13+ Prime Mountain Biking Trails in Colorado Springs

Colorado’s Front Range offers some of the state’s most diverse mountain biking terrain. You’ll find everything from rowdy, technical descents and rock gardens to buttery-smooth singletrack trails through dense forests and expansive meadows. 

Finding the best mountain biking trails in Colorado Springs can feel like finding a narwhal among unicorns. Regardless of your choice, you won’t be disappointed, but narrowing it down can be exhausting with so many options out there.

Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. 

We’ve explored the most prime mountain biking trails in Colorado and talked to local experts to learn where they like to spend their time on two wheels. Below, we’ll walk you through all the favorites with options ranging from mellows days under the sun to wild downhills.

Best Mountain Biking Trails in Colorado Springs

1. Garden of the Gods Loop

• Length: Approximately 4.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: Minimal, around 200 feet
• Difficulty: Beginner

Ready to get warmed up? Let’s start in the garden. This is less of a mountain biking trail, but you can’t talk about Colorado Springs without mentioning Garden of the Gods.

Garden of the Gods Loop is situated within the iconic Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. The park is easily accessible and lies just a few miles northwest of downtown. Bikers can find the trailhead near the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.

The trail showcases the stunning red sandstone formations that have made the park famous worldwide. The trail itself is relatively smooth and well-maintained, making it a pleasant ride for riders of all ages and skill levels. While there are some minor ups and downs, the elevation gain is minimal, allowing beginners to focus on enjoying the picturesque scenery. 

Overall, the Garden of the Gods Loop provides a gentle, family-friendly mountain biking experience that captures the natural beauty of Colorado Springs. It’s a trail that inspires you to explore more of the region’s mountain biking wonders.

With that, let’s get a bit more rowdy.

2. Palmer Park’s Singletrack Delight

Palmer Park’s Singletrack Delight is located within Palmer Park, which is centrally situated in Colorado Springs. The park is easily accessible from various parts of the city, making it a favorite spot for local mountain bikers.

Palmer Park offers a network of interconnected singletrack trails that cater to intermediate mountain bikers seeking a bit more challenge. The trails here wind through the park’s diverse landscape, which includes scrub oak, pine forests, and open meadows.

The difficulty level of the trails in Palmer Park varies, providing options for riders with different skill levels. While some sections might be rocky and technical, others offer smoother terrain with flowy sections that make for an enjoyable ride. The park’s diverse topography means there’s always something new to explore, and bikers can easily spend hours discovering the various loops and trails.

Palmer Park offers 730 acres of mountain biking terrain with 20+ miles of rock-heavy singletrack. You’ll find plenty of mellow-grade trails, but there are tough, technical lines to test your mettle and get you ready to venture out of the city limits.

3. Red Rock Canyon – Ridgeline Trail

• Length: Approximately 6.3 miles (loop)
• Elevation Gain: Around 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Prepare to be captivated by the rugged beauty of the Red Rock Canyon Open Space as you take on the Ridgeline Trail. This intermediate to advanced ride offers a thrilling journey through a unique landscape of dramatic red rock formations and stunning vistas.

The Ridgeline Trail takes you along the spine of the canyon, providing technical sections, narrow ridges, and occasional rocky obstacles, which will keep experienced riders engaged and on their toes.

The ascent feels relatively gradual for a mountain biking trail, but the downhill gives you the perfect build-your-own adventure. Choose the easy lines or hit the technical features to get the most out of your ride.

Some sections get your adrenaline pumping with steep trails and exposure. It’s a popular destination for locals, so keep your eye out for other hikers, runners, and bikers.

4. Ute Valley Park’s Roller Coaster

• Length: Approximately 8 miles (loop)
• Elevation Gain: Around 900 feet
• Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

The Ute Valley Techy Loop is renowned for its technical features, offering a roller coaster of challenging obstacles that will put riders’ abilities to the test. Prepare for a dynamic ride through rocky sections, tight switchbacks, and tricky root systems that demand precision and finesse.

This loop provides advanced riders an exciting playground to push your limits and conquer the technical features with finesse. The trail’s continuous mix of challenges ensures a fulfilling and stimulating ride every time.

5. Chutes – Gold Camp Rd – Buckhorn – Captain Jack’s Loop

• Length: Approximately 13 miles (loop)
• Elevation Gain: Around 1,900 feet
• Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

This Colorado Springs mountain biking adventure combines some of the best trails in the region, offering a mix of technical challenges, fast descents, and breathtaking views.

You can jump on and off the trail at various points, but the Chutes – Gold Camp Rd – Buckhorn – Captain Jack order is the most popular (and enjoyable) way to enjoy this wilderness area. 

As you head into Buckhorn and Captain Jack’s trails, be prepared for a bit more technical terrain. These sections feature rocky and narrow singletrack requiring precise bike handling skills. The climbs and descents are more challenging here.

6. Barr Trail

• Length: Approximately 13 miles (one way)
• Elevation Gain: Around 7,800 feet
• Difficulty: Advanced

The Barr Trail is a legendary and iconic trail located near Manitou Springs, Colorado. It leads to the summit of Pikes Peak, one of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners,” standing at an impressive 14,115 feet. The trailhead is easily accessible from Manitou Springs, making it a popular destination for hikers and advanced mountain bikers seeking a challenging ascent.

Want to ditch the climbing and just enjoy the descent? Good choice. Get a friend to drive you and your bike to the top, or (my preference) hike up and have a bike waiting for you to cruise down.

This is the most iconic mountain in the area (and maybe all of Colorado), so expect traffic on the road and the trails. Be careful bombing down—you will see plenty of other trail users. 

Starting from the top, you’ll face 32 boulder-filled switchbacks, famously known as “The Golden Stairs.” These switchbacks are so rugged that most riders end up hiking their bikes, and even that demands significant effort.

As you proceed through the next few miles, the terrain becomes slightly more rideable, but it remains difficult and treacherous due to the rocks and pea gravel scattered across the trail. The trail’s unpredictable conditions make this section challenging and hazardous.

7. Cheyenne Mountain State Park

This state park spans over 1,600 acres and offers a diverse and picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts, including mountain bikers seeking an exciting and memorable riding experience. 

The park boasts an extensive network of well-maintained mountain biking trails, catering to riders of varying skill levels. Cheyenne Mountain State Park has something to offer everyone, from beginner-friendly paths to more challenging routes.

12. Elk Park Downhill

• Length: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: ~350 feet
• Difficulty: Advanced

Elk Park Downhill delivers an adrenaline-charged ride with a mix of technical features and fast descents. Expect drops, jumps, gravel, and even creek crossings.

13. Black Forest Section 16

• Length: ~5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 600 feet
• Difficulty: Intermediate

The Section 16 trail starts with a gradual climb through a serene pine forest. The trail continues with a mix of rolling terrain and occasional rocky sections, providing a fun and engaging ride for intermediate riders. 

The descent from the high point offers an enjoyable ride back to the trailhead, with opportunities for some faster sections and flowy segments. The downhill portion is typically less technical than the ascent, allowing riders to enjoy a more relaxed ride back to the parking lot.

New to Mountain Biking in Colorado?

While Colorado provides the most diverse and challenging terrain, it can sometimes have a steep learning curve. Fortunately, you have options for getting started without bombing down a rock garden.

Check out our favorite beginner-friendly mountain biking trails in Colorado to help you ease into the sport.