Best mountain biking trails and e-MTB routes in Colorado
Colorado, the mountainous miracle land. Home of mountain biking – at least, one of its homes – and a true idyllic playground for fans of fun and flowy trail riding. Dive in to explore the best MTB and e-MTB trails in the Centennial State.
There are few places in the US, in fact the whole world, that can compete with Colorado for mountain biking. This massive, mountainous playground has everything downhill daredevils, all-mountain explorers and cross-country grinders could ever wish for. Discover a selection of the best mountain biking trails in Colorado below.
Contents
What makes Colorado perfect for MTB and E-MTB adventures?
Is it too obvious to say ‘mountains’? Colorado’s highest point is some 14,440 ft above sea level, and it is home to 54 peaks above 14,000ft. There are 15 separate mountain ranges in the state, providing Coloradan MTB riders with a multitude of opportunities to go out and explore. Combine that with a fairly concentrated population and you have huge swathes of the state that are blissfully empty of people, bringing that unspoiled, wilderness vibe to riding here.
And then, of course, there’s the heritage. Colorado mountain biking has deep roots in the state's adventurous spirit, emerging in the 1970s as cyclists took ‘ballooner’ bikes with coaster brakes up into the hills to explore rugged terrain. The sport evolved alongside Colorado’s wider outdoor culture, with the state’s diverse trails, stunning landscapes, and mountain towns like Crested Butte becoming iconic destinations for riders.
If you like your trails with more of a West Coast flavor, don’t miss our guide to the best MTB trails in California, with specific location guides for bike trails in Orange County, the best routes for all types of cyclists around South Lake Tahoe, not to mention the best organized bike rides in the USA.
Best mountain biking trails and e-MTB routes in Colorado
We couldn’t possibly do justice to every great MTB and e-MTB trail in Colorado in just one article. There will doubtless be some omissions, and in a state this large, who knows… there may even be some as-yet-undiscovered spots that are kept secret by the locals.
We’re going to do our best to give you an overview of some of the best, most popular trails that are located around the state. We’ve included the nearest city to each trail to help you hone in on those Colorado MTB trails that are located nearest to you. The trails are e-bike friendly unless otherwise stated.
Trail 1: Mountain View trail at Aqueducts, Mancos
The trail at a glance:
- Level: beginner
- Path condition: good, although it gets loose when very dry
- Starting point: Aqueduct Trail Head Parking, off country road 39
- Highlights: Highest point in the Aqueduct trail system. Gorgeous views over Mancos and Ute Peak.
- Length of the route: 1.7 miles (2.8 km)
- Altitude difference: 246 ft (75 m) up and down
- Travel time: 30 mins outside Durango
We’re kicking off with a dreamy beginner trail near Durango. The Mountain View trail is accessed by other trails in the system, so bear in mind that your full ride will be longer than described here. Maintained by the local trail association in nearby Mancos, this is a cool, desert trail with plenty of south-western charm – the perfect taster of what MTB trails in Colorado have to offer. Most riders go clockwise, but be sure to look out for other trail users coming in the opposite direction.
Trail 2: Trail 401, Crested Butte
The trail at a glance:
- Level: beginner
- Path condition: mixed, some riders report it needing maintenance
- Starting point: 401 Trailhead, near Emerald Lake on Schofield Pass Road
- Highlights: Wildflowers and wildlife. Stunning blooms in the summer. Goosebumps vistas. An icon of the sport.
- Length of the route: 8 miles (12.9 km)
- Altitude difference: 1,152 ft (351 m) ascent, 2,034 ft (620 m) descent
- Travel time: 45 mins outside Crested Butte
An icon within an icon. Crested Butte is widely held to be home of the best mountain biking in Colorado, and Trail 401 is perhaps its best-known, most-essential route to experience. At eight miles, it’s the longest single trail in our list here, but it’s worth every single crank turn. Regrettably, e-bikes are not permitted on Trail 401 itself, but you can bring them on Schofield Pass Road itself to experience a lot of the same scenery.
Trail 3: Kokopelli Loops, Fruita
The trail at a glance:
- Level: intermediate
- Path condition: well-maintained
- Starting point: Kokopelli Trail Start parking, off Grand Army of the Republic Highway
- Highlights: Fast and flowy singletrack. Some tricky obstacles. Iconic red rock formations contrasting with the stately Colorado River below.
- Length of the route: 3.9 miles (6.2 km)
- Altitude difference: 374 ft (114 m) up and down
- Nearest city: 10 mins from Fruita
Kokopelli is a network of looped mountain bike trails outside the small city of Fruita, very close to Colorado’s western border with Utah. The Kokopelli Trail, a 140-mile odyssey route that takes riders from Fruita to Moab has recently come to greater prominence as part of the Fastest Known Time (FKT) scene, but don’t worry, we’re not asking you to ride that far! Instead we’ve selected Horsethief Bench, one of the Kokopelli routes which covers about four miles. The great thing about the system here is you can add as many loops as you feel like on the day, and there’s always fresh stuff to keep you engaged.
Trail 4: Coal Camp (Down), Glenwood Springs
The trail at a glance:
- Level: intermediate
- Path condition: great
- Starting point: Trailhead Access path from Canyon Creek Road
- Highlights: Hero dirt and some nice berms. Easy to carry your speed.
