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MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating:	31 trail reviews
Status: Open updated 10/1/08 by jeh Closed Open Wet / Sketchy	Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 5 miles	Global Rank: 359
Tread: Singletrack	Configuration: Loop
Ridden: 150	Wishlist: 49
Avg. Speed: 4.68 mph	Avg. Time: 1hr 46min

 

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reviewed by GHOSTWOLF on August 22, 2009

Capt Jack was EXCELLENT today, did once going all the way through and then hitting the CHUTES (Chutes VERY FAST and QUICK), second time just the Capt Jack. The trail is a little washed out with alot of ruts from the recent storms. Also alot of loose gravel on the trail so watch the areas at the bottom of the whoop te doos. Watch out for motorcycles coming up most of them will stop, others have no regard for your safety or others. All and All HAD A BLAST!!!!!!!

  
reviewed by zr140th on August 20, 2009

To be honest, the climb is a real pain if you've been out of the saddle for a spell. This trail was one hell of a trip though, fun as all hell going down! This trail hooked me to MTBing. Great scenery, location, and accesibility. Can't wait to get back to the Springs and do her again!

* Review edited 8/20/2009

  
reviewed by propwash on August 18, 2009

This trail is alot of fun, It was well worth the 58 miles I drove to get there.

Similar Trail: buffalo creek area

  
reviewed by T.P.Crockmier on June 16, 2009

Ended up on a portion of Captain Jacks on accident. Best navigational mistake I've ever made. The trail was very fun, and very fast coming back down. Had to stop on the descent a few times because my hands were getting very tired due to the constant braking pressure I had to apply.

  
reviewed by bumblebee on June 16, 2009

just got back from jacks! its fast its has jumps and fun turns! awesome trail! give it a try some time the views are beautiful. but there is some loose gravel but for the most part its crazy fun!

  
reviewed by pippinr on May 22, 2009

I used to live on W. Cheyenne Rd. I would ride up Chutes, hit Gold Camp, ride to the top of High Drive, take the Cap'n back to Gold Camp, then ascend again to one of the spurs of the Columbine trail and head back into town. Lots of loose gravel on both trails. This part of the Springs has many trails to connect to make longer rides. Get a map and get creative!

  
reviewed by vbeckman74 on March 13, 2009

Awesome singletrack. Watch out for motorcycles.

  
reviewed by highlandguy on November 17, 2008

I came from Michigan and was quite pleased with this trail. Not difficult, just crazy fun! I recommend climbing the lower, mid, and upper Columbine trails to High Drive, then after the blast down Capn Jacks, and through the tunnel, I took the connector back to the Columbine trails and descended back to the visitor center. Only about 10mi. I have ridden around Durango and Summit County but not much in this area, however, after this trail I will be back. Great ride! I loved the whoops.

* Review edited 11/17/2008

  
reviewed by jeh on October 1, 2008

I rode this today. It seemed rather chewed up in places compared to the last time I'd ridden it (>1.5 years ago). Looks like the motorbike traffic is taking its toll on the trail. Either that or I am a bigger chicken than I remember. In any case, I seemed to have spent a fair amount of time surfing gravel rather than enjoying the cool descent I remembered from past years. Don't get me wrong, this is still a great ride, especially in combination with Buckhorn.

Similar Trail: Buckhorn (descent portion)

  
reviewed by AChase on January 4, 2008

I have been riding Captain Jack's for almost 20 years with a motorcycle, on foot and or a mountain bike. This is my favorite trail and I have a book called "Shattered Dreams On Pikes Peak" that details what the early settlers where doing up there(It's worth a read!). I still get some crusty looks from hikers and fellow mtn bikers while on my Yamaha. They just don't get the fact that we are very limited on the number of local riding trails while they have miles and miles of other local trail systems to bike or hike. I actually make trailside repairs as I see fit on this trail for the benefit and safety of others.

  
reviewed by skibum on October 6, 2007

This is not much of a trail by itself, but is great as part of a loop with Buckhorn and can be extended to The Chutes or Columbine. There's some fun whoop-de-dos, some very fast downhill, but be careful of the loose gravel, and a groove worn so deep the sides will be over your head. There's also some great scenery along the way.

  
reviewed by dougsmith on September 22, 2007

Good trail. Much more fun downhill than climbing because of how loose the trail is. Ver loose in some sections and I know several people who have "blew up" here.

