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St Mary's Falls Mountain Bike Trail
Colorado Springs, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
4 trail reviews |
|
Status: |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 15 miles | Global Rank: 1684 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Out & Back |
| Ridden: 11 | Wishlist: 4 |
Directions:
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Description: This is the most brutal climb in the area. The first couple miles are on a tough grade through loose gravel, but nothing unbearable. Then it gets really steep. Then it gets steeper, still on the wretched gravel. Then come the switchbacks. Every time you think you're all the way up, you come around a bend or another false summit that tells you otherwise. But the scenery's good and the downhill is a lot of fun, although most don't see it as worth the climb. I was going to do this as an uphill leg for the Jones Park or Pipeline downhills, but by the time I got to the top, I was too whipped to attack them, so I simply turned around and came back down St Marys Falls. It took me less than three hours, but it was an excruciating three hours. Recommended for masochists only.
Description: This is the most brutal climb in the area. The first couple miles are on a tough grade through loose gravel, but nothing unbearable. Then it gets really steep. Then it gets steeper, still on the wretched gravel. Then come the switchbacks. Every time you think you're all the way up, you come around a bend or another false summit that tells you otherwise. But the scenery's good and the downhill is a lot of fun, although most don't see it as worth the climb. I was going to do this as an uphill leg for the Jones Park or Pipeline downhills, but by the time I got to the top, I was too whipped to attack them, so I simply turned around and came back down St Marys Falls. It took me less than three hours, but it was an excruciating three hours. Recommended for masochists only.
added on March 21, 2008 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Jones Downhill in Colorado Springs
Buckhorn Loop in Colorado Springs
Palmer Trail / Section 16 in Colorado Springs
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by shane_anthony77 on May 14, 2009
I rode this trail a couple years ago with a buddy and WHOA was that a mistake! We ended up riding it all the way to the top and linking it in with Jones Park Downhill. I love Jones Park, but that day all that I wanted was to get down the trail and to my car. It is the toughest uphill that I have ever done and to all those who say that you have to earn your uphill, well lets say I have paid for a few years in advance.
reviewed by JohnsXCbike on November 14, 2008
Ah yes the steep wreched gravel. Both times I did this ride I didn't come back down the same way, I thought it would be to steep and sketchy to enjoy. If you keep going up you'll hit more singletrack and fire roads/jeep trails, and can come back down gold cramp road for an easy ride down, but you still have quite a bit more climbing past the falls until you get to some downhill, but its all very doable compared to whats before the falls. Another route is to take this trail up and over Mt Rose with some awesome views from the top. You'll likely be carrying your bike at least half the time up rosa. You may want a topo map of the area, it got confusing in a few spots up there.* Review edited 2/23/2009* Review edited 2/23/2009
* Review edited 2/23/2009
reviewed by goldjack on August 27, 2008
I tried this last november and crashed about 2 miles in. messed up my back and tore my good sweats. (theres a redneck saying) I gave it another go in june2008 with out research. WTF I hated this trail yeah i walked a lot. bike on shoulder was a good work out. I finally made it to the lower section of the falls. Started up the switch backs and finally gave up when i had to climb over the boulders in the trail. dont even try it unless your in very good shape. i wasn't! took my 47 yr old body 3 days to recover. Still havent made it to the top of the falls but i will in 2009.
Similar Trail: lizard head
reviewed by bonkedagain on June 23, 2008
I have ridden this quite a few times. It is definitely a brutal climb, and between the steep and the loose granite you should expect to walk at least a half mile or more where the trail goes past the waterfall, and there is another steep and rocky section further up that will also get you out of the saddle. But, if you pace yourself it isn't too bad, and for riding to the top of Jones Park (Frosty Park, actually) I would much rather go up this way than ride around Gold Camp Road. I definitely recommend against riding down this trail since it suffers from serious erosion (don't make it worse) and with all the loose granite you have high risk of doing a face-plant.
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