maverick from the South heading North and take longhorn clockwise form the top...

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Apex and Pence Park