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Mary's Loop / Horsethief Bench Mountain Bike Trail
Fruita, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
11 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 5/7/09 by david_darling |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 8 miles | Global Rank: 211 |
| Tread: Other | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 155 | Wishlist: 24 |
| Avg. Speed: 5.33 mph | Avg. Time: 2hr 1min |
Directions:
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Description: Suggested route: Start by climbing the jeep road along the rim for 2 miles till you come to a small gate on the left for horsethief. Suggested to hike-a-bike the first time down to the trail. At the bottom of the decent, turn left and ride the loop clockwise. Upon returning to Mary's Loop, ride left to continue on Mary's. At 8 miles, you can return to the parking area using the frontage road or continue left to ride Steve's Trail and a 12.5 mile return on the frontage road. The network offers great fast singletrack, really technical sections and amazing views. A must ride in Fruita.
Description: Suggested route: Start by climbing the jeep road along the rim for 2 miles till you come to a small gate on the left for horsethief. Suggested to hike-a-bike the first time down to the trail. At the bottom of the decent, turn left and ride the loop clockwise. Upon returning to Mary's Loop, ride left to continue on Mary's. At 8 miles, you can return to the parking area using the frontage road or continue left to ride Steve's Trail and a 12.5 mile return on the frontage road. The network offers great fast singletrack, really technical sections and amazing views. A must ride in Fruita.
added on January 12, 2006 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Steve's Loop / Handcuffs in Fruita
Elk Meadow in Evergreen
Monarch Crest Trail in Salida
Mack Ridge in Fruita
NEARBY TRAILS
- Rustlers Loop in Fruita (0 miles away)
- Kokopelli's Trail in Fruita (0.2 miles away)
- Mack Ridge in Fruita (2.2 miles away)
- Rabbit Valley, Trail #2 in Fruita (10.3 miles away)
- Western Rim in Fruita (10.3 miles away)
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by rich67 on May 11, 2009
Simply awesome. Scenery with nice technicals made for an outstanding ride.
reviewed by david_darling on May 7, 2009
Challenging and always fun. Horsethief Bench never fails to deliver a great time. Works well with combining various trails.
Similar Trail: All of Kokopelli Trail System
reviewed by arnolda14 on September 13, 2008
This is a really, really great trail and the views are some of the best of any trail I know. I plan to do this ride every time I visit Fruita (which is hopefully a lot). I gave it a black diamond rating because there are quite a few rocks bigger than 8" (not counting that infamous section that drops from Mary's). But it really feels more like a blue/black so regardless of your skill level, RIDE THIS TRAIL!! You can always walk the tough sections and the views are worth it.
reviewed by barc2703 on August 5, 2008
Great intermediate ride in Fruita, spectacular views, very fun trail, technical challenge but still a fast fun trail.
reviewed by barc2703 on May 19, 2008
Excellent example of what Western Colorado has to offer. A few exposed sections might scare of those with a fear of heights.
* Review edited 5/19/2008
reviewed by skibum on October 10, 2007
This is definitely a Fruita must-do. Much of Mary's is doubletrack, so it can be less interesting, but the singletrack parts are ultra sweet and the whole of Horsethief is fantastic. One of the best combinations of variety, scenery, swoopy fun and technical fun you will ever see.
Similar Trail: Anything in this or the 18 Road areas plus the Tabeguache area in Grand Junction
reviewed by dougsmith on September 23, 2007
I just rode Marys Loop. Most of the trail you could just get in the big ring and fly. There was some technical sections where I hiked a bike because I didn not want to take a tumble and fall into the Colorado river. Great, fast run with good views of the river.
Similar Trail: This is the only trail I rode in Fruita.
reviewed by Lancefan on December 2, 2006
Horsetheif is deffinitly the highlight of this trail, it has some technical spots and the vies from the edge looking in to the Colorado are breathtaking. P.S.: Laast time I rode this trail, I saw someone go down the descent into Horesetheif, it was insane.
reviewed by dauw on October 16, 2006
Good to great trail with excellent views of the Colorado River, and just enough techical to keep you on your toes.
reviewed by bonkedagain on January 14, 2006
R3 suggests hike-a-bike the *first* time you drop in to Horsethief??? I would suggest hike-a-bike *every* time, unless you are Hans Rey or something. Anyway, yup, this is an excellent trail. Also, instead of riding the frontage road back, stay on the top of the ridge and go east to the Moore Fun trail. A good grunt on the way up, with a fun and challenging technical ride on the way down -- way better than riding the road.
Similar Trail: Book Cliffs, Porcupine Rim
reviewed by Rebus on January 13, 2006
One of the trails that everyone I knew said "You HAVE to ride this trail." Every video you see of the Fruita area includes the Horsethief Bench trail drop-in. Mary's offers awesome scenery and great singletrack. Horsethief gives you technical challenges, sweet singletrack, and rock hopping. You also follow along a dried out creekbed that drops you deep in the canyons. What a great trail system!
TRAIL TAGS
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