Intermediate
Methodist Mountain
30 miles of high-desert singletrack on the south side of town: rocky, sandy, dry, and rideable almost year-round with huge Collegiate Peaks views.
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Distance
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Descent
~2HR
Ride time
No shuttle neededPedal accessibleTrail · XC
Trail beta
Access from downtown: park at AHRA headquarters or the public lot at 3rd and H Streets. Little Rainbow Trail (5 miles one-way) is the mellow starter. Spartan West and East add tech. Full Methodist Mountain Loop is 14.4 miles mixing paved, dirt road, and doubletrack. Half the trails are easy, half are more difficult. Pick your loop.
When to go
Rides nearly year-round: high-desert aspect keeps it dry. Rocky and sandy surface drains fast. Avoid riding wet clay sections (Mancos shale).