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Palisade Rim Mountain Bike Trail
Palisade, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
5 trail reviews |
|
Status: updated 6/5/10 by lostcause |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 8 miles | Global Rank: #608 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 6 | Wishlist: 7 |
| Avg. Speed: 3.77 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 58min |
Directions:
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Description: This became my favorite trail this summer, as it's a fun technical challenge with some great views, and is uncrowded but easy to get to. When I ride this solo or carpool, I ride up Rapid Creek Road, but if I'm riding with someone else who drove there, we shuttle up Rapid Creek Road to the Rapid Creek Trailhead.
From Rapid Creek Trailhead, proceed up the two-track for a bit less than a mile. As soon as the two-track crosses Rapid Creek, watch for a red gate accessing the start of the singletrack. Follow the singletrack across two more private dirt roads, and cross Cottonwood Creek. Here is where the fun begins!
From here, the trail will switch back and forth as it climbs toward the ridgetop and bobs part way back down the other side. Eventually, after winding along the mountainside for a exciting few miles, the trail descends to an abandoned coal mine at the top of a box canyon.
From here, follow another two-track south for a few miles till you drop into a steep box canyon with a washed out culvert. You'll have to carry your bike out of the bottom of the canyon and across a ruined fence to resume riding. After two short, steep grinds out of narrow canyons, you'll pop back out on the top of the rim and come to an intersection with another trail. Check out the rock formations ahead of you here, and you'll find numerous animal pictographs adorning the sandstone walls. Don't mess with them!
At this point, if you're still feeling spunky, take the south fork. It's an out-and-backup to the next rim up, and south a few miles to a great overlook on the valley. The rock formations here are a blast for rock hopping, with tons of overhang caves and lemon squeezers to play in.
If you're not feeling spunky or are short on time, take the west fork, and the downhill fun begins! For a mile or two, enjoy the winding, rock hopping descent, and get ready for the steep at the end. The trail ends after winding around a very dangerous aquaduct at a parking area about half a mile south of the start.
Description: This became my favorite trail this summer, as it's a fun technical challenge with some great views, and is uncrowded but easy to get to. When I ride this solo or carpool, I ride up Rapid Creek Road, but if I'm riding with someone else who drove there, we shuttle up Rapid Creek Road to the Rapid Creek Trailhead.
From Rapid Creek Trailhead, proceed up the two-track for a bit less than a mile. As soon as the two-track crosses Rapid Creek, watch for a red gate accessing the start of the singletrack. Follow the singletrack across two more private dirt roads, and cross Cottonwood Creek. Here is where the fun begins!
From here, the trail will switch back and forth as it climbs toward the ridgetop and bobs part way back down the other side. Eventually, after winding along the mountainside for a exciting few miles, the trail descends to an abandoned coal mine at the top of a box canyon.
From here, follow another two-track south for a few miles till you drop into a steep box canyon with a washed out culvert. You'll have to carry your bike out of the bottom of the canyon and across a ruined fence to resume riding. After two short, steep grinds out of narrow canyons, you'll pop back out on the top of the rim and come to an intersection with another trail. Check out the rock formations ahead of you here, and you'll find numerous animal pictographs adorning the sandstone walls. Don't mess with them!
At this point, if you're still feeling spunky, take the south fork. It's an out-and-backup to the next rim up, and south a few miles to a great overlook on the valley. The rock formations here are a blast for rock hopping, with tons of overhang caves and lemon squeezers to play in.
If you're not feeling spunky or are short on time, take the west fork, and the downhill fun begins! For a mile or two, enjoy the winding, rock hopping descent, and get ready for the steep at the end. The trail ends after winding around a very dangerous aquaduct at a parking area about half a mile south of the start.
added on November 4, 2009 by 
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West Bench Trail in Grand Junction
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by William_Monroe on November 23, 2011
The rebuild of the lower parts of the Palisade Rim Trail are complete, allowing skilled riders to climb the trail on the bike from the trailhead on the banks of the Colorado River. This makes the ride up Rapid Creek Road unnecessary, and allows for a lollipop loop or out and back on 100% singletrack. The lower loop to the pictographs takes about an hour, and is best enjoyed as a clockwise lollipop, with the descent in the techy stuff along the rim. The upper bench is still accessible with a bit of hike-a-bike, but this, too, is scheduled for a rebuild to make it sustainable and rideable in both directions. Still my favorite ride in the valley.
Similar Trail: Holy Cross
reviewed by Knobby-Pal on September 27, 2010
Techy in spots and flowy in spots, with a good couple of climbing sections. Starting from Rapid Creek, bridging to Cottonwood Creek, then heading South is a nice way to loop this. Make sure you head up to the higher bench - an out and back to the Rim that provides a panorama to the West. The descent back down to the Colo. River from this general high-point is great. In the central meadow area, there are several inner loop options to catch. Trail information is available at Rapid Creek Cycles in Palisade ( www.rapidcreekcycles.com ) COPMOBA and BLM are in the process of rerouting some of this trail, and a large expansion that will add several miles of trail on the upper bench. Keep your eyes on this trail for upcoming new singletrack in Palisade
Similar Trail: Stagecoach Butterknife, Gunny Loop, Eagles/HolyCross in Lunch Loop area
reviewed by drlg on September 25, 2010
Great trail to mix things up if you're burnt out on Tabegauche, Kokopelli, and 18 Road. Very different scenery than the other trails in the Valley. Tight singletrack with several pretty technical spots. A bit of doubletrack, poor trail marking, and a couple of hike-a-bike gulley sections keep it from being rated a 5.
Similar Trail: Zion Curtain (Rabbit Valley)
reviewed by michaelg81504 on March 8, 2010
Great trail that I have ridden to get away from it all
Similar Trail: Holy cross
reviewed by William_Monroe on November 6, 2009
Love It!
Similar Trail: Moore Fun, Holy Cross, Stagecoach
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