In October, Glenwood Springs will host the Colorado high school mountain bike championships on newly finished trails at Colorado Mountain College. The venue provides even more dirt trail riding opportunities in the hot springs town.
As part of the IMBA’s designated Gold Level Ride Center for the Roaring Fork Valley, Glenwood Springs is fast gaining traction as a premier Colorado mountain biking destination. New trails at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley Campus are becoming a riding hot spot for fat-tire enthusiasts.
Racecourse Opens at CMC
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) recently finished construction on three additional miles of mountain biking trails that connect to an existing network, the bulk of which was hand built by students and community members. From Oct. 20 to 23, the course will be the site of the 2022 high school mountain bike championships hosted by the Colorado High School Cycling League. The event is expected to draw around 2,000 people, including 800 racers.
“The championship-level mountain biking trails at CMC are another spoke in our growing network of trails, giving cycling enthusiasts even more options to ride Glenwood Springs,” said Lisa Langer, director of tourism for Visit Glenwood Springs.
The CMC trails are considered intermediate level and were built specifically to suit high school-aged athletes. According to the MTB Project, the course is a great ride, especially for training with its mix of singletrack and doubletrack. When riding, remember this trail is on Colorado Mountain College property; respect the posted rules including no dogs and seasonal closures to protect wildlife habitat.
More Ways to Play in the Dirt
South Canyon Trails are another relatively new addition to Glenwood Springs’ mountain biking repertoire. Located just a couple of miles west of town, they feature eight miles of mixed-use singletrack including three of uphill climbing and one mile of let ‘er rip terrain. Expertly designed, the trails minimize two-way traffic and congestion. Three trails—Tramway, Lightning Bug and Coal Camp—are currently open, with four more slated for the future.
Grandstaff is part of the popular Red Mountain Trails. In town and easy to access, shift into granny gear and grind your way to the summit along the Jeanne Golay Trail. Efforts will be rewarded on the fast-paced descent that includes a blend of smooth dirt, rocky ground and banked turns. While the downhill ride is fast and flowy, be prepared to hit the brakes for hikers and dogs that share the trail.
Wulfsohn Mountain Park is located on the hillside behind Glenwood Springs Community Center. Close to town and Glenwood Springs lodging, Wulfsohn makes for a great early morning or late afternoon workout. Though rocky, the well-marked and maintained multiuse recreation trails are wide enough to accommodate both hikers and bikers.
Transfer Trail is an out-and-back route just west of town. A grueling uphill, the prize for hard work is eventually emerging into Flat Top Wilderness Area. Eight miles in, you’ll come to a cliffside overlook called Windy Point, a favorite spot to take in the expansive panoramas. The only downside to this ride is that it’s also popular with motorized vehicles, which can kick up clouds of dust if conditions are dry.
Babbish Gulch at Sunlight Mountain Resort offers an opportunity to ride through heavily wooded forests of evergreen and aspen, which are especially pretty in the fall. The trail is interspersed with singletrack, doubletrack, steeps and rolling terrain. Follow it to the top of Sunlight Mountain for breathtaking views of the Elk Range.
Don’t spin your wheels about where to go mountain biking in Colorado. Learn more about riding in Glenwood Springs today!
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