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Kessel Run

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.4 (185)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Western Colorado
  4. …Fruita
  5. 18 Road Trails
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“Fast & fun - see if you can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs! ”

Nick Wilder
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Map Key

2.1

Miles

3.4

KM
Singletrack

5,490' 1,673 m

High

5,051' 1,539 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

440' 134 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

8%

Max Grade (5°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Description

Starting at the upper parking lot next to the campground, you'll start out riding through trees with gentle sweeps. It's a bit rocky with a couple of short steep sections and probably not a beginner run.

There are a few small drops and rollers, and some rocky sections that pop up and force most riders to hit the brakes, but everything can be bypassed or easily rolled over.

The trail gets progressively more and more banked and flowy as you descend. Near the end it gets smoother and faster, and advanced riders might flow aggressively through the sweeping turns with no brakes and a big grin.

This trail is very popular, and is a bit more rutted then others.

Several trails intersect this one, but they're all well marked. At the bottom you'll hit Western Zip; take a left and you'll be back at the parking lot in 2 minutes.

Contacts

Land Manager: BLM Colorado - Colorado River Valley Field Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder with improvements by Kristen Arendt and 2 others
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 185 votes

#5

in 18 Road Trails

#45

Overall
  4.4 from 185 votes
5 Star
51%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
1%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#5

in 18 Road Trails

#20

in Colorado

#45

Overall
60 Views Last Month
14,765 Since Mar 31, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
18%
14%
68%
1%
0%
0%
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Photos

There are jumps everywhere on MoJoe.
Jan 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
Ride the spine!
Jan 17, 2020 near Fruita, CO
Upper Joe's Ridge... some of the most fun you can have on a mountain bike.
Nov 16, 2015 near Fruita, CO
Flow for beginners but still fun for more advanced riders. If you want someone to learn to love mountain biking, Kessel Run is your trail!
Jan 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
yeeee hawww!
Apr 3, 2013 near Fruita, CO
Kessel Run is as fast and fun as you want it to be.
Apr 25, 2013 near Fruita, CO

3 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 10 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 25, 2024
Zane Gould
2.1mi — 0h 16m
Jun 2, 2024
Nate Oakes
Great way to get down from the upper campground sites
Jun 1, 2024
Nate Oakes
Lower Kessel more fun than Upper
May 18, 2024
Andrew Palmer
Apr 17, 2024
Chris Rice
Apr 3, 2024
James Simpson
Mar 23, 2024
Dan 60D5H411
With Owen, Eliana
Mar 10, 2024
Alex Garhart

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