Places to Ride (Dirt)

Here you will find a list of off-road bicycling trails throughout the Centennial State. They are arranged alphabetically by nearest town.

Colorado’s unique terrain provides trails for all skill levels

Alamosa

Southwest Colorado is considered high desert. Wind is common, terrain is dry, and the riding is fast and spectacular. Please check back soon for information on riding in Alamosa, Colorado!

Arvada

More information coming soon!

Boulder

Valmont Bike Park is a must-visit for bicycle dirt jump fans. Open all day, year round, you’ll love connecting various lines and features to build skills needed to navigate more difficult trails encountered in your future rides.

Google Maps is likely going to tell you the bike park is on the south side of Valmont Rd. It is not. Valmont Bike Park is just north of Valmont Rd. on the east side of Airport Rd.

Pearl Street Mall is a perfect place for an urban cruise at any point of the day. Bike between shops, restaurants, and local hangouts with friends!

Please check back soon for more information!

Carbondale

Bike or hike the Lorax Trail to the west of the town of Carbondale, just south of Glenwood Springs and Interstate I-70. Check back soon for a more detailed description of trails and other adventures located in Carbondale, Colorado.

Centennial

A bustling suburb of Denver, Centennial offers bike lanes, parks, and a chance to view peaks to the west. Please check back soon for updates.

Colorado Springs

Home of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs and surrounding areas are great for road and trail rides. Check back soon for more information!

Conifer

Conifer offers trails for riders of all skill levels. Please check back soon for more information.

Denver

Check our road and park/urban rides page for more info on riding in Denver. Check back soon for more information on dirt trails in the Mile High City!

Dillon/Silverthorne/Keystone

During the summer months, Keystone Ski Area becomes a downhill mountain biking paradise. Ski runs minus snow reveal miles of downhill trails, ranging from beginner-appropriate runs to advanced, super fast, and technical jump-filled tracks. Bicycle rentals are available at the base of the trails and the ski lifts are outfitted to bring both bicycles and riders to the pinnacle of the area.

Located approximately 2 hours west of the Denver metropolitan area, easily accessed by Interstate 70, Keystone typically hosts bicycling activities from May-September.

Check back soon for more information!

Durango

Durango is located at the southern end of the Million Dollar Highway (US Hwy 550). Check back soon for more info on trails located in and around Durango.

Edwards

Welcome to the Vail Valley on Colorado’s Western Slope! Stop in for a delicious beer at Crazy Mountain Brewing Company. Please check back for more trail information coming soon!

Evergreen

Alderfer/Three Sisters Park is an excellent place to ride in Evergreen. From Evergreen Parkway (Colorado 74), head south and turn right on Colorado 73 in the center of downtown Evergreen. Head 1 mile south to Buffalo Park Rd and turn right. The park will be about 1 mile after turning on Buffalo Park Rd.

These trails from the West Summit Trailhead are pretty easy, wide open, and very fun. The East Trailhead has more difficult trails with rocky sections that may require repeated dismounts. This place is very busy every single day of the week in spring, summer, and fall. Be prepared to arrive early (6, 7am) to beat the rush. The West Trailhead parking area has more parking spots available than the East Trailhead parking lot. You can complete most of the trails in this park in a couple of hours.

Elk Meadow Park includes over 14 miles of trails for all skill levels. Starting at the Lewis Ridge parking lot on Bergen Peak Drive at the intersection with Evergreen Parkway (Colorado 74), you can link the Sleepy-S Trail with the Bergen Peak Trail or the Elk Ridge Trail. The Sleepy-S Trail starts climbing from the parking lot and you can climb higher at the intersection with the Bergen Peak Trail or descend back towards the parking area on the Elk Ridge Trail. Fast, mildly technical downhills with loose dirt and small jumps make for a great reward after the 500′ climb. Please, yield to all other trail users including hikers and horseback riders. This is a free park with no fee to park or use the trails!

Floyd Hill Open Space now boasts dedicated downhill mountain bike trails. Please check out Nate Hills on YouTube shredding here in 2020!

