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Centennial Cone Park Mountain Bike Trail
Idaho Springs, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
23 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 3/28/11 by jonathanpierce |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 13 miles | Global Rank: #546 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 130 | Wishlist: 62 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.4 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 12min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +5,479/-3,054 ft |
Directions:
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Description: This Jefferson County Open Space Park is only abot 10 miles from Idaho Springs.The remains of many ranches and homesteds are scatterd across this Open Space Park. When completed the main loop will be about 13 miles. The single track takes you high up on the ridges above Clear Creek and offers incredible views. This is a wonderful ride!! The singletrack is smooth, the switchbacks are rideable. The climbs are easy and not all at once.From the parking lot take Travois Trail 8.7 miles to the north parking lot . Follow doubletrack to the left back to your car.
Description: This Jefferson County Open Space Park is only abot 10 miles from Idaho Springs.The remains of many ranches and homesteds are scatterd across this Open Space Park. When completed the main loop will be about 13 miles. The single track takes you high up on the ridges above Clear Creek and offers incredible views. This is a wonderful ride!! The singletrack is smooth, the switchbacks are rideable. The climbs are easy and not all at once.From the parking lot take Travois Trail 8.7 miles to the north parking lot . Follow doubletrack to the left back to your car.
added on July 19, 2006 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Kessel Run in Fruita
Mary's Loop / Horsethief Bench in Fruita
Zippety Do Dah in Fruita
Lunch Loop / Tabeguache in Grand Junction
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by mattics on August 28, 2011
What a great ride, like others have said, it's not too technical, but it has some great flowing singletrack, nice views and good uphills too. I rode it clockwise, although it seems like folks are split on which way is better. I feel like clockwise is better because, 1) You get the boring double track section done first, 2) The flowing downhill singletrack goes on and on and on forever going that direction, and 3) You do the toughest climb under tree cover, which keeps you cooler. Yes the climbing is slightly harder going CW, but I think the flow of the ride is much more fun in that direction. I will definitely be repeating this ride.
reviewed by ephilli2 on August 4, 2011
Great ride! Nothing too technical. Uphills are manageable, downhills are fun. Trails are generally pretty smooth. Fantastic views!!
reviewed by hubschrauber on July 14, 2011
In spite of what the map on this site shows, the main loop is only about 16 miles, not 30. Starting from Mayhem Gulch, going around the loop clockwise, you climb for about 4 miles joining the double track from the west parking lot at about 2.5 miles in. The next 6 miles is mostly down, with one 1/2 mile climb as you approach the north trailhead, and another 1 mile climb shortly after the first bridge across Elk Creek. The second short climb ends at roughly the half-way point with a technical section followed by a few quick switchbacks and then a fun blast down to the second bridge across Elk Creek. Over the next two miles you climb about 1500' (the hardest climb going clockwise) and then it's mostly down again for the remaining 4.5 miles back to the Mayhem Gulch parking lot. Some of the ride is in the trees, but much of the trail offers no protection from the sun, so don't forget the sunblock, bring plenty of water, and avoid riding mid-day during the summer. Some of the scenery is camera-worthy, but most of what you'll see is typical of Colorado mountains and mountain meadows. Riding counter-clockwise would include one faster shorter downhill with longer climbs, and put your bail-out opportunities later in the ride (if you're with someone who is willing to drive around and get you at a different trailhead.) It's nice to have a trail close to Denver where, at least on weekends when hikers and bikers alternate days, you can ride without so many stops to let those on foot pass by.
reviewed by djlarroc on July 5, 2011
Started this trail from the West parking lot (off Douglass Mtn rd). Rode down the Elk Ridge trail to where it meets with Travois trail, and took the Travois trail. So we rode this trail counter clockwise. Starts off on a fun descent, and then some climbs. Not very technical at all, but you ride along the skirt and there are some awesome/scary views. Ran into some other bikers, and there is room to pass (dismount), but should be careful. Lot's of blind corners. Long trail, so bring plenty of water. IMO, riding counter clockwise seems like a better loop. You get the harder cilmb out of the way, and you can ride the double track down and get a nice cool off.
