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Stratton Open Space/ The Chutes Mountain Bike Trail
Colorado Springs, Colorado
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
23 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 4/9/11 by SWAD44 |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 5 miles | Global Rank: #772 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Network |
| Ridden: 129 | Wishlist: 47 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.38 mph | Avg. Time: 0hr 59min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,143/-1,134 ft (based on partial GPS data) |
Directions:
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Description: Trails in the open space are well marked and are classified for difficulty. The trails here go through the fields and up around two small reserviors. At the top of the open space is a trail called The Chutes. This trail is an out and back and climbs about 600 feet over a couple of miles to Gold Camp Road. Turn around at the top here for a fast and fun ride down. The trail is banked and built for speed. Be careful of other bikers or hikers coming up the trail. The Chutes, although short, is one of the best trails in town.
Description: Trails in the open space are well marked and are classified for difficulty. The trails here go through the fields and up around two small reserviors. At the top of the open space is a trail called The Chutes. This trail is an out and back and climbs about 600 feet over a couple of miles to Gold Camp Road. Turn around at the top here for a fast and fun ride down. The trail is banked and built for speed. Be careful of other bikers or hikers coming up the trail. The Chutes, although short, is one of the best trails in town.
added in 2003 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Colorado Trail / Kenosha To Breckenridge in Breckenridge
Zippety Do Dah in Fruita
Kessel Run in Fruita
Barr Trail (pikes Peak) in Manitou Springs
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by Peteman7 on July 16, 2011
THE BEST TRAIL IN THE SPRINGS!!! love the workout coming to the top and then an AWESOME downhill, all smiles!
Similar Trail: White Ranch park
reviewed by jmr4400 on June 9, 2011
Awesome trail. It would be awesomer if hikers wouldn't bring packs of dogs with them. The first time, we were a little lost because of crossing trails and some of the signs were not accurate. I believe Upper Meadows trail is what we tried to stay on but somehow ended up on another trail. Other than this it was an awesome ride with some good climbs and fun downhill’s. Just gotta watch out for hikers and pets.
reviewed by SWAD44 on April 10, 2011
From the Parking lot at the bottom of Stratton Open Space, it'll be a long climb to the top of the open space where you'll find a couple of reservoirs. The chutes officially begin there and don't end until the end of a long uphill where you'll find gold camp road. Turn around and fly down the mountain. The banked curves allow for higher speeds. If looking for a quick fun ride, ask a buddy for a shuttle to the top via gold camp road. I wouldn't recommend skipping the workout but people do it anyway. There is a fair amount of loose gravel that accumulates in the center of the trail, which is really the only negative about it.
* Review edited 4/10/2011
reviewed by zr140th on March 31, 2011
I'm right there with Buddah...smiles all the way down. Rode back up and did it again it was so much fun. The actual Chutes trail is shorter than I would have liked but the content keeps you happy. Overall the Stratton Open Space is a nice singletrack area, nothing too technical or crazy. Chamberlain trail is a nice way up. Makes for a great after-work riding area; you can loop the trails in there for a decent workout. One other nice aspect is that it links up with Gold Camp Rd and so it's a great place to start and end a decent ride that combines the Open Space, Buckhorn, Jack's, and whatever else you can throw in. Trails are very well marked so it's hard to get lost there. Be careful and watch out for dirt-bikers, hikers/runners, and folks riding UP the Chutes. Give a shout before one of those blind corners...you'll be moving pretty quick with a big fat grin on your grill housing.
Similar Trail: Mt. Buckhorn, Capt. Jack's
reviewed by BUDDAH on March 8, 2011
been trying to ride this trail since I moved out here 2 years ago. finally got a chance verdict= kool-aid smile all the way down! need I say more, rode it on Sunday with a friend of mine, it was nice and tacky from the last snow we had. Should be like that a few days after todays storm. threre was nothing loose about it even in the dry spots. RIDE IT ATLEAST ONCE!!! @ zr140th my buddy whi rides in front of me staps on a mini cow bell to the under side of his saddle and I use small bells to warn people..
* Review edited 3/31/2011
reviewed by 4riders on October 18, 2010
I did the Chutes this weekend with my 12 year old son he had a blast! We did however run into two bears on the trail.
reviewed by Grizzattack on October 23, 2009
Great Place to ride, sort of feels like a MTB amusment park with so many short, flowy trails. Connects with Gold Camp Rd which is the gateway to lots of other trails, Captin Jacks etc.
