Colorado Springs, Colorado
Pop: 668,000
I had serious reasons for settling in Colorado Springs–chief among them was the quantity, quality, and variety of singletrack. Palmer Park sports 20+ miles of mostly technical singletrack right in the middle of town. Also within the city limits are the slightly-smaller Ute Valley Park, Red Rock Canyon with its otherworldly scenery, and Cheyenne Mountain State Park, with another 20+ miles covering everything from wide and buff to brutally rocky.
Living on the edge of town, I can access copious singletrack without ever getting in a car, including the wicked Section 16, the pleasant Stratton Open Space, and all the great Cheyenne Canyon rides like Captain Jack’s. While the surface can be a bit gravelly at times, that means trails drain well and rain never stops us from riding. Occasional warm winter days keep us riding near year round.
Honorable Mention: Denver
Most of the great Colorado Springs riding is courtesy of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, which extends northward across the west side of the Denver megalopolis and up past Boulder. Those living in Denver can choose from huge climbs (Mt Falcon Park), awesome descents (Apex Park), extreme technicality (Dakota Ridge), and easily-accessed suburban trail systems (Green Mountain Park).
-skibum
