If you’ve driven through Delta, Colorado, you probably didn’t stop. Why would you?Fruita andGrand Junction lie to the north, Montrose and Ridgway to the south, and world-class destinations like Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Carbondale to the east. Delta has been the town you pass through on your way to mountain bike somewhere else.
But that’s about to change. The Delta Area Mountain Bikers (DAMB) have 26 miles of singletrack planned just six miles from town.
And those 26 miles? They’re just the beginning — the full vision calls for closer to 100 miles of trail.
A new trail system at Smith Mountain
The Gunnison River cuts through Black Canyon National Park on its way to the Colorado River. After leaving the National Park, it runs through the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, home of Smith Mountain.
“We started with a new committee and picked up on a plan that has actually been around for a long time for Smith Mountain,” Peter Brown told us.
Brown is the Chairman of DAMB, the Delta Area chapter of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA). He explained that, until recently, DAMB had acted more like a social club. But with a growing need for more trails in their area, the group shifted its focus toward trail advocacy, strengthening its bonds with COPMOBA.
As one of its first projects since putting on its advocacy hat, DAMB is taking on the massive Smith Mountain Singletrack Trails Proposal. Brown explained that it all started with the former DAMB Chairman, Sven Edstrom.
“He’s like the Johnny Appleseed of anything trails and mountain bike in Delta County,” Brown said of Edstrom. He said Edstrom would head out into the Gunnison Gorge backcountry with his GPS, finding and mapping potential trails.
The result was roughly 100 miles of trail mapped by Edstrom. Edstrom’s mapping was included in a Delta County recreation and trails plan in 2018. But, like many projects around this time, everything came to a screeching halt during the pandemic.
As shutdowns began to lift and projects started moving forward again, Smith Mountain unfortunately got pushed to the back burner. Other projects were prioritized, and much of the BLM leadership working on the Smith Mountain trails had moved on.
But the project wasn’t dead to DAMB. Brown said that he and Edstrom began talking with the BLM earlier this year to get the project back on track. To start, DAMB will be taking on a “small chunk” of Edstrom’s GPS tracking — 25.76 miles, to be exact.
Why these 26 miles out of the 100?
The new trail system will be built next to the existing Sidewinder trail, which Brown said is the area’s only mountain bike trail. Perhaps “used by mountain bikes” is a better label, as Sidewinder is open to motorized use, too. Regardless, Sidewinder stretches nearly 20 miles north to south and will likely connect to the new trail system in the future.
Brown explained that Smith Mountain could become a year-round mountain bike destination. While other nearby areas might be under five feet of snow, Smith Mountain remains relatively dry. Snow that does accumulate often melts away after a few days.
DAMB, working with the BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, also chose the area because new trails won’t have as significant an impact. Brown said that they will have to avoid some eagle nests and cactus, but it isn’t as intrusive as in other areas. Not needing such an extensive assessment from the biologist and hydrologist (and all the other “ologists”) will hopefully speed up the process.
Lastly, Brown said they are starting with these 26 miles because of the terrain itself. Smith Mountain will offer a different style of riding than the chunky, desert-style mountain biking found in the area.
“Because of the way Smith Mountain sits, we have an opportunity for like a four-mile gravity-fed downhill,” Brown said. “We don’t have a lot of flow trails. In those 26 miles, it features basically three of those types of trails.”
Smith Mountain will have nearly 1,300 feet of elevation difference top to bottom. One of the main descending trails DAMB has planned — appropriately named “Descender” — will drop 1,280 feet over 3.5 miles.
Brown explained that the 26 miles at Smith Mountain will be comprised of 12 major trail segments and three shorter connector trails. The system will range from beginner to advanced, as DAMB is trying to provide something for all riding levels and abilities. Brown explained that Delta County is emphasizing programs, such as Nature Connection, to get more kids on bikes, and DAMB is happy to help.
“I just saw that the local middle school got a grant from Specialized for a fleet of mountain bikes,” Brown said. “Now, a part of their gym curriculum is mountain biking. We want to have something that appeals to beginners, and then, as they progress, they’re able to build up.”
This phase of trails at Smith Mountain will feature seven miles of beginner/green trails. Most of these will be close to the bottom of the trail system, as the terrain is a bit flatter and ideal for cross-country loops.
The remainder of the trail system will consist of 12.5 miles of intermediate trails and 6.25 miles of advanced trails. Brown explained that much of this blue and black mileage will make up the area’s descending (along with some climbing) trails. And while directionality isn’t set in stone yet, he hopes that some of these trails will be descending only.
“An epicenter of awesome trailness…”
DAMB has recently encountered some hiccups along the way. The first thing needed, like every proposed trail system, is funding. Brown said he can’t get away from the $1.2 million figure for this first phase. That price includes a trailhead and facilities, along with the 26 miles of singletrack. DAMB is attacking that from every angle — grants, fundraising, donations, etc. They received a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Support Grant and are pursuing another grant to fund surveys.
While DAMB and Brown feel confident that the funding will come, they’ve run into another hiccup. Phase one, which they hoped would start in 2027, is getting delayed. Brown explained that, unfortunately, Smith Mountain was recently pushed down on the BLM’s priority list. Now they are keeping their fingers crossed for a construction start date in 2027 and hope it doesn’t get pushed back to 2028.
While DAMB, or any other trail organization, always needs financial support, Brown stressed another need, especially for Delta County mountain bikers.
“If Delta County riders want to see Smith Mountain happen, the most meaningful thing they can do is let the BLM know it’s a community priority,” he said. “Hearing directly from residents, non-resident riding enthusiasts, businesses, local government and city officials, and others gives the recreation planners the justification they need to put staff, time, and resources toward the project.”
We will keep you updated with Smith Mountain news as it becomes available. We certainly hope the project gets back on track. With 26 new miles of singletrack currently planned, and the potential for even more, Brown sees Delta as Colorado’s newest “epicenter of awesome trailness.”
Know about a new trail project we should cover? Whether you’re breaking ground on the next must-ride destination or putting the finishing touches on a neighborhood flow trail, we want to hear about it. Drop us a line at [email protected] with high-quality photos of your build, plus details like trail mileage, location, difficulty, and what makes it special. We’re always on the hunt for the next great trail story, and there’s a good chance your project could be featured in an upcoming article.
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