Similar Trail: Captin Jacks, Red Rock Canyon
reviewed by mtnspectre on June 3, 2009
Miss this downhill part. Last time I rode this, I rode up the chutes, Gold Camp all the way to Jones' downhill to Captain Jacks and back down the chutes.
reviewed by jpichot on May 28, 2008
Awesome ride. Can be a good climb if you start at the state park side
reviewed by skibum on November 4, 2007
The chutes is about as fun a mile of singletrack you will ever find. The drawback--the fun part's not much more than a mile. The other drawback--it' popular with hikers and an occasional equestrian. There's also a good number of bikers who like to climb it as well as go down it. So, to get maximum pleasure, go at an off-peak time. The rest of the trails in Stratton Open Space are only of moderate interest.
Similar Trail: Buckhorn, Captain Jack's, Columbine, Section 16
reviewed by dougsmith on September 23, 2007
The trails in Strattton Open Space are solid, but the Chutes is loose almost the whole way. However, it is not so loose that it is un-climbable. Good down-hill where you can get speed. I like it, but there are many more trails that are more solid in town.
Similar Trail: Captain Jacks in somewhat like it because the loose rock.
reviewed by teamfreak16 on June 14, 2007
Whoooo hoooooo! Just rode this one this morning for the first time. Nice, mostly gentle climb up to the top, which makes for some good training. And the Chutes...damn, I've been reading about this trail as if it were some sort of mythical, mountain biking Nirvana, and so it is. Wide-open downhill, banked berms for turns, very little technical distraction (a root here and there, rock water bars) and basically an all-out gravity-assisted frenzy of fun. The only downfall is the short length of the trail. I can see where there can be some user conflicts with hikers, however, if you ride in control, the few hikers I encountered were very friendly. I rode around 8AM and mostly had the trail to myself. Great place to take a beginner to turn on to the sport, provided they're in some sembalance of shape for the climb up. Good times. In the words of General MacArthur, "I Shall Return."
Similar Trail: Elk Meadow
reviewed by shane_anthony77 on June 8, 2007
Very fast downhill with alot of burms. The only downfall is there are alot of hikers, so the earlier you get there the better.
reviewed by RideorDie on June 6, 2007
This trail is an absolute blast going down. If you want to get a buddy into riding, then take him (or her) on this trail. Also, you should recommend to dog walkers and day hikers to pick a different trail. This trail should be reserved for those on wheels. This trail is so fun to ride down, that it makes it dangerous for people hiking up.
reviewed by bikeamaroq on March 29, 2007
I love this trail, and I've run the Chutes over and over again. It's kind of nice to finally be able to say I've biked it. The Chutes trail is an excellent workout, and I love biking down it. There is also a rewarding view from the top of the trail! There are some great jumps and banks as well. The trails in Stratton can provide beautiful scenery at the right time of the year. The network can prove to be an excellent training ground for novice mountain bikers. There are tons of types of trails in it from single track to a huge fire road. It's a must if you're in the area! I give it a 9.
* Review edited 3/31/2007
Similar Trail: Captain Jack's trails nearby at the top of Gold Camp Road
reviewed by utedude on August 5, 2006
One of my favorites in the colorado springs area. Banked turns and a few roots and rocks serve as miniature jumps on this fast downhill thrill ride. The only problem is the ride is about five to ten minutes long but worth it. I'm not a big fan of any of the connecting gold camp road rides so I would suggest riding up this trail then down for a longer ride.
Similar Trail: Barney Ford to Moonstone, Breckenridge
reviewed by shhlacker on May 31, 2006
I haven't biked up this trail, I've just added it to Columbine and Captain Jacks for some fun downhill. Goin down this sucker is a blast! Steep singletrack with banked turns and a few roots here and there to make sure you're payin attention.
reviewed by c3667 on August 7, 2005
This was a fun ride, MOstly it was just a cardio work out to gold camp road. not too technical but fun. I did not try any of the other trails, but I will next time , they looked like fun.
reviewed by warrubi on July 15, 2005
I love this trail just for the climb and the nice downhill. You can add to it by continuing up to highdrive and doing captain jacks.
reviewed by carbon_bars on June 17, 2005
trail makes for a good climb. there is alot of traffic though. going up and down. i reccommend you ride up the chutes then head all the way up to capt jacks and ride the whole thing back down. makes for a good loop.. but the chutes by it self is a good after work ride.
reviewed by BamBam on September 6, 2004
Short but sweet. Extend the ride by continuing up Gold Camp Road to the upper parking lot where High Drive starts. From this upper parking lot you can continue up the mountain to Captain Jack's
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