woomie Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Heading out in a couple of weeks on my first long solo road trip to Jackson, Wyoming to ride MTB's with friends that live near there in Victor. I have 16 days total and will probably stay in hotels on the way there and back. Thinking about bringing minimal camping gear for a night or two in the outdoors. I have a tent, and sleeping bag and not much else. What else would I need to camp? It's been awhile. 😉 My route will take me through Waco to surf at BSR Surf Park and then head up through Denver to see a ball game at Coors Field. So, was thinking about doing a ride in Colorado Springs. Has anyone ridden there? I have the MTB Project app, but wanted to hear of any first hand experiences with trails around there. Once I get to Wyoming/Idaho, my friends have tons of rides they do, but would like to hear from a Texan's perspective if anyone has ridden up there, too. TIA! Happy trails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridenfool Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 (edited) If you are just passing through Colorado Springs for a day, Palmer Park and Cheyenne Mountain State Park are easy to find and good riding. Garden of the Gods is scenic, but not particularly challenging. MTBProject show a few more parks, and then there are plenty of out and backs with climbing. If you can get a shuttle you could design a ride that brings you back to town. Just remember to ride early as there are often afternoon showers. thunder storms, and even hail at higher elevations. DAMHIK about afternoon weather in Colorado Springs, that is a Rocky Mountain Slushee running down the trail between my feet. Edited July 7, 2019 by Ridenfool 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chongo Loco Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I’ve ridden more north of CS so others may have better suggestions, but don’t skip some great stuff if you have the time. On the north side of Denver / Boulder you can hit either Hall Ranch or Heil Ranch (Picture Rock). Both in Lyons. Or in Loveland / Fort Collins the Devils Backbone open space or Horse Tooth Reservoir trails. All short detours off the interstate heading to WY. If you don’t have time for a full ride after Denver you can session for a bit at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder. Jump trail, slope style trail, flow trail all within site of your car. If your friends haven’t suggest it, Curt Gowdy SP west of Cheyenne is a blast too. Several big granite boulder play areas to session along the trails.Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradtubgin Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 9 hours ago, Ridenfool said: If you are just passing through Colorado Springs for a day, Palmer Park and Cheyenne Mountain State Park are easy to find and good riding. Garden of the Gods is scenic, but not particularly challenging. I second this. I was in Colorado Springs for a couple days. I always managed to run into someone who was willing to let me tag along on their ride. Super friendly. I also hit up the area north of the state park: (probably about this route, but since someone else was leading I'm not sure.) https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/270021/chutes-gold-camp-rd-buckhorn-captain-jacks  1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txduc Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 In Colorado Springs there's always the USAFA Falcon Trail. I rode it last Aug on my way up to Breck. It's a fun ~13mi loop w/ 1,300 ft of elevation change that has a bit of everything.   https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/269633/usafa-falcon-trail 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxagent Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Other people with more personal knowledge can handle the 'trails ride' recommendations. But I have recommendations fro planning your trip. I plan to drive not more than 4 or 5 hours most days. I try to plan a ride that is about that distance away. So on a trip to Moab (hitting only the high points, not every ride) Palo Duro Canyon (Amarillo) Taos NM Durango CO Phil's World (Cortez CO only about 2 hours from Durango but not to be missed) Moab UT Return Trip Fruita CO Breckenridge CO Colorado Springs Palo Duro again Waco We never felt like were just trapped in the truck for hour after hour after hour.  1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woomie Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the input. I had a great trip riding at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder on the way up, then rode a lot of National Forest (?) trails around Teton Pass in Wyoming, and spent a couple of days at Targhee Resort, also in the Tetons. Spent one night each in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, then rode at Harriman State Park. That place had the only semi-flat terrain I rode over the whole trip, and was smooth and sandy, and of course , beautiful! I finished it off with an OTB crash over a cattle guard in Gunnison, Co. on the way home .(Had to crash at least once, even if it was .2 mi. from the end of the last ride of the trip.) Lots of happy trails, though! And the weather, OMG! Edited August 12, 2019 by woomie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I rode Harriman a long time ago. It was part of a multi-day trip that ended up in Grand Tetons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoAmI Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Curt Gowdy State Park in southern WY is so much fun, and there's another trail nearby that is supposed to be fun, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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