MTB Project Logo
Climb
MTB
Hike
Trailrun
Ski
Limited Time70% OffonX Backcountry

Centennial Cone

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.1 (453)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Golden
  5. Centennial Cone Park
Explore MTB in 3D
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Previous Next

“One of the better beginner/intermediate rides in the front range. ”

Nick Wilder
Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Google Map
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

17.2

Miles

27.7

KM

80%

Singletrack

7,911' 2,411 m

High

6,804' 2,074 m

Low

2,340' 713 m

Up

2,348' 716 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

On weekends, closed to bikes on ODD numbered days. So it is open to bike on all weekdays, and EVEN numbered weekend days. The area is completely closed December and January.

Each year, Jefferson County Open Space implements a closure from December 1 through January 31 for seasonal hunting. Jeffco Parks

Overview

Built in 2006, these trails are great examples of modern, purpose-built recreation trails. They are smooth, flowy, and not eroding as most seem do in the front range. They're also beautiful, fun, mostly easy, and take you through great scenery.

Though the trails are all technically easy, the long climbs and precipitous drop-offs might not make it suitable for some beginners.

Need to Know

You can bypass on the county roads if you want to complete a loop of the Centennial Cone trails at times when the Elk Range Trail is closed (generally Nov-June).

Starting at the East trailhead at Centennial Cone Park, ride north on the paved road (Carmino Peridio), out of the park and up a couple short steep climbs to the Robinson Hill Road intersection. Turn left on Robinson Hill Road and follow the rolling paved road west. After about a mile, the road veers left into Douglas Mountain Drive.

The road turns to a mix of asphalt and gravel road. Turn left onto Douglas Mountain Drive and start a gradual climb to the top of a pass. After cresting the hill, keep on the main road and enjoy the fast switch-backing downhill and the views of Clear Creek Canyon. After a couple miles of downhill, look for the paved road access on the left for Centennial Cone Park. Fun is over, turn left and start climbing the steep paved road up to the west parking area.

Description

Starting from the large Mayhem Gulch parking lot (with bathrooms) just off Highway 6, you immediately start your climb up Mayhem Gulch trail. This is the longest climb of the day, but the grade is moderate and the surface is smooth. Some of the switchbacks are tight and might need you to step off you bike a few times.

In 1.5 miles, the Juniper Trail goes left. Take it (you'll return via the Mayhem trail that continues to the right). This trail is much flatter and feels great after the long climb.

After a mile on the Juniper Trail, you'll reach an intersection with the Centennial Cone Road parking just ahead. Continue past the other trails to the parking, and continue on the Elk Range Trail, which is really a dirt road. This section is flat but beautiful as it passes by a small working farm (careful of horses and cows near the trail).

After 3 miles of dirt road you'll arrive at the North Trail parking area. Turn right on the Travois Trail and follow beautiful, smooth, flowy singletrack down a gentle grade for half a mile. Here, the trail splits (Travois to the left, Evening Sun to the right). Take either one - they rejoin half a mile later. They are both great and about the same difficulty (both easy).

From here, the Travois trail starts getting a bit more difficult, and many people find this to be the best singletrack in this area. You climb, descend, climb a bit more, all with great views of the surrounding hills. The views down Clear Creek Canyon are cool - it looks amazingly deep from up this high.

After reaching a high rocky point, you make a long descent to Elk Creek and a bridge. Fun, but the bad news is you now have to climb all the way back out of this drainage. It's quite a bit of work, but again the trail is smooth and not too steep. Mastering the tight switchbacks is a good challenge.

Once back on the ridge top, the trail goes gently up and down, with steep drops to the left, and great scenery everywhere. This is perhaps the highlight of the entire ride.

After 7.4 miles on the Travois trail (and about 14 total miles so far), you reach the Mayhem Gulch trail intersection. Take it to the left and enjoy the great views and smooth, wide singletrack for .8 miles.

You are now back on the part of Mayhem Gulch that you road up a few hours earlier. Take a left and cruise back to your car.

This loop can be done in either direction, and can be made shorter by parking at the Centennial Cone Road Trailhead (avoiding the biggest climb, out of Mayhem Gulch).

History & Background

Centennial Cone Park was acquired in 1999 with voter-approved Open Space Bond funds. Located north of Clear Creek Canyon, nearly to the Clear Creek County line, the park is valued for the habitat it provides to elk, mountain lion and other species.

Contacts

Local Club: Colorado Mountain Bike Association

Land Manager: Jefferson County, CO - Open Space Dept.

Shared By:

Nick Wilder with improvements by Patrick Hardy and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 453 votes

#1

in Centennial Cone Park

#33

Overall
  4.1 from 453 votes
5 Star
35%
4 Star
45%
3 Star
16%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Centennial Cone Park

#8

in Colorado

#33

Overall
190 Views Last Month
160,717 Since Nov 9, 2012
Intermediate Intermediate
0%
3%
80%
8%
8%
1%
Add a Photo

Photos

Running from the storm, we later got hammered
Apr 6, 2013 near Golden, CO
Overlooking the Front Range from the high point of the Cone.
Jan 5, 2019 near Golden, CO
A little bit of tech at the Cone.
Jan 5, 2019 near Golden, CO
Sunset at the end of a great ride.
Nov 18, 2012 near Idaho S…, CO
Rainbow after a light shower
Jul 30, 2020 near Golden, CO
A short technical section that beginners may want to walk down. Clear Creek Canyon in the background.
Nov 16, 2012 near Golden, CO

25 Comments

Sort by: Oldest Drop down
Newest Oldest Popular
loading

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 25 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 1, 2024
Patrick Burns
This is a great ride. Trail is meh but covers beautiful terrain. On a fast rolling bike this is good fun, spiritually satisfying & a work out
Sep 28, 2024
Mark B
Sep 14, 2024
Private User
Sep 14, 2024
Brian Albin
17mi — 4h 00m
Sep 14, 2024
Raputa Thebeauta
Aug 4, 2024
Ethan Puerto
Jul 6, 2024
Jason Williammee
17mi — 2h 40m
Jul 1, 2024
Nolan Payne

Nearby Recommended Routes

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started