- Length of the route: 0.43 miles (688 m)
- Altitude difference: 144 ft (44 m) descent
- Nearest city: 15 minutes outside Glenwood Springs
This downhill trail is one of the most popular in the whole Roaring Fork Valley, drawing praise for the quality of the surface and the small features that bring it to life. There is a separate up trail to give access to the top of the run, and there are also some other trails that can be joined up to make a longer ride… or you can just rip Coal Camp over and over, we wouldn’t blame you if you did!
Trail 5: Penrose, North Cheyenne Cañon Park
The trail at a glance:
- Level: advanced
- Path condition: excellent
- Starting point: Captain Jacks Trailhead Parking Lot, off Gold Camp Rd
- Highlights: Fast, double black diamond trail. Couple of drops and jumps, plus steep techy descending sections.
- Length of the route: 0.68 miles (1.1 km)
- Altitude difference: 377 ft (115 m) descent
- Nearest city: 10 mins from Colorado Springs
Located just outside Colorado Springs, this challenging technical trail is as rewarding as it is exhilarating. It dries out pretty quickly comparable to some other parts of the state at similar altitudes, making it rideable from spring onwards. There’s a bunch of great rides that you can do connecting various sections of this small but mighty trail system. Sadly this trail is not open to e-bikes.
Trail 6: Phils World, Cortez
The trail at a glance:
- Level: beginner to advanced
- Path condition: mostly excellent
- Starting point: Phils World parking lot, off US-160 near Cortez
- Highlights: A lifetime of trails to explore, from ripping downhills to meandering flattish loop trails. Natural features to test yourself on like arroyos and rock ledges.
- Length of the route: up to 60 miles (96km)
- Altitude difference: various.
- Nearest city: 15 mins from Cortez
This sprawling and much-loved network of trails comprises more than 60-miles of rideable wonderfulness. The amazing high-desert terrain will inspire you as you explore. The Trust Loop is a popular four-mile circuit within the network.
Trail 7: PBR at 18 Road
The trail at a glance:
- Level: beginner to intermediate
- Path condition: consistently very good, sometimes edging toward dry
- Starting point: 18 Road, north out of Fruita
- Highlights: A fun, swooping easy blue with a couple of small jumps. PBR stands for Pumps, Bumps and Rollers.
- Length of the route: 1.7 miles (2.8 km)
- Altitude difference: 420 ft (128 m) descent
- Nearest city: 45 mins from Grand Junction, 20 mins from Fruita
18 Road is home to a couple of the best mountain biking trails in Colorado, including the famous Kessel Run, named in honor of the mythic movie franchise, Star Wars. Whether you choose Kessel or PBR, you’re sure to feel like Han Solo as you fly through the swooping turns and over the fun features on offer. It gets very hot here in the summer, so ride early in the day if you can.
Trail 8: Marshall Mesa Doudy Draw Loop
The trail at a glance:
- Level: beginner with a couple of tricky technical features
- Path condition: good, mix of single & doubletrack, and farm roads
- Starting point: Marshall Mesa parking lot outside Boulder
- Highlights: Springbrook trail is the best in the Marshall Mesa system. Excellent views all the way round.
- Length of the route: 12.1 miles (19.4 km)
- Altitude difference: 984 ft (300 m) up and down
- Nearest city: 10 mins from Boulder
Boulder is renowned as one of the USA’s outdoorsiest towns, with a huge biking community, both road and MTB. This loop to the south of the city is highly popular, both with locals and with visitors – and while it’s classed as a blue it’s really accessible for new riders apart from one or two techy spots. It’s ok to walk these, and you certainly shouldn’t let them deter you from checking out Marshall Mesa.
https://www.trailforks.com/route/marshall-mesa-doudy-draw-loop/
Best bikes for mountain biking Colorado
Colorado is a huge state with virtually every kind of mountain biking you might want to experience, so there’s no one perfect bike that will let you do it all.
If versatility is your thing, the full-suspension Spectral and Neuron models have enough to travel and capability to help you take on the techiest bits of the trails we’ve covered here. The Spectral rocks 150-160mm travel, while the Neuron has 130-140mm, so it’s the Spectral that is the truly advanced trail tamer. The Neuron, meanwhile, has a little bit more comfortable ride, courtesy of it’s all-day geometry.
The Neuron:ON continues in that same ‘all-day’ vein. It’s the e-MTB version of the regular Neuron and comes in our lightweight, ONfly setup too… these lower-impact e-MTBs bridge the gap between conventional bikes and full-power e-bikes.
The Spectral:ON is a full-powered thrill machine, with up to a 900Wh battery and 85Nm max torque. This is more than enough to have you blasting up rock features that you might otherwise have to push, as well as helping you reach the top of the downhill trails in our list above like PBR and Coal Camp Down.
If you’re interested in exploring some long-distance rides like the full 140-mile Kokopelli Trail we mentioned up top, you might want to look at a cross-country bike. These bikes have less travel, but free you up to ride more efficiently over longer distances. The Lux Trail is an excellent option, a lightning fast climber and capable descender. Then there’s the Grand Canyon, an accessible 120mm travel hardtail for getting to grips with things.
Did this article help?
Thank you for your feedback
Related Stories
