Lion's Loop begins on
Mary's Loop, just north of
Steve's Loop. The trail is characterized by two distinct sections: the eastern 2 miles combining an historic stock road with a very technical singletrack passage as a segment of
Kokopelli Trail; and the northern and western 2 3/4 mile dirt road climb up and over
Mack Ridge to
Hawkeye Road.
Lion's Loop is most often used to create loop options with
Troy Built or
Mack Ridge trails.
From
Mary's Loop, begin a steep, loose 1/4 mile climb along an old stock road. The road has reverted to singletrack for the most part. It can be a bit rutted at times, but is all climbable. Lion's Loop then mellows and rolls along this old route. At 2/3 mile, pass a viewpoint on the left side of the trail overlooking
Steve's Loop and the Colorado River.
After about a mile, the trail becomes less recognizable as doubletrack, and more singletrack in style. After 1 1/2 miles Lion's Loop traverses a passage requiring a lot of concentration, technical expertise, and a high fitness level to clear. Most riders have to push some features within this short, technical pass.
After exiting the technical singletrack, Lion's Loop quickly intersects another stock road at a switchback in the road. Lion's Loop and the
Kokopelli Trail continue right (north) uphill. Downhill, the stock road descends 2 miles to the Colorado River.
Climb the steep doubletrack, passing a junction with
Troy Built and
Mack Ridge after 0.4 miles (at this point
Kokopelli Trail diverges from Lion's Loop onto
Troy Built).The road continues to climb steeply for another 0.6 miles before a right bend after which the
Mack Ridge Connector doubletrack takes off on the right.
Riders wishing to bypass the newer
Mack Ridge singletrack can climb this more rideable route to access
Mack Ridge, the more traditional route to that trail's western end.
Continue straight through this intersection, another 0.6 miles across a high terrace to the high point of the road, passing two more doubletrack connector roads to
Mack Ridge on the right. Lion's Loop then descends steeply down the doubletrack for 1 1/4 miles to
Hawkeye Road.
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