Lorax Trail

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Hike-a-bike · Technical · Views

Lorax Trail starts steep and rocky right out of the parking lot. You may even have to step off to get over a rock step just a few yards in. Soon enough though, the trail's true character presents itself. The rocks give way to smooth dirt tread and fast and flowing turns through the pinion and juniper canopy. While the trail remains most often smooth & intermediate, advanced riders will find many rewards. Tight turns and steep ups and downs will keep you on guard. You'll find brief rocky tech moments that are more rewarding than challenging for the skilled rider.

At 1.5 miles from the trailhead, you'll encounter the upper or lower short loop option shown on the map. At the north, upper elevation end of this loop, the trail continues south, but you must dismount to get through a chicane structure at a range fence. The trail becomes steeper and more technical as it approaches the southern point where many riders turn around to head back to the trailhead.

This turn-around point is somewhat nondescript, but coincides with the trail following an uphill gully drainage, with some short & steep hike-a-bike sections. As you continue climbing south, you'll pop onto an old doubletrack for 1/4 mile, but then the singletrack continues climbing up a more obvious gully route (you can make a nearly 180 degree turn on this doubletrack to follow BLM Road 8275 to the north, then east, and then south from this point to create a big lollipop shape with your ride instead of only an out-and-back). Continuing from this point in the gully, South Lorax is a fairly primitive route (that is now maintained & requires some pushing of the bike when heading uphill) that will connect you to BLM Road 8275.

Distant views of Mount Sopris are available, but the focus for riding the trail is all about the great flow and enjoyable time in the forest. You can ride the trail from south to north as part of loop with Thompson Creek Rd. (CR 108), South Thompson Rd. (#305) and BLM Road 8275. Or, consider riding from Carbondale and back to make your out-and-back ride a little longer.