The Maxwell Falls Trail offers a difficult climb and challenging descent along Maxwell Creek. Find the trail along South Brook Forest Rd. south of Evergreen. Take Evergreen Parkway (Colorado 74) to Colorado 73 and turn right in the center of downtown Evergreen. Travel 2 miles to South Brook Forest Rd. Maxwell Falls Trailhead is about 3 miles up the road on the left. Get here early as the parking lot fills quickly every day of the week. Some additional parking is available along the sides of the road but also fills quickly. This trail does not require a parking fee. In my opinion, the grade, rocks, and roots make this trail more suitable for a hike, but the trail is open to bicyclists and horse riders. The trail is shaded the majority of the day and is cooled by the cold water flowing alongside. Please remember to yield to others. The trail is an out-and-back style trail and is not a loop.

Road bicycling is incredibly popular in Evergreen. Miles of dirt trails can also be paired with your road riding in this beautiful suburban town. Please return soon for our team’s list of favorite places to ride in Evergreen.

Fairplay

Sacramento Creek Ranch has approximately 3 miles of dirt trails. More trails were built in 2021 by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Mountain Area Land Trust.

Fort Collins

A quickly-growing college town, Fort Collins is situated along the gorgeous Cache la Poudre River. Paved and off-road trails follow the river and its tributaries throughout the city. Bike lanes abound and the paved path network is extensive, including the north-south oriented Fossil Creek Trail. Just west of town and its water source, Horsetooth Reservoir, visitors can bike all day at Lory State Park. The West Valley and other trails plus a dirt jumps course make this an ideal spot to cruise, pump, jump, and build technical bicycling skills that will serve any rider well.

Many road cyclists enjoy the challenge of the steep roads leading west from town to Horsetooth Reservoir. Massive elevation gains and accompanying views are just minutes outside the city’s bustling Old Town area and Colorado State University’s expansive campus. Take W Drake Road west from Old Town, turn right (north) onto South Overland Trail, and follow signs for Horsetooth Reservoir and Lory State Park for a road ride with incredible climbs and plunging descents!

If you’d like to borrow a bike while you have your vehicle serviced in Fort Collins, stop by Dellenbach Subaru/Chevrolet. They will loan you a bike while you wait for your service to be completed. Sure beats sitting in the waiting room! I’ve biked 10 miles from the dealership while having my truck fixed! Thanks, Dellenbach!

Please check back soon for more information!

Fruita

Pick up trails that head all the way to Utah in Fruita, CO. The Kokopelli Trail offers days of singletracks. Please check back soon for photos and information on rides near Fruita!

Golden

Centennial Cone Park has spectacular hills, views of surrounding mountains and Clear Creek Canyon, and a great mix of technical and fast sections. Your climbs become well worth it once you rip the flowing downhills. One of my favorite sections includes a couple of smaller jumps downhill at speed! I started at the West Trailhead and took the Elk Range Trail to the Travois Trail for a fun loop. Centennial Cone Park has over 3,600 acres and over 15 miles of trails!

Golden, Colorado has one of the most bicycle-friendly networks of trails in the entire state. Here, you can find the Golden Bike Library, where multi-speed bicycles equipped with baskets and locks are rented to the public for free. Pick up the Clear Creek Greenway Trail and bike all the way to the heart of mountain country, all while avoiding main road crossings and enjoying spectacular views of canyons, peaks, and forests.

Downtown Golden and the adjoining Colorado School of Mines campus provide miles of roads to ride. Paved paths abound and wind through residential and natural areas. You can travel between local landmarks and parks all on your two wheels.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park boasts nearly 35 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Trails are mixed use and colorado.bike would like to remind bicycle riders to yield to hikers and horse riders. Camping is permitted in designated areas. Please refer to www.parks.state.co.us for more details.

Glenwood Springs

Please check back soon for more information on bicycling while visiting Glenwood Springs. A must visit during your travels in Western Colorado!

