Review Date
July 5, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: abegold ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
SAND CANYON is listed in no reviews. One of my top 10 of the entire world. Southwest of Cortez up McElmo Canyon.
This trail starts on slickrock and then goes thru an ancient Anasazi Village with ruins, I could feel the spirits stronger than anywhere I've ever been. When you get to the main singletrack it was built by mountain bikers for mountain biking, swoopy, whoops, big fun.
Only Monarch Crest, from what I've ridden in CO beats it.

Recommended Route:
Ride counter clockwise. Stick to the trail headed east then west. Do NOT go up the main trail to the kiva,30 switchbacks, very long hard climb.
I haven't beeen to the kiva but supposed to be very large.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Phils World. The local map includes these and 43 other rides!

Review Date
July 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: gunnirider ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
1. Monarch Crest, more specifically Greens Creek, South Fooses, Agate Creek, Silver Creek, and Rainbow trails. Need I say more?

2. Canyon Creek (Whitepine) one of the highest rides around, very epic climbing and descending!

3. Hartman Rocks (Gunnison) over 100 miles of single track, stuff for everyone!

4. Doctor's Park (Taylor Canyon) as fast as you want to go through aspens!

5. Trail 583 to 400, if you want to be deep in the mountains this is it.

6. Lunch Loop (Grand Junction) home of the ribbon trail, holy cross and other gems.

7. Razor Creek/Dutchman's (not telling) five hours of single track that you never see anyone!

8. Fossil Ridge (Gunnison) if you want to feel like you are in the sound of music that this ride is for you.

9. Reno/Flag/Bear/Deadman's (CB) just classic, Bear Descent fast as can be.

10. 401 (CB) views!

Review Date
September 16, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: crazyjoeduvula ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
After living in denver for 2 years it was nice to be back in durango. Rides up on the front range just don't compare but there are some fun rides, but a real pain to hit something good after work because of the crowds. And you Apex fans can keep it the most crowded trail i have seen. I almost killed myself and some others coming down from lookout mtn. droping those water bars.

Recommended Route:
1. monarch crest monarch pass 2. 401 CB 3.hermosa creek durango 4.molas pass-coalbank or in reverse durango 5.junction creek to hofins connect to dry fork and back out junction durango 6.horse gulch trails durango 7.test tracks durango 8.palmer lake area 9.deer creek denver 10. look out down apex or reverse if it wasnt so crowded denver

Other recommended trails in the same area:
evergreen has some fun but easy trails. green mtn park can be fun but really easy. I hit some others around denver white ranch dakota ridge some others around conifer. I wish i could of had a better time on them.

Review Date
February 19, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: yetibiker ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
For my favorite ten rides around the front range and central mountains, ranking 1-10 here goes:

1) Buffalo Creek (Pine). from the trail head go all the way to the wilderness boundary. Then on the way back go up the green mountain loop. 25 miles of fun, fairly smooth single track. Best in the spring and early summer before it gets too sandy.

2) Kenosha pass to Georga pass (Park County). A great high altitude single track epic ride.

3) Old Flowers road (Fort Collins). This is a great back country feel ride only 30 minutes west of Fort Fun. Mostly double track and jeep road, but not very crowded and great views and climbs. Start and the intersection of Stove Praire and Rist canyon road.

4) Lory st. and Horsetooth mountain (Fort Collins). The ride from Lory to the Towers road and up to Horsetooth, and down mill creek trail is a blast of all diferent types of trail conditions. Then there is Coopersmiths after the ride :-)

5) Tipperary creek-Zoom and Floom (Winter Park). Trails in Winter Park are a blast with many options. The Fat Tire Classic in June is a great way to discover them.

6) Bergan Peak-Elk Meadows (Evergreen). This trail got me hooked on mountain biking back in '91. Great climb to the top for a great view of the mountains and the lower loop of Elk Meadows is great fun.

7)Peaks Trail(Frisco-Breckenridge). This trail has a lot of smooth, rocky and climbs in it. All in a great high country setting. Frisco to break and back on the trail is the prefered way to do this ride.

8) White Ranch (Golden). Start from the trail head off Hwy 93 and climb Belcher hill all the way to the Rawhide loop at the top and do the upper loop. Then pick your favorite way down. Lots of climbing and fun single track so close to Denver.

9)Deer Creek (Littleton) A good climb and a couple of fun loops at the top.

10)Waterton Canyon(littleton). Ride the canyon for six miles they ride the fun climb up to trail junction and jeremys rest ni believe it is called. You can either take the trail back the way you came, or take a trail to Roxborough park and loop backor continue on the colorado trail to buffalo creek if you want.


There's my take on the top ten FRONT RANGE rides. Fort collins has some sleepers that not many talk about.

Review Date
October 19, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: mtnlyon ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Ok, I had to choose 12 to make it easier.

1) Mary's>Steve's>Lion's>Mack Ridge>Moore Fun, Loma/Mack
2) Arapahoe>Cherokee, Winter Park
3) Phil's World, Cortez
4) Longhorn @ White Ranch, Golden
5) Monarch Crest, Monarch Pass
6) Hermosa Creek, Durango
7) Tipperary>Spruce>Flume, Fraser
8) Gunny Loop, Grand Junction
9) Sand Canyon, Cortez
10) Golden Gate Canyon S.P.(west side)
11) Dry Creek>CO Trail>Hoffheins, Durango
12) Joe's>Zippety, Fruita

Yes, I obviously still need to do the CB trails! ;)