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Chutes and Ladders Mountain Bike Trail
Fruita, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
22 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 7/27/11 by david_darling |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 7 miles | Global Rank: #Not yet ranked. |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Loop |
| Ridden: 214 | Wishlist: 93 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.59 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 51min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,033/-927 ft | |
 2 trail check-ins |
Description: Whoa! We hit this one on the way back from Moab and it was just what the doctor ordered. Smooth singletrack with very little effort required. The trail gradually makes its way up to the bookcliffs. At the cliffs, you'll see why this trail is called chutes and ladders. A few nice drops and switchbacks and then the very sweet ride back down the hill. The scenery may be sparse but the jumps and twists in the trail make up for it. There are tons of trails here where you would least expect them and they are well worth the trip.
added in 2003 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Colorado Trail / Green Mountain in Deckers
Buffalo Pass To Mountain View Trail in Steamboat Springs
Indian Creek Loop in Denver
Colorado Trail: Searle Pass in Copper
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by david_darling on July 27, 2011
The namesake of this trail is so true. Lots of short STEEP bursts up followed by the most fun and fast and flowing singletrack ripfest in the system. Watch for the Edge Cutoff trail on the left. Ride this sweet little gem up a bit then turn around and rip back to jct with Chutes and back down. So fun.
Similar Trail: Frontside
reviewed by Shanet74 on July 6, 2011
Fun quick ride, that you can tie into others for a longer ride. The climbs are short, but can be tough. Felt like a roller coaster ride. Wish I had more time to do another loop. Thanks to those of you that maintain this trail system...well maintained.
reviewed by stillfat on June 11, 2011
The ladders climb pretty well because the dirt is super tacky. That said, they're still a challenge. A bit on the short side - I would have loved to keep riding similar terrain for at least a couple more miles. The meadow section was really pretty.
reviewed by cmack819 on June 4, 2011
A long subtle climb up Prime Cut leads to a series of ladders and chutes. Many of these ladders are intimidating and difficult. Dig deep, feel the burn and be sure to keep weight on that back tire. Although the steep ascents make you think "What the heck am I thinking" (especially on a Saturday morning if you were out the night before) I encourage you to stick with it, for what goes up, must come down... And the descent makes it all worth it. This is a quick ride that I would recommend to anyone visiting the Grand Valley area. If you aren't feeling the steep hills you will see as you approach Chute and Ladders, cut over to Joe's Ridge to the west, that trail also provides an interesting view and ride along the Bookcliffs.
Similar Trail: Zippety Doo Dah or Tabeguache Trail
reviewed by drlg on September 26, 2010
Over time, my climbing has improved to where I can now do all the climbs on Chutes & Ladders, so my rating of the trail has also improved the fun factor raises when you can clean the entire ride.
Similar Trail: Parts of Zion Curtain (Rabbit Valley) and Palisade Rim (Palisade)
reviewed by kpmeder on September 18, 2010
Good change up after Moab, but still a workout.
Similar Trail: Mima-Porter # 8 Capitol Forest. Olympia, WA
reviewed by grangerkersten on June 6, 2010
Great trail. The ladders are sometimes tough climbs, but the ride back is worth it.
reviewed by shane_anthony77 on June 1, 2009
Great trail!! The ladders are well worth the pay off you get at the end. For sure a no go when WET! I got stuck out there in a hail storm and lets just say it ended up badly. Great dirt otherwise. Very fast at the end with tight singletrack.
* Review edited 6/1/2009
reviewed by RideorDie on May 31, 2009
Great trail with plenty of buff single track. Do not ride when wet!!! turns into giant bog. It dries out quick - after about 1 -3 hours, so just wait it out.
Similar Trail: Kessel Run
reviewed by AK_Dan on October 31, 2008
Very fun. Even the ladders part, some hike-a-bike but all in all the first half of the trail is a fun challenge. Once the Chutes starts the speed begins- rode all the way to the corral and then back across the valley. Enjoyed it so much I did it twice that day.
reviewed by BjohnsonGJ on October 7, 2008
Short and Sweet! Smooth singletrack that flows. The trail gradually makes its way up to the bookcliffs. You will find a couple loose hills. The up and down is great with a couple tight switchbacks. great downhill back to the parking lot - Take Prime Cut for some fast fun through the Junipers
reviewed by steve32300 on September 29, 2008
Chute's and ladder's,,,,,any question's??This trail is really cool if you think about it.I would do this one last or whenever your legs and lungs are firing on all 8.(for me anyway,Im a clydesdale)This trail starts off with a brutal ladder climb that only get's steeper the higher you get.From there,you guessed it,chute's and ladder's until you get to the fun,fast,and furious rush of singletrack back to the lower parking lot.You really gotta give the name of this trail a chance to sink in because I feel that this trail really fit's into the big picture of 18 road,it's like an amusement park on a mountain bike up there and chute's and ladder's is a big part of that family of ride's at 18 road.
reviewed by jpk8888 on September 25, 2008
Honestly, this is my least favorite trail on the 18 Road system. Try Joe's Ridge or Zippity Do Dah, way better trails; faster, bigger drops, more jumps, and all around awesome!
Similar Trail: Joe's Ridge, Zippity Do Dah
reviewed by Beaker on April 8, 2008
The steep ups and downs are more of a hassle than anything but once you get to the downhill it all becomes worth it. A great very non-technical fun fast downhill down smooth as a baby's bottom singletrack.
Similar Trail: Zippety-Do-Da
reviewed by skibum on October 6, 2007
Wow--this one is big-time fun. Lots of fast/flowy singletrack mixed with short technical sections. There's a couple brutal climbs (short, but very steep--enought to put a burn on the quads). Be ready to dodge a few cowpies on the exit.
Similar Trail: Anything in Fruita
reviewed by hp on May 31, 2007
A fun downhill. I did push my bike up much of the "Ladders" part but the downhill made up for that. Lots of work but great rewards. If you want something a little easier on the legs. Take the Vegetarian loop until it comes to the Chutes and ladders junction and then take some of the fun stuff back to the lot.
* Review edited 5/31/2007
reviewed by dauw on March 15, 2007
I really enjoyed this trail. Up and down and up and down, and then a screaming open run to the bottom and back to the lot. Bar hugging is needed on a climb or two.
Similar Trail: Zippety Doo Daa
reviewed by Rebus on January 29, 2007
I don't care what anyone else says, bring your A-game to this trail. I thought I could handle it, and it embarrassed me. This trail needs a "No Hardtails" sign at the beginning because it really smacks you around. You need to be on your game and have a bike that is up-to-snuff. I wasn't and didn't and paid the price. We rode clockwise, and coming down the switchbacks was very tough for me. I didn't have a good time.
* Review edited 1/29/2007
reviewed by Lancefan on December 1, 2006
The climb up and the ride back down are great, the middle portion isn't as special but it's still great. My favorite part of this trail is the ride back. It is just amazing.
* Review edited 4/30/2007
reviewed by Siberian on May 31, 2005
The chutes and ladders part of this trail aren't really anything special. This trail really shines once you get away from the Book Cliffs out into the pastures - where the singletrack narrows and the speed increases. Since you can see for miles, you only have to watch out for the cows! If you go past the corral, hang a left up the doubletrack, you can pick up the singletrack a couple miles up on your left once again. This turns the trail into a big figure 8 and this leg of the trail (some call it Randy Superfly) is another blazing fast singletrack, which takes you all the way back to the lower parking lot! If it rained recently, the cows could ruin your fun by tearing the c*** out of the trail. Otherwise, super fast trail!
Similar Trail: Zippety Do Dah
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