Grand Junction

A crossroads for Western Colorado, Eastern Utah, and the entire Southwest, Grand Junction is a great starting point for your offroad biking adventures. Please check back soon for more info!

Idaho Springs

Historic Idaho Springs boasts dozens of bicycle routes on and off the asphalt. The Scott Lancaster Memorial Trail is connected to the Clear Creek Greenway, which extends from Clear Creek County to the western suburbs of Denver in Jefferson County through Golden. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is a 28-mile paved road assemblage from downtown Idaho Springs. It follows Highway 103 (Chicago Creek Rd.) South to Highway 5, ascending Mount Evans’s 14-mile paved road to the peak at 14,270 feet above sea level. This ride is not for the faint of heart! Relentless climbs are punctuated by sharp curves, uneven, rippled pavement, and breathtaking views.               

The brand-new for 2021 Virginia Canyon Mountain Park will be served by the Argo gondola, currently under construction. Designed by the world’s top trail builders, VCMP will be a highlight of your visit to Clear Creek County. 15+ miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the arid slopes. Phase 1 of the trail system is open to hikers as of June 2022!

The Bob Cook/Mt. Evans Hill Climb is an annual road bike race to the peak’s summit of 14,270′. Follow Evergreen Cycling on Facebook or Instagram for up-to-date info on the race’s status!

No matter your flavor of two-wheeled adventure, Idaho Springs has a place for you and your friends and family!

Lakewood

Revisit us soon for more information on bicycling in Lakewood, Colorado, a friendly western suburb of Denver situated along 6th Avenue/US Highway 6. You’ll find a vast variety of delicious restaurants in Lakewood perfect for post-ride refueling!

Leadville

The highest incorporated town in the United States, Leadville offers high ridges and views for miles. Please check back soon for more information.

Limon

You might think there wouldn’t be any places worth riding in Eastern Colorado. Limon proves us wrong! Clear days offer views of distant Pikes Peak and Mount Evans, both about 100 miles away! Light traffic makes the roads and rolling plains of Limon an ideal place to crank out some miles. Follow railroad tracks for miles and marvel at the dozens of wind turbines located in this region. When you need a break from your inbound drive to the mountains when arriving from the east, stop and ride a while in Limon. Check back soon for more information!

Minturn

Check back soon for more information on riding in Minturn, Colorado.

Morrison

Home to Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park, Morrison is a great stop between the Denver Metropolitan area and the higher peaks to the west. Check back soon for more information!

Ouray

It’s hard to find a level spot in the entire town of Ouray. Visit us again soon for our take on bicycling in Ouray!

Nederland

At the start of Boulder Creek sits the mountain town Nederland. Definitely stop in and ride along miles of dirt trails in the parks and along the creek.

Palisade

A produce lover’s paradise, Palisade offers refreshing, locally-grown fruits and vegetables perfect for powering up before or recharging after a grueling ride. Please refer back soon for more information.

Pine

Check back soon for more information on dirt trails located in Pine, CO.

Red Feather Lakes

Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch is incredible. You can bike, hike, horseback ride, and more. Link the beginner-rated North Fork Trail to the advanced Buckskin Trail for a warm-up and challenge! You can stay here, too! If you come to one place in Colorado, Beaver Meadows has it all!

Rifle

Please check back soon for more info on riding in the town of Rifle, CO.

Steamboat Springs

Nicknamed Bike Town USA, Steamboat Springs offers trails for all riders radiating from the downtown area in all directions. www.steamboatbiketown.com provides incredibly detailed information for riders visiting the town. Please check back soon for more information!

Windsor

Bike around Windsor Lake during your visit to this quaint town just east of Interstate 25 and Ft. Collins. Ride at the Belmont Ridge Open Space and build your endurance for steep rides encountered in other regions of the state. Check back soon for more information!

Winter Park

Winter Park isn’t always covered in snow! When the warm seasons come back each year, trails are uncovered and beautiful. Trestle Bike Park is an absolute blast! Great accommodations and restaurants will make your stay unforgettable. Please check back soon for a list of our favorite trails in Winter Park.