Similar Trail: Chutes

  
reviewed by RideorDie on June 30, 2007

Rode this trail today. It is less torn up than previous years. The rain has really helped keep the trail from getting torn up too bad. I still recommend this ride.

  
reviewed by geargrinder on June 8, 2007

This is the classic ride in Colorado Springs. Yes, it can get gravelly when it is dry. Ride it after a rain storm for best results. As others have mentioned, winter and spring are best because the gravel is held together by lots of water. Contrary to what many have posted here, the trail has hardly changed in the 16+ years I have been riding it. If the weather has been dry then it is loose. If it has rained, it is buffed. The trail can change drastically from day to day depending on how dry it is. The looseness has nothing to do with the motorcycles (the Chutes is the same and motorcycles don't ride that). The whole mountain is decomposing granite. It is just another riding challenge. Besides, it is the motorcyclists who do all the trail maintenance on Cap'n Jack's (I'm not a motorcyclist, just passing along info). The drainage on this trail often has to be fixed and there are times after storm damage that gullies can develop. In 1994-1996 there was a major mountain bike race held here and one stage was a time trial on Cap'n Jack's from High Drive to the parking lot on Gold Camp. There were many who rode it in less than 8 minutes. Lastly, get to this ride this by going up the Buckhorn trail. Riding up High Drive to get there cuts out a small but challenging part of the trail, and Buckhorn is actually enjoyable compared to fighting traffic on High Drive.

Similar Trail: Upper Cap'n Jack's from Jones Park is just more of the same.

  
reviewed by shane_anthony77 on June 8, 2007

This trail is one of the best all around trails I've ridden. I feel that no matter what level of experience you are you will have fun on this trail. If you ride this you can park a car a Statton Open Space and shuttle up to the trailhead. That way you can hit the shutes after Captain Jacks

  
reviewed by RideorDie on June 4, 2007

This trail is best riden in winter or spring before the moto guys tear it up. That being said, it is a great trail to introduce people to the sport. They won't be going that fast anyway, and it has a bit of excitement without anything too technical. I always go early before the moto guys can get their bikes unloaded. I also always tie this one in with the Chutes for first timers - they'll be buying a bike within a week!

Similar Trail: Buckhorn Mt, Bear Creek Loop (666), Columbine

  
reviewed by utedude on August 5, 2006

This trail is alright. It would be great if it didn't get torn up by the stupid dirtbikers. It is pea gravel about two inches thick sixty percent of the way down. It has a great route and would have been a great downhill singletrack. Also watch out for horse c*** as horseback riders also use this trail.

  
reviewed by shhlacker on May 31, 2006

Fun trail with great views, but like others are saying, the loose gravel is killer. I just about ate it a few times from hitting a gravel pit too fast. Kinda sucks when a moto goes by and ya start suckin in fumes to. All in all I think it's a great trail, but you won't be able to get goin to fast because of the loose gravel. You can check out more information/markers/pictures at http://www.shhlacker.com/path.php?pathid=33&ttype=1

  
reviewed by john.fennell on May 22, 2006

Concur with a reviewer below. Jacks is real torn up and getting worse. I may not hit it again until winter. The gravel traps are speed killers and you can't avoid them because of the thin trail width.

