Top Spots For Mountain Biking In Colorado Springs

For years, fat tire enthusiasts have regarded Colorado Springs in the upper-echelon of destinations when they have the urge to explore some dirt trails. Here is just a sampling of trails that can get many of the area's adrenaline junkie's hearts racing.

Captain Jack's

North Cheyenne Canyon
3440 North Cheyenne Canyon Road
Colorado Springs CO 80906
(719) 633-5701
tfocc.org
For riders looking for some sheer speed and excitement, look no further than Captain Jack's. Located in North Cheyenne Canyon Park in the southern part of Colorado Springs, Captain Jack's begins with a 3-mile drop complete with loose gravel, dramatic turns and small jumps. The run concludes at a parking lot where riders can follow a dirt road going back to the top. All in all, the loop runs about 7 miles. Riders beware as the trail is shared by motorcycles.

Buckhorn Loop

North Cheyenne Canyon
3440 North Cheyenne Canyon Road
Colorado Springs CO 80906
(719) 633-5701
tfocc.org 
Also located in North Cheyenne Canyon is Buckhorn Loop, considered the "kid-brother" of Captain Jack's at a mere 4 miles long. Unlike its more notorious sibling, Buckhorn begins with a stout mile-and-a-half ascent, but with a payoff of some spectacular views of the park and surrounding areas. Since what goes up must always come down, Buckhorn's drop is fast and the gravel can be loose in many areas, so do use caution. Make sure to pay attention, as coming fast on your left is Silver Cascade Falls just before you hit the parking lot at the bottom.

Palmer Park

3650 Maizeland Rd
Colorado Springs CO 80909
(719) 385-5940
springsgov.com 
Any discussion of mountain biking in the Pikes Peak Region usually begins and ends with Palmer Park. Located in the eastern heart of Colorado Springs, Palmer Park offers everything from easy service roads to extremely technical trails and jumps. And with over 25 miles of trails, it will be a while before any rider will hit the same trail twice. The difference in elevation throughout the park is less than 400 feet, so this is not the destination for those looking to toast their legs and lungs in hopes of a long roller-coaster-type of decent. Palmer Park, rather, is for the rider of any level looking to hone their technical skills.

Falcon Trail

United States Air Force Academy
trimbleoutdoors.com
Widely considered as one of Colorado's marquee trails, Falcon Trail demands a lot out of its riders while going out of its ways to ensure the payoff is worth it. The home track for the Colorado State Games held every summer, Falcon Trail is 12 miles of flowing terrain that is fast and addicting. A few technical spots make this trail geared more toward a moderate-to-advanced rider, but its blend of bridges and rock gardens randomly thrown into the single-track will promise to keep the attention of any experience level. Since this trail is on the grounds of the Air Force Academy, make sure to bring proper identification to get through the gate and pay attention to posted visiting hours.