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Edge Loop
27 reviews
2.89 of 5
A LONG 30 mile loop. Begins on great singletrack (similar to Joe's Ridge), then drops you onto some jeep trails. You stay on the Jeep trails for approximately 14 miles until you have climbed about 3,800'. After this lengthy climb, you are rewarded with one of the best downhills in the state (nobody rides this trail, so you can let loose), which drops you into a creek bed. Stay on the dry creek bed until you reach a 30 foot drop. Now here's the cool part, you repel with your bike down this dried up waterfall. After the repel, it is basically a 10 mile roller coaster back to camp/parking lot. Do not ride this trail alone. Bring at least 3 other people with you, two help you repel. Also bring plenty of food and water. Have lunch at the repel, it is one of the few spots with cool breezy shade.
Summary: Wow, this trail is a JOKE! If you want to ride a long dirt road followed by two track gas roads and then rutted out, beat to death trails, go for it...
The whole system at 18 road is not much more than a BLM free for all. No maps, no maintenance, no water management and poor signage at best. It's a shame there are no local bike clubs working to keep these trails in decent shape. I've ridden far better on the front range, summit county, back east in New England and the 4 corners area. Phil's world alone is worth the drive to Cortez. Fruita truly wasn't worth the drive from the front range. I can't imagine that any long time rider would think this is good...
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Summary: Although I haven't ridden this for years, I can still recollect the day's ride very well and 'epic' is not how I would describe it.
It does have some redeeming qualities; a breathtaking view at the top and some fun singletrack towards the finish, but in comparision to the other 40+ trails I done throughout the years, this was quite overrated.
The drawn out climb up the boring double-track Coal Gulch Road was lame, dredging through the sandy creekbed blew, and the 'rappel' down the rockwall was more of an annoyance than it was fun. This trail takes a LONG time, get out there early and bring LOTS of water, esp. in the summer. There is little shade if any at all.
Recommended Route: clockwise; Coal Gulch Road up and singletrack down
Other recommended trails in the same area: virtually everything else in Fruita or the Loma exit (except this one)
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Summary: Why all the haters? This IMBA Epic is a good ride and worth the effort. It is a long climb on the dirt road, it is poorly marked, and riding through the riverbed is a little sandy and annoying. If you are looking for a good adventure with friends hit up this ride. The waterfall is cool and the singletrack is fun. In the end you get to ride for 4-5 hours in Fruita so what can you complain about? How many times can your ride Zippity or Moore fun without them being repetitive....the EDGE offers something new.
I probably won't ride this trail again but like I said...it is worth it for one ride. Don't let anyone talk you out of doing it.
Recommended Route: Bring a guidebook and some friends. Keep an eye out for "markings" confirming you are on the right track. (the oil signs sometimes have an EDGE mark on them)
Bring water and lunch.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Anything in Fruita/Grand Junction.
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Summary: I think I have to side with the whiners on this one. The LONG road ride really blows. Yes, there are a couple miles of fun downhill, and the rappel is a unique experience, but the fun factor is not near high enough to justify the 5 hour commitment for this ride. How this ever got on the IMBA epic ride list is beyond me. If you want epic that involves mostly singletrack instead of mostly road then go somewhere else.
Recommended Route: When you get to the bottom of the wash (a T intersection onto doubletrack) make sure you go uphill (right) a hundred yards or so to connect into the upper trail (the "Edge Connector") to Chutes and Ladders. Way better than riding the doubletrack back to the parking area.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Just about everything in the area is good. If you want a long ride go down to the river and do the long loop (Mary's, Lion's, Troy Built, Mack Ridge, Moore Fun). That will give you plenty of miles of enjoyable singletrack. If you want to do something truly epic then Kokopelli's is about as epic as it gets.
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Summary: If it's raining, don't do it. Just continue west and find yourself in Moab. Riding the Slickrock trail in the rain is a blast. All of The Fruita /Loma/Mack area has alot of clay and you wind up destroying the trails and carrying your bike if it's wet. I learned the hard way a few years ago when I tacoed a rim on Joes Ridge during a rainy day. The clay sticks to shoes too! 3 days after the rain is plenty of time for the ride to dry out. The fun singletrack to the road is quickly forgotten once you hit the road. The 14 mile road up is a ride killer if you let it beat you, but if you find your pace, it tests how much energy you car save for the ride down and out(kinda like the how the first half of Porcupine Ridge used to be). The ride has alot of unique variety that can get to you if you let it, or you can enjoy the challenge. The brush in the wash gets overgrown and smacks you in the face and arms, you want to ride the waterfall but instead you drag your bike down the rocks, you curse the uphills that come out of nowhere on Chutes and Ladders when you think you're in the clear, and then you realize why you hate it so much... Because it's not like the other rides, and then you kinda start to like it. And then you remember what you could've done better had you known what was coming. So you've got to do it again because you know you could get more out of it. Don't go with anyone you're gonna have to wait more than a few minutes for at the top. Allow yourself to enjoy it. That's why you're biking. If you would rather buy a motorcycle than pedal up a mild hill for 14 miles, don't do it. Otherwise, have fun on this Colorado gem. The first time will take 5-6 hours. Last September we did it in 3. ENJOY!
Recommended Route: Prime Cuts to the end of 18 road. Drop into Joe's Ridge. Take the first right and enjoy the ride until you roll out onto the road. Take a right and head up the road. It's all rights the rest of the way except for a left into the wash. Don't miss the right turn onto Chutes by the corral. Buy the Fruita Guide Book at Over the Edge Sports in Fruita. They know their stuff. Heck, they built all of it.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Loma trails are all great also. Fruita is growing and you can link up for 60 miles of great stuff or 10 great short rides plus camping is free. If you're there, don't bother going any further (Mack/Rabbit Valley/Moab/Dewey Bridge) til next trip.
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