Similar Trail: Not a great down hill, but Rampart Resovoir.

  
reviewed by bonkedagain on May 22, 2006

I can't argue with the previous assessment. I usually only ride this trail in the winter when the throttle-twisters are doing other things. It then has a chance to settle and pack down a bit. What I usually do, instead of the recommended route, is ride up Buckhorn, take a left and continue on up Cpt Jack's toward Jone's Park. The Bear Creek portion of Jone's kinda sucks for uphill, so if I just want a short ride I turn around where the trail drops down into the valley and ride back the way I came up. I don't recommend riding down Buckhorn on the weekends. It is often crowded with uphill riders, and a few will make nasty comments about you riding the "wrong way". That said, Buckhorn is pretty fun to ride down, especially when Cpt Jacks is dry and loose. Btw, riding up into Jone's after the first snow is pretty cool (no pun intended). You can usually still get decent traction since the snow typically doesn't stick to the trail (much), and the scenery is great. The bottom line with the Cheyenne Canyon trails is most have loose decomposing granite all over them which can get tiresome. If you are tired of it then you need to go somewhere else, like Monument, Rampart Reservoir, Buffalo Creek, etc.

Similar Trail: Jone's Park

  
reviewed by Bombardier on May 20, 2006

So I decided to ride the famous Captain Jack's trail..... And it is HIGHLY overrated. The motos have torn the trail to shreds, at times spinning their tires to create little potholes that have turned into gravel-traps. This trail is now skid-city. Maintaining any kind of traction is nearly impossible, with the exception being the section of the trail nearly at the end, near Tunnel #1 on Gold Camp Rd. It is also nearly impossible to keep any kind of flow going, due to the constant stops needed to let motos pass by.

Similar Trail: Pass up this trail, and hit the Buckhorn cut-off trail or Seven-Bridges... Motos & horses are not allowed on them.

  
reviewed by westfamily60 on April 16, 2006

This is a great ride overall. I did Buckhorn first for the complete combo. I have the same concerns as all the other reviews, watch out for motorcycles and the downhill is really loose. I crashed once on the North side of Mary's Peak because the front wheel got sidways in the loose gravel. On the East side a Motorcycle about took me out. Take care with the switch backs at the top of Buckhorn.

Similar Trail: Palmer Trail

  
reviewed by c3667 on August 7, 2005

High drive was closed and we rode past the bottom entrance, we entered through a back trail of the park and rode it for a bout a mile . this trial was pretty amaizing, lots of tight trees and great single track. Time ran out and we had to head back but I will head back here again!!!

  
reviewed by warrubi on July 15, 2005

What groundrush said. The last time I rode this trail it was more of a chore. The dirt bikes are tearing it up.

  
reviewed by carbon_bars on June 29, 2005

rode up there and the trail is getting pretty soft from all the rain and the dirt bikes. so watch your descent some of the tight switch backs are getting really loose. but still a good ride!!

  
reviewed by carbon_bars on June 17, 2005

ok down hill the climb is worth the descent. keep a eye out for dirtbikes!! some good fast sections where you can really let go and get some speed.

  
reviewed by groundrush on June 14, 2005

This could be one of the better short downhill trails in the area. However, the increasing amounts of loose gravel make it a chore to ride. Is almost not worth the ride up.

  
reviewed by JohnsXCbike on April 12, 2005

Very fun close-to-town trail. Much loose gravel du to motorcycles. Reccomended at least 2.0 tires to make the ride less sketchy. Nice short after work ride.edited 11/14/2008

* Review edited 11/14/2008

  
reviewed by etodd on June 11, 2004

Jacks is one of the premiere trails in Colorado Springs. Combine it by starting up Buckhorn then wind down to the Chutes for a complete workout. The only complaint I have is with all the traffic Jacks gets, it ends up being loose with all the gravel making it hard to smoke down it. Also be sure to watch out for motorcycles coming up the trail!

Similar Trail: Chutes, Pipeline

  
reviewed by docdee on May 27, 2004

Rode this many times. Great to combine with Buckhorn. From parking lot at start of High drive go up Gold camp to second single track on right. No sign at second. Long ride and many cut offs. Runs in to Captain Jacks from top side.

Similar Trail: Palmer trail

  
reviewed by tankervet on May 12, 2004

Me and my buddy just rode this trail and its great. The first mile uphill is no fun but the downhill is great. Very fast and cool banked turns. Just watch out for the loose gravel in some spots.

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