* Review edited 7/5/2011
reviewed by maddslacker on March 14, 2011
This trail, if done from the Hwy 6 trailhead, has a steep hardpack climb to get your heart pumping. After that it circumnavigates the mountian with some climbing and descending, but not a ton of either. There are exactly 2 technical sections, both man-made stair steps. The rest is fast flowing singletrack. Both directions are fun, but I tend to prefer clockwise.
Similar Trail: Buffalo Creek
reviewed by kkilton on November 23, 2010
Epic! Only 2 places that were technical. A couple of pucker places riding along the hillside to a huge drop! This is a long trail! I started from Mayhem Gulch - GPS said only 15.5 miles. The trail goes down into a 'bowl' so you will have a good long climb back out of it at the end.
Similar Trail: None
reviewed by bstat on October 2, 2010
Started at the Centennial Cone Road lot and went clockwise. What an enjoyable ride! The terrain variety is incredible - you switch from open meadows to tight singletrack to woods to open exposed areas back to woods then to...you get the idea. Busy on weekends and there are some blind corners so keep your speed in check. If you want a long distance cruising ride with some nice climbs to get the 'ol heart pumping, this is it. If you want a gonzo tech ride, then pass.
Similar Trail: Unique to the Front Range
reviewed by CBrown on September 9, 2010
What a gteat trail! Nothing too technical, lots of climbing at a sustained level and really cool views of Clear Creek Canyon. I would say ride this clockwise for optimal enjoyment. I rode on a Thurs morning and never saw another soul.
* Review edited 9/9/2010
Similar Trail: Bergen Peak, Chimney Gulch>Apex
reviewed by COGator00 on August 26, 2010
Up and down, smooth and flowing trail. Great views and not technical or overly phys. demanding. VERY CROWDED (on a Sunday), many large groups! Two parking options with Mayhem Gulch having the most spots available; this option makes the ride more difficult because of the added length/initial climb. Try to ride this during the week for a more enjoyable experience!
reviewed by jbersch on June 25, 2010
Very smooth, tight singletrack on relatively flat terrain. No technical sections except a handful of switchbacks and couple of rocky steps. What makes this ride pretty sweet is that the scenery is awesome and the ride is long.
reviewed by CR-MTBClimber on August 15, 2009
I always get 2700+ vertical gain when I start at the Mayhelm Gulch trailhead off of HWY 6. Large parking lot but it will overflow after 8 am on the wknds. BTW - Trail use for "MTBer's only" allowed on even weekend days, the odd days are hiker only! Great trail, very fast, a couple of steep technical sections but gets an intermediate from me.* Review edited 8/15/2009
* Review edited 10/17/2009
reviewed by sspragu3 on August 5, 2009
Good trail. A more remote feel than most open space parks. Regarding what direction to go, clockwise gets the double track out of the way but leaves more climbing at the end.
reviewed by kuala_tahan on July 13, 2009
Strictly in terms of singletrack, this is an amazing trail. Majority of the trail is tight, long, smooth, flowing singletrack, some of the most fun I've ever ridden. Rode the trail clockwise and it was great, can absolutely rip. A bunch of climbing, but not too bad as it tends to be gradual, nothing super steep. Trail isn't even remotely technical, it's all just smooth singletrack with a couple fire-road type deals. Fairly crowded, so be careful. Also, a schedule for weekend use - even weekend days are for bikers, odd weekend days are for hikers, so keep that in mind. Highly recommend this trail if you're looking for fast, smooth singletrack and no technical riding.
