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A great beginner-to-intermediate loop for fun or cross country training.


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Map Key

9.6

Miles

15.4

KM

85%

Singletrack

6,119' 1,865 m

High

5,808' 1,770 m

Low

978' 298 m

Up

978' 298 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Overview

This is a great loop that can easily be expanded to Deer Creek Valley and Hildebrand trail systems for longer, more challenging terrain.

Description

This ride starts with a nice warmup along the Coyote Song Trail. From there, you head over the hogback on Lyons Back/Pass Trail, up a challenging little punch of a climb for a hundred feet of elevation gain. On the other side, take a fun little descent on Columbine Trail to a fast climb up the Cathy Johnson Trail. Turn left back up the Columbine Trail for a twisty moderate climb back to the other side of the hogback.

Rejoin the Coyote Song Trail with a left turn. At the next intersection, you'll take a sharp right on Prairie Falcon Trail. Follow Prairie Falcon until you cross Deer Creek Valley Road. Continue until you meet up with the Grazing Elk Trail. Take a left on Grazing Elk Trail and follow it until the intersection with Rattlesnake Gultch Trail. You'll cross Deer Creek Valley Road again, and find the trail again just past the entrance of the Deer Creek Valley Park on the right. Climb to the main parking lot. Turn around at the parking lot and head back on the same trails to the South Valley Parking lot.

Optional: For more riding continue up into Deer Creek for some more challenging terrain and loops above.

Contacts

Land Manager: Ken Caryl Metro District

Shared By:

Jonathan Cox with improvements by Austin Cowan

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 25 votes

#1188

Overall
  3.8 from 25 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
44%
3 Star
32%
2 Star
4%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#256

in Colorado

#1,188

Overall
35 Views Last Month
9,185 Since Sep 13, 2018
Intermediate Intermediate

4%
28%
60%
8%
0%
0%

Photos

A clockwise loop of Grazing Elk Trail
Aug 17, 2019 near Ken Caryl, CO
Heading north (uphill) on Coyote Song
Jul 30, 2018 near Ken Caryl, CO
I rode the Coyote Song Trail, with awesome red rock formations, and some sweet flowing downhill. The trail was closed for the final portion, so I rode the rest of the way on prairie falcon.
Oct 4, 2020 near Ken Caryl, CO
Rattlesnake Gulch west side descent
Aug 13, 2019 near Ken Caryl, CO
Rattlesnake Gulch east descent
Aug 13, 2019 near Ken Caryl, CO
Columbine Tail Overlook
Aug 23, 2023 near Ken Caryl, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 16 days ago
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Check-Ins

Sep 19, 2024
Private User
Aug 15, 2024
Nicholas Mader
Jun 15, 2024
Graham Geiselman
Jun 8, 2024
Trey Kay
Oct 19, 2023
Liz Meyer
Jul 14, 2023
Ryan Tucker
The majority of this loop is easy, only a few sections I would call intermediate, the columbine trail portion is by far the most fun. 12mi — 1h 45m
Apr 3, 2023
Tyler Davis
7.5mi
Mar 14, 2023
Greg J
The sections that are bad are really bad. I cut it short to avoid the stink eye.
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