Fruita’s most popular trail system, and perhaps the most popular in Colorado, is now complete. The final singletrack mileage recently wrapped up at the North Fruita Desert Trail System, or “18 Road,” as it is commonly referred to, with a ribbon-cutting for the new trail earlier this month. K2-Play is the newest trail at 18 Road, completing the historic trail system and honoring long-time Western Slope mountain biking advocate Kristina Kittleson.
New K2-Play trail wraps up 18 Road
Singletracks covered the trail expansion at 18 Road in 2024, noting that much of the proposed trail expansion was already in place. At the time, much of the proposed singletrack was already built, except for one final trail where construction hadn’t begun yet.
“It’ll be a more technical, ideally iconic, trail up at the base of the Book Cliffs on the outskirts of the system,” Ross Mittelman, Mesa County Public Health’s Trails Coordinator, told us in 2024. In that article, we noted that, aside from this trail, pretty much everything else was done and ready to ride.
And now “this” trail is complete, adopting the name “K2-Play.” Calling the trail “more technical” is certainly on par with how K2-Play turned out. Faith Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), shared more information about the new trail at 18 Road.
Rodriguez told us that K2-Play stretches a little over three miles, climbing about 469 feet and descending 385 feet. It is a black diamond trail, with a “hard physical and technical rating.” She’s saying K2-Play might beat you up a bit. The trail is rough and rowdy, with lots of chunky sections and rockwork mixed in.
K2-Play runs along the base of the Book Cliffs and connects Chutes and Ladders to the Edge Connector trail and the greater Edge Loop.
K2-Play wasn’t the only addition — there’s new infrastructure too
When we covered the 18 Road trail expansion in 2024, we noted that the pandemic, and the years leading up to it, brought tremendous user growth to the trail system. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Junction Field Office noted it as well, saying, in part, in a BLM article:
“By 2024, BLM estimated the North Fruita Desert was receiving about 107,000 visitors a year, with a system of about 30 miles of singletrack trails. That level of use brings practical questions with it. Where will people camp? Where can large races stage without overwhelming a trailhead?”
In 2024 reporting about the 18 Road, Greg mentions experiencing these issues during a trip to the trail system north of Fruita. “I was shocked and dismayed to observe first-hand the shocking environmental impact and careless disregard for the land as literally hundreds of people trampled the desert in their desire to enjoy Fruita’s fantastic trails.”
Since then, many of these issues have been addressed. The “camp anywhere” mentality Greg experienced during his trip has been replaced with designated campsites, with 68 individual spots added. These campsites are within the trail system, so riders don’t need to drive to the trailhead, as connector trails put campers directly onto singletrack.
The BLM article notes that more campsites are coming. “Work on the broader recreation area is still continuing. The next major piece is Phase 4 of the lower campground, another multi-year project that would add about 25 reservable fee sites, including individual campsites, a group campsite and a double-vault toilet facility.”
Beyond official camping areas, the affiliated organizations realized they needed space to host events like NICA races. A 3.5-acre parking and staging area began to take shape in 2020, and can now easily accommodate larger events.
It was a long road in
Those who have been to the 18 Road trail system will likely tell you the trails are spectacular and a “must ride” if you’re visiting the area. They will then tell you one last piece of information: “Oh, the road going in, it is rough.”
Where you once might have needed a lifted four-wheel-drive pickup to access the trails, your Toyota Corolla will now get you there just fine.
After a multi-year project, a nearly seven-mile stretch of what the BLM called a “bone-jarring gravel road” is now paved. The Federal Lands Access Program grant funded the project, which was completed just a year ago.
Other than K2-Play, what should visitors ride at 18 Road?
With K2-Play completing the 18 Road trail system, we asked Rodriguez what trails visitors should ride if they’re planning a trip to Fruita (other than K2-Play, of course). She gave us a couple of must-rides.
“[Joe’s Ridge] rides right along the edge of a sharp desert fin/ridgeline of the Book Cliffs, offering thrilling exposure, fast descents, and panoramic views of the valley.”
Rodriguez also mentioned two more challenging options than Joe’s Ridge. Zippity Do Da is advanced, descending over 500 feet, with “roller-coaster-like waves of slickrock.” She also mentioned Chutes and Ladders, also advanced, with descent exposure, tight switchbacks, and a good amount of chunk.
COPMOBA is also working on and looking toward future projects. “Thank you for asking! We are rebuilding the Lunch Loops Bike Park in Grand Junction and getting ready to build a new bike park in Montrose — Baldridge Bike Park.”
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