* Review edited 7/13/2009
Similar Trail: Nelson Loop at Hall Ranch
reviewed by stillfat on December 1, 2008
A great singletrack alternative for those shell-shocked from all the technical madness of most Front Range trails. I've tried both ways and although kind of a tough call, I think clockwise is better. This could just be because it puts the doubletrack connector at the beginning of the ride and out of the way rather than at the end. The fun thing to do is to ride mid-week at like 10am and just bomb it, not having to worry about crashing into anyone head-on, which is a real possibility on weekends. On weekends, give a shout out going around blind corners - do yourself and the rest of us a favor. I haven't tried climbing Mayhem from Route 6 yet, but I think I will next time. 10,000 idiots in Subarus at the trailhead can't be wrong...
Similar Trail: Nothing similar I know of in Front Range.
reviewed by jkovaly on October 20, 2008
This is some great singletrack ! The trail is very smooth, basically groomed with almost no technical sections other than a few tight switchbacks. That said, the aerobic level is very high, be ready to really huff it up some steep climbs and be careful on those downhills ! Overall a great trail for getting into shape without fighting a lot of rocks or loose sand. The trail is bi-directional so be careful, almost knocked into some other riders around a blind corner or two. The trail usage alternates between hikers and bikers although this loop is really built for MTB'rs more than anything. They should make this trail uni-directional and just alternate the direction, it would be safer and everyone could share it without worrying about which day it was...
* Review edited 10/20/2008
reviewed by haupt on September 22, 2008
This ride is truly epic. Amazing views coupled with great terrain = fun ride.
reviewed by Jurassic on July 21, 2008
Ride this trail CLOCKWISE. There's some great Singletrack sections on the Travois Trail that are best riden going downhill. The Elk Trail is Doubletrack/Fireroad that passes through some pretty sandy areas.
Similar Trail: This trail resembles NOTHING similar to the Buffalo Creek Area.
reviewed by yellowdman on June 22, 2008
I rode this trail starting from the lower lot and riding the trail counter clockwise. It was awesome. It has some good distance not to steep climbs, a couple of technical sections, some tight switchbacks and some fun downhill sections. I would have to rate it a geen/blue. It's around a 13 mile loop
reviewed by Kranney on October 12, 2007
We started from the new parking lot off of 6, I believe it is the Mayhem Creek trailhead. Made for a nice 17 mile loop with a downhill finish.
Similar Trail: Buffalo Creek
reviewed by skibum on October 6, 2007
What this trail lacks in technical interest, it makes up for in scenery as much of the time you are perched above a precipitous drop to Clear Creek Canyon a thousand feet below. Great atmosphere for a ride. There's also an extended climb with many tight switchbacks that will challenge most riders.
* Review edited 7/20/2008
reviewed by arnolda14 on June 5, 2007
I thought the tread was a little loose - not horrible but kind of disappointing. There's nothing technical about this trail but it's a good physical challenge on account of its length. This would be a good pick for a roadie who wants to check out a mtn. ride. Scenery-wise, this is a nice area, though not really postcard material. This is right near the gambling towns so watch out for drunk drivers on your way home. There are designated biker/hiker days so check out the schedule before you go.
reviewed by gravitysesh on July 20, 2006
This trail kicked my a$$! I am not in the best of shape, but by the time I reached the easement through the private property, I was cramping from fatigue and dehydration. Other than that, it was a lot of fun. Not much for technical riding, but in the downhill sections, you can really get moving. We went in the morning when it was cool- I couldn't imagine doing this in the heat of the day though! I loved this ride and will continue to try to get into shape so I can enjoy the beautiful scenery instead of trying to keep from barfing a lung. PS- It took us 2 hrs and 40 minutes, but we had to stop for a while until a rattlesnake got off the path. Keep your eyes and ears open for them... he has a bunch of buddies up there I'm sure!
reviewed by lostcause on July 19, 2006
Jefferson County has implimented an alternating use schedule here to seperate hikers and bikers on the weekends.Bikers even # days, Hikers odd #days
Similar Trail: Buffalo Creek
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