Good Beginner Mountain Biking: Elk Meadow Park

So you’ve never hit the trails on a mountain bike, and you claim to be a Colorado resident? Boasting 1,657 acres and 13.1 miles of trails, Elk Meadow Park has great beginner and intermediate mountain biking trails that will get you into a hobby that just might make you tempted to slap that “Native” bumper sticker right on your Subaru.  Don’t worry if you don’t have a bike.  You can get one at The Bicycle Dr. on Broadway (http://www.bicycledr.com/bicycledr/).  $21 will get you equipped with a solid mountain bike and helmet and, from there, you’re ready to ride.

Joey Schlichter, a New York City resident, tries out mountain biking for the first time at Elk Meadow Park

When you get to the park you’ll have to decide whether you want the easy mountain biking introduction or whether you want the suck wind, climb a mountain, and earn a great view option.  The easier trails stay lower and include some nice single track (the recommended option for beginners), while the harder option climbs about 2,000 feet to the summit of Bergen Peak.  If you’ve never been mountain biking before, we suggest the following route to start out.

From the trail head, take Meadow Trail to the Meadow View Trail.  Turn left on Meadow View Trail for some moderate wooded climbing, then make a right on Elk Ridge Trail for a nice gentle single track descent to the T-intersection at Sleepy “S” trail.  Make a left for some more single track descent with wide views.  Ride a mile to the left along the flat Painter’s Pause trail, then turn left onto Meadow View trail.  Here you will do some more moderate single track climbing back into the woods where you will then do some fun rolling single track.  You can take Meadow View Trail back to the trail head or if you’re still feeling strong by this point you will have a good feel for the trails and will be able to decide on your own route.  Enjoy!

Directions: Take the 6th Avenue Freeway to I-70 east.  On I-70 east, exit at Evergreen Parkway.  Go about five miles south and make a right onto Stagecoach Rd.  A little over a mile later you will see a parking lot on your right.  This is the trail head.

Enjoy!