Trusty Pick

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

The Trusty Pick is the most technical of the 3 'trail tools' trails. Personally, this is my favorite trail in Rifle. It offers technical challenges and surprisingly nice flow. Strong riders should be able to ride this trail without dabbing, no problem. Still a challenging trail, however.

Ridden in full, typically this trail is best ridden east to west. However, like most Rifle trails, it does ride well in both directions.

Accessing the Trusty Pick from either direction can be tricky. This description will be from east to west direction. From the BLM parking lot, pedal as if you were heading out to ride Rusty Shovel/ Mighty McLeod. Ride Rusty Shovel about 100 yards past the Rusty/Mighty trail intersection. Just as you begin to ride along a rim on Rusty Shovel, look to your left for a pipe with a cap sticking out of the ground with some rocks piled around it. This marks the start of the Trusty Pick.

Climb up past the pipe and you should see the trail begin to present itself with a tight uphill left switchback to begin the trail. Now, it's important to know that this trail is worn in, BUT the soil here is expansive and moisture quickly reclaims worn-in features of the trail. Locals can follow this trail easily. If you're new to it, you may have to fumble around a bit to truly find it - you can always use the MTB Project mobile app to help find your way. I would suggest riding it twice to become familiar with it before it really becomes fun and flowy.

Anyways, after the uphill switchback the trail will take on some quick ups and downs across a fairly steep sidehill. There are rocks carefully placed to climb over, drainages to negotiate, and junipers to curl around. A solid trackstand will help you through this trail, especially your first couple times through as you're identifying the trail.

Halfway through the trail, you'll cross a doubletrack. Go straight across and slightly left to pick up the rest of the trail. The second half of the trail begins by snaking through the junipers and then popping out again on a rocky sidehill. Ride along another sidehill until you hit the gas pipeline. TRICKY SECTION HERE TO PICK UP THE REMAINDER OF THE TRAIL. Go straight across the gas pipeline and look to your slight right to pick up the rest of the trail. The MTB Project mobile app may be your saving grace here. Follow the singletrack around one final sidehill as it banks back towards the end of Puma/the start of Balanced Rock Trail. The section goes pretty fast and is a fun runout.