Review Date
May 10, 2011

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: COTarHeel ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
A fun and technical ride with a few tough uphill grunts. Sections are extremely rocky and pretty rough which makes some of the downhills less bombable, which is probably a good thing since it's a popular area. But that's not to say there's no nice smooth singletrack. It can get HOT out there with no shade, and don't forget to stop and take in the view every now and then.

Recommended Route:
Out and back as time allows. You're kinda forced to keep it simple unless you make it all the way to Horsetooth Mtn Park.

Review Date
July 17, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: SuckingWind ,  Downhiller

Summary:
The beginning of the trail is a @itch!!! But SOO worth it. Take it all the way to Cayote Ridge for a killer Ride! Includes: 3-6 ft. drops, Technical up and down and gorgous scenery!

Recommended Route:
From parking lot to Cayote Ridge and back

Review Date
March 12, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: chad1433 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The experience was a bit diminished with the closure of two west facing loops, but that's now changed. As of Feb 1, 2007, the west loop of "Laughing Horse" is now open to bikes again. This gives riders a somewhat less technical option when traversing to Blue Sky and onwards.

Recommended Route:
I like to ride west on Laughing Horse out to Blue Sky and beyond and head back on the east half of Laughing Horse (in the valley). I find that I can flow a little better with less of the short, steep climbing. Once you learn it both ways, though, it's about the same and it's nice to be able to once again have a choice.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Coyote Ridge, Horsetooth Mountain Park, Lory State Park.

Review Date
January 25, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: subliminalshiver ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Ok.. So the western side of both loops have been closed to cyclists. I'll admit, those were the better halves. But not all is lost! IN concession of these sections (about 1 mile..) we now have access to Blue Sky trail, and from that access to Rim Rock, Coyote Ridge, and Horsetooth Mountain Park/Lory/Soderberg. Granted, the path there is technical, but this is how we improve our skills. That said, the Devils Backbone is a nice little twisty-turvy singletrack with only one real lung-buster climb. It isn't very long, but it sits above a highly-concentrated deposit of gravity making it more difficult than it looks to be. The backside is mostly an odd-angled rock garden intermixed with a couple nice flowing sections of singletrack that will make that evil lactic acid high-gravity climb worth it. Not to mention the Happy Ending roller coster that ensues when you turn around to get back to the trailhead.

Recommended Route:
Start down the trail, the tracks and signs will guide you. No worries of getting lost here!

Review Date
July 14, 2006

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: minouchi ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Okay, I used to go about once a month, but they have recently closed off half of each loop to cyclists. WHAT??? Yeah, so that first loop is now restricted to that boring, hot section to the south and then the really rocky part of the 2nd loop (forget the names of the trails right now.) I know there's a lot of people who like the rough rocky crap and don't mind 3 foot drops with a 90 degree turn at the bottom. Not me. I ended up walking most of the 2nd loop (or should I say semi-loop)...what's the point of closing off all but the unrideable sections? Oh yeah, that's so that the cyclists just go away!!

At the end of it, you get to hop on the blue sky trail, which I know is pretty nice near Coyote Ridge, but after I fell over while WALKING my bike down some rocks, I gave up.

Basically, if you are rock-crazy and very experienced, it's all yours. Stay far away if you are a beginner or intermediate.

Recommended Route:
Not much of choice anymore!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Coyote Ridge is a lot more fun and rideable and has more climbing opportunities and a few technical sections to keep you on your toes.