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

Chutes - Gold Camp Rd - Buckhorn - Captain Jack's

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 4.4 (179)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Colorado Springs
  5. Stratton Open Space Trails
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

“A classic tour of Cheyenne Canyon - a long, scenic climb up followed by a classic downhill. ”

The Kraken
Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List

13.8

Miles

22.3

KM

65%

Singletrack

8,227' 2,508 m

High

6,255' 1,906 m

Low

1,987' 606 m

Up

1,985' 605 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

One of the rides that makes Colorado Springs a great place to ride. It starts at the edge of town, climbs into the foothills, then descends back down the famous Captain Jack's trail, followed by the Chutes.

Description

Park at the Ridgeway parking lot, then head up the Chutes to the top at Gold Camp Road. Follow Gold Camp (an old railroad grade) several miles. This road is a very steady climb. It starts out paved at the top of the Chutes trail, then quickly turns to dirt as you head uphill. After another mile or so you'll pass the parking lot at the bottom of Captain Jack's trail, just before entering Tunnel #1. (Off to the left before the tunnel is the Spring Creek trail, which connects to Columbine Trail)

A few more miles and another tunnel later, you'll reach the parking lot at the top of the Cheyenne Canon paved road. Continue through the lot, through the metal gate, and you'll soon reach the bottom of Buckhorn trail. If you make a sharp turn left on the road at the end of the canyon, you've gone too far.

Take the right fork up Buckhorn - after a short, technical climb, the trail makes a sharp right turn to the east and continues uphill. Just keep on climbing until you reach the saddle. Turn right at the saddle, follow the ridgeline and you'll be rewarded with a view of the entire canyon. From here it's a moderately techy run down to High Drive and the start of Captain Jack's trail.

Captain Jack's is wide singletrack, very fast, with just a few short uphill sections. There aren't any intersections to worry about, so let it rip! Turn right, follow Captain Jack's along the ridgeline, then down to cross High Drive.

Continue down Jack's to the bottom, where it exits out onto Gold Camp Road next to tunnel #1. Return home down through the Chutes.

Contacts

Local Club: Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates

Shared By:

The Kraken
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 179 votes

#1

in Stratton Open Space Trails

#96

Overall
  4.4 from 179 votes
5 Star
60%
4 Star
28%
3 Star
7%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Stratton Open Space Tr…

#30

in Colorado

#96

Overall
114 Views Last Month
51,340 Since Mar 28, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
0%
0%
29%
27%
44%
1%
Add a Photo

Photos

Climbing Columbine Trail.
May 14, 2016 near Manitou…, CO
Beautiful climb to 6919 ft of altitude and then a fantastic chutes decent.
Jul 15, 2020 near Colorad…, CO
Shredding Cpt. Jacks in the snow
Mar 1, 2019 near Manitou…, CO
A fun day on one of the best rides in Colorado Springs.
Nov 16, 2017 near Colorad…, CO
Top of buckhorn Loop entering the downhill of Capt'n Jacks!
Jul 3, 2014 near Manitou…, CO
Facing west
Jun 15, 2024 near Manitou…, CO

17 Comments

Sort by: Oldest Drop down
Newest Oldest Popular
loading

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 34 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 22, 2025
Tony Hereau
Solo Solstice
Nov 15, 2025
Colin Holowach
Oct 5, 2025
Private User
Aug 31, 2025
Todd Finn
Jul 30, 2025
Randy Kopf
Adding this checkin as first use of the application. I met Mark Reynolds on this trail going up the chutes. It was late October 2002 13.8mi — 3h 30m
May 18, 2025
Damselfly P
14mi
Apr 21, 2025
Private User
Apr 14, 2025
Joseph La Salle

Nearby Recommended Routes

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started