Bobcat Ridge Mountain Biking - Fort Collins, Colorado

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Bobcat Ridge Mountain Biking - Fort Collins, Colorado

The City of Fort Collins manages the Bobcat Ridge area where you can experience some outstanding surreal landscape biking.  In 2000 a human-caused fire wiped out almost all of the tree cover in this area that had previously been densly forested with the result being the opportunity for bikers to truly enjoy some mountain views and challenging trails.

Ther are two loops open in the Bobcat Ridge area.  There is the "valley loop" and the "mountain loop".  The mountain look consists of the powerline road and the Ginny trail.  It connects at the bottom by some sections of the valley loop.  Ginney trail can be ridden in either direction but powerline road can only be ridden uphill.  To do the loop you will need to take powerline up and Ginny down.

Following the valley trail north there is a short spur that will take you to an historic ranch cabin, from there you will curve west and come to the foot of the mountains.  The climb begins with a bend south and the trail becomes a little more challenging here, not too hard, but at least a challenge.

You will go back south for a short distance where valley trail intersects powerline road.  This grueling climb up to the west will test you endurance for sure.  Although it isn’t very long (less and 2 miles) it is the steepest service road climb in the Fort Collins area.  There is a bypass around one of the steepest sections which make the whole climb rideable.  You may well need several oxygen breaks along the way which isn’t a bad thing, you will be able to relax and see the fabulous views back down to the valley which make the ride certainly worth it.

At the top of the climb you will come to Mahoney Park where you will see the rocky fire-scarred mountain tops.  The Ginny Trail starts to head south here with a liesurly ride through boulders until it begins to climb to the top of the ridge.  This takes another two miles of hard riding before you reach a saddle before curving around the west side of the mountain top.  Be aware that winds can be strong here, but the views to the west are awesome and well worth it.

Now be ready for some true fun!  Once you have gone around the mountain top there is a narrow, twisty downhill trail.  The trail is technical, but not too difficult.  There isn’t any serious exposure and the trail seems to be designed with your true pleasure in mind.  It’s a long ride down but such a joy.  Once down just follow the valley loop back to where you began.

Directions: Follow the directions to Horsetooth Mountain Park. Stay on CR 38E past the Horsetooth Mountain Park entrance for a couple of miles until you reach the town of Masonville. Turn left onto CR 27, follow this for about 1 mile. Shortly after crossing a narrow bridge, turn right onto CR 32C, and follow this short distance to the park entrance on the left.