Rim View Trail #533

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

The trailhead is well signed and just off of Forest Service Road 105. To get there, head to the top of Grand Mesa on Hwy 65. Take Lands End Road (FSR 100) about 1.5 miles and look for road 105 that cuts back to the right (north). Follow 105 for 2.5 miles where you'll find the trailhead sign for 533 - Rim View at what looks to be a campsite.

During wet years, the first part of the trail is hard to find. This year (2015) it is so wet there is a large reservoir right at the trailhead. Other years this has been completely dry. There are posts marking the trail, so you may have to ride across the meadow from post to post like we did for the first half mile or so. Eventually, you'll run into the singletrack trail that takes you down to Mesa Lakes.

From where we picked up the trail all the way down to the fork that splits to Mesa Lakes or Mesa Lakes Ranger Station, the trail was great. Some technical rocky sections that qualify as difficult are present, but they're just narrow. There's lots of pedal scraping through these rocky corridors, so be prepared. Some widening would make this trail a 5 star instead of 4.

After passing the fork (sign says to Ranger Station and right trail heads uphill, left stays level to downhill), we ran into a lot of downed trees that need to be cleared. If you're not into carrying your bike, opt for the Ranger Station Trail and then catch the service road the rest of the way down.

What was most annoying about this trail was not the track itself, it was the downed trees that showed up right when some super smooth and flowy singletrack appeared. That will be an absolute blast when it's cleared! Minimal rocks, trail carpeted by pine needles, zinging in and out of groves of trees and meadows.

This little trail has a ton of potential and can make a great addition to riding the West Bench Trail #501 to Powderhorn. Especially once Powderhorn opens their bike park in a year or two!