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Hartman Rocks Mountain Bike Trail
Gunnison, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
16 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 4/11/12 by GimmeAraise |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 20 miles | Global Rank: #557 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 99 | Wishlist: 48 |
| Avg. Speed: 4.94 mph | Avg. Time: 12hr 45min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +5,483/-5,041 ft (based on partial GPS data) |
Directions
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Description: Cruising back to the Springs from Telluride we decided we wanted to check out the biking in Crested Butte. Unfortunately our Falcon Guide was back at home so we decided to snoop around the local bike shops in Gunnison to see what was happening. After some looking and talking we found out the place to be is Hartman Rocks. We purchased a map (best decision we made that day) and headed to the trailhead. We parked at the bottom of the mesa and started to climb. In hindsight the road might have been the best way to get up but we decided to take a b-line right up the side. After walking our bikes up the steep slickrock sections we finally got a view of the area. Trails and roads stretched everywhere and it reminded us of Palmer Park in the Springs or even Moab to a degree. Many trails are gradual climbs through the sage on sandy to hard- packed ground and often intersect the rock formations for some nice technical challenges. This place is huge, we barely scratched the surface before it was time to go back. Hartman Rocks is also home to Rage in the Sage bike race, a brutal race to be sure due to the exposed conditions and up and down nature of the terrain. Be sure to bring a map, this place is confusing as gank for first-timers.
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Description: Cruising back to the Springs from Telluride we decided we wanted to check out the biking in Crested Butte. Unfortunately our Falcon Guide was back at home so we decided to snoop around the local bike shops in Gunnison to see what was happening. After some looking and talking we found out the place to be is Hartman Rocks. We purchased a map (best decision we made that day) and headed to the trailhead. We parked at the bottom of the mesa and started to climb. In hindsight the road might have been the best way to get up but we decided to take a b-line right up the side. After walking our bikes up the steep slickrock sections we finally got a view of the area. Trails and roads stretched everywhere and it reminded us of Palmer Park in the Springs or even Moab to a degree. Many trails are gradual climbs through the sage on sandy to hard- packed ground and often intersect the rock formations for some nice technical challenges. This place is huge, we barely scratched the surface before it was time to go back. Hartman Rocks is also home to Rage in the Sage bike race, a brutal race to be sure due to the exposed conditions and up and down nature of the terrain. Be sure to bring a map, this place is confusing as gank for first-timers.
added on June 1, 2004 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Buffalo Creek in Pine
18 Road Trails in Fruita
Lair O' The Bear/Bear Creek Trail in Morrison
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by dzpd23 on April 10, 2012
Can't wait to come back and ride more of it.
Similar Trail: Road 18 kind of...
reviewed by Agingrider on February 9, 2012
While Moab and Crested Butte have their awe-inspiring scenery and backcountry allure, this maze of rolling singletrack remains my favorite trail system anywhere. The beauty is that you can jump in anywhere and roll for hours without seeing anyone. One trail name, Sea of Sage, best captures the undulating terrain that has been tricked out by some of the best trailbuilders in the country including local Dave Wiens. It's a hidden gem that keeps getting more polished every year.
Similar Trail: Moab, Fruita, the Butte.
reviewed by bonkedagain on September 22, 2011
Well worth a visit if you enjoy cranking up and down open hillsides in the sage country. When we did this ride they were out of maps so we just pedaled around. Ended up getting enough good advice from locals on the trail to have a good day, but a map would have made life easier. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush or super technical riding you can find a little bit here, but Hartman is mostly miles and miles of flowy singletrack with a few technical obstacles thrown in.
* Review edited 9/22/2011
Similar Trail: Sovereign
reviewed by davefourtwenty on August 30, 2011
Love this area and it is probably the best technical riding you will find in and around Gunnision. Not sure how this trail gets a blue rating unless the people reviewing it don't do the awesome technical sections Hartman has to offer. I would put the technical level of the trails on this ride right next to Porcupine Rim (Moab). Of course, there are so many trails in the area you don't have to ride the difficult ones so this set of trails really offers something for riders of all abilities. If you know what you're doing and you want some excitement I would recommend V-Drop, Freefall, and Technical Becks.
