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Tags:
Level: Advanced
Length: 21 mi (33.8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +1,064/ -1,061 ft
Total: 17 riders
 

Mountain Biking Sidewinder

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#73 of 1,381 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#527 in the world

This trail description is South-to-North. You will want a shuttle vehicle at the other trailhead off H75 Road. We used Peach Valley Road to drop the shuttle at that end.

The Sidewinder Trail is a relentless, rocky, technical, physical adventure on the bike. There are very few extended climbs or downhills, but my GPS still measured 2500' of climbing and 3000' of total descending by the time we were done.

Mostly it is a constant mind-game of rocky, technical bike-handling tests. There are very few sections of fast cruising. The trail is extremely well-built though so the technical challenges are mostly rideable for a skilled rider. There were 6 of us on our ride and while we were all bucked-off at various places, usually a couple of us would clean most features.

As the name implies, the Sidewinder weaves in and out of many arroyos as you cling to the western edge of the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area. You will climb and descend these arroyos enjoying many slickrock drops and ledges along the way, as well as about a thousand other rocky treats.

The Sidewinder is not for beginners. I would imagine they would hate it and probably wind up hurt. For a rider loving a technical, physical workout its one of the best trails I've ever ridden. It took our group 5 hours to ride the whole thing including all our breaks and lunch and all that. If you google "Sidewinder Trail" then you will find a map on the BLM website that shows the route and many other bailout options.

Go ride it... you will not be disappointed.

First added by Shirey on Feb 5, 2012. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: unknown
  • Fat bike grooming: unknown
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
Take Hwy 50 to the town of Olathe. You could also ride this trail from Delta to Olathe, but I highly recommend riding it South-to-North from near Olathe and towards Delta for a little more net downhill on the trail

From Olathe, turn east on Falcon road and drive about 4 miles. Make a left when you come to Peach Valley Rd. After about a mile you will see a parking area on your right with a road leading up into the sandy hills. Park here and ride the bike up the sandy hill climbing for a few hundred feet. The road will make a short descent to a signed interesection (not signed sidewinder though) where you will make a right turn. Very soon after that right you will find the beginning of the singletrack Sidewinder trail beginning its climb up the hillside on your left.
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Good (May 27, 2018)
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