Similar Trail: Porcupine Rim, Dakota Ridge
reviewed by JackPompanoBeach on September 6, 2010
These trails are killer! Desert single track like Luge for the riders who want it easy, and crazy technical stuff like V Drop and Freefall for those who don't. There is a lot of stuff in between. A map helps A LOT!! Got a free one at local book store downtown. Either way there is some climbing but they make it easy. Surface is a lot of tiny round rocks, sort of like riding on ball bearings at times! Excellent trails, great scenery and very courteous riders
Similar Trail: This is Bootlegger on Steroids, the Vegas Red Rock desert ST at some, and maybe a touch of Gooseberry thrown in with the rock hopping required.
reviewed by alfonzo97 on October 2, 2009
Having moved to Gunny in Jan. 2009 I have had the wonderful first-hand experience (multiple times) to get out in my first summer here and experience the awesomeness of Hartman's Rocks! This place has a variety of technical and easier trails. Something for every type of rider! A must ride if you are in the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley!
Similar Trail: anything in Crested Butte!
reviewed by el_cap on August 8, 2009
Rode just 1 day in June. There are tons of trails but its loose rock so climbing is hard. There is also zero shade as there are really no trees which made it too hot. It is steep on the front side but you can drive up the big hill to the back and get flatter trails. Don't know what all the fuss is about.
reviewed by mtbikerchick on August 4, 2009
Stopped there on the way back from CB this past weekend--what a riot! Having a good ride description helps! Up Jacks, over and down Rocky Ridge somewhere in there hit Middle Luge, Buddy Bear and Josie's... a little bit of everything! Awesome. Will definitely be back. Perfect intermediate terrain.
Similar Trail: 18 Road, Fruita Lunch Loop/Tabeguache, Grand Junction Loma, Colorado
reviewed by courtking515 on November 9, 2008
Hartman Rocks is an epic place to ride. I went to school at Western State for a while and rode the trails as much as I could. All kinds of trails at many different levels, it can be mad extreme and technical. So many things to do there, one of my all time favorite places to be. In one word: GO!
* Review edited 11/9/2008
reviewed by mnesline16 on August 28, 2008
Sick trail, has something for everyone and worth checking out. Trails everywhere, and easy to get lost. Make sure to pick up a map and/or talk to someone at shop in Gunnison or on the trail. Has good flowy singletrack, slickrock sections reminiscent of Moab, and so much more. I only rode 3 times and barely scratched the surface.
reviewed by skibum on October 6, 2007
This was a 3 hour drive from C Springs and worth every minute. Start with a killer climb and follow it up with lots of big, swoopy singletrack interspersed with bits of technical rock. Stop in at one of the bike shops in Gunny to get a map and great advice on how to make the most of your day.
Similar Trail: Anything in Fruita
reviewed by BobinConifer on May 13, 2007
Good call Judd. The parking lot at the bottom is made for parking. The grunt up the first hill is greatly rewarded by single track in virtually every direction. There are well marked trails, great spurs, and some great hidden gems loaded with technical moves and consequences for mistakes. This area can be ridden for a whole week in a row before you have to ride the same ride twice.
Similar Trail: Steers Gulch north of 50
reviewed by schwingletrack on May 22, 2005
We rode out there last year..'04 we were there for 5 days and did about a 1/3 of the trails. Hit the "W" for some breakfast..you'll be able to ride all day.
reviewed by sdelano26 on March 28, 2005
This is also home to the 24 Hours in the Sage race usually held in Sep. With the same format as Moab this race offers a great loop of ~8 miles and incorporates a portion of the Rage course. You are rewarded with a fun downhill back to the start/finish. Hartman Rocks in general is a wonderful place to ride and as everyone has mentioned, offers something for everyone and miles of single track. Ridable before Crested Butte this place offers a good earlier season ride and gets you off the same old trails you have been riding all winter. And if you park down the hill you have the opportunity to ride The Notch, a highly recommended short but fun downhill section worth the climb up you did earlier.
reviewed by mscottcody on September 1, 2004
This is some really nice riding and is not crowded. I rode it on 3 different days and only saw 1 other person each day. Lots of singletrack. Great for riders new to the sport as they can walk over the technical sections. Well marked trails but buy a map for the best way to lay out a loop course. Either ride or drive up the steep dirt road to the top. Then its all lots-o-fun!
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