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Blue Grouse - Mule Deer Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 3.9 (147)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Golden Gate Canyon State Park
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“An outstanding tour of Golden Gate State Park on beautiful trail with great flow. ”

Nick Wilder
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Map Key

10.9

Miles

17.5

KM

100%

Singletrack

9,472' 2,887 m

High

8,419' 2,566 m

Low

1,495' 456 m

Up

1,492' 455 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

29%

Max Grade (16°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

You need to purchase a day-use pass or have a valid state park pass, which you can obtain at the self-service kiosk just west of the start of this ride.

Overview

Hiding in plain site just minutes from the front range (about 20 minutes from the city of Golden), this is a hidden gem that doesn't get much traffic. It's not too long, but you could add some of the neighboring trails to make it harder. The aspen trees in this area are spectacular in September and October.

Description

From the parking lot, get your heart pumping right away for a bit of steep climbing on mostly smooth trail of Blue Grouse. There's one tight switchback, and then it mellows out and is easier until it meets Mule Deer Trail.

Take a right turn on Mule Deer Trail, go 100 feet, then immediate left (west) on Upper Mule Deer Trail.

The trail is level, fast, and very playful. It's on the side of a very rocky slope, but excellent trail construction has made for fun little rock gardens with (usually) a perfectly smooth path winding through. It continuously looks like it's going to be tough, but magically a smooth line appears at the last minute.

Cross the road and parking area and pick up Mule Deer Trail and continue heading uphill. You'll pass through meadows and aspen stands with lots of climbing, but a few breaks, and it's never too hard. The trail is butter smooth and easy.

At the top of the climb, you cross Gap Road and soon get to the intersection of Raccoon Trail. This ride has you continuing straight, but you could take a right on Raccoon Trail to reduce your vertical loss (and subsequent climb). Either way, you go around Panorama Point (well worth checking out as a side-trip with amazing views of the high peaks!).

Whichever route you took, you'll once again cross Gap Road and start heading back to the start. The trail on this side is a bit rockier, but intermediates will enjoy the minor challenges. There are a few minor flat-to-gentle-uphill sections, but the flow is great for 5 miles of downhill fun. The flow is beautiful, as is the forest and mountain views. This is some of the finest singletrack in the front range.

You'll pass Frazier Meadow, a homestead from the mid 1800's and now a particularly good place to see the aspens changing in the fall. Continue cruising down, through a short technical section with larger rocks and tight switchbacks until you hit the Blue Grouse trail again. Enjoy the fast and fun last bit your car.

Contacts

Local Club: Colorado Mountain Bike Association

Land Manager: Colorado Parks & Wildlife - Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Shared By:

Nick Wilder
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 147 votes

#1

in Golden Gate Canyon State Park

#182

Overall
  3.9 from 147 votes
5 Star
26%
4 Star
45%
3 Star
21%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Golden Gate Canyon Sta…

#60

in Colorado

#182

Overall
26 Views Last Month
34,387 Since Sep 20, 2014
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
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Photos

A little chunk in Golden Gate Canyon SP
Aug 10, 2016 near Coal Creek, CO
Beautiful dense forested terrain
Jul 24, 2018 near Coal Creek, CO
Upper Mule Deer is Fast
Aug 27, 2018 near Central…, CO
Now that is singletrack!
Jun 21, 2014 near Coal Creek, CO
blast down through tight forested alleys
Jul 24, 2018 near Coal Creek, CO
Getting Rowdy in the Woods
Jul 28, 2018 near Coal Creek, CO

21 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Oct 4, 2023
Private User
Jul 28, 2023
Allen Jones
Pretty rocky but not bad. Went counter clockwise. Some really sketch rock drops on right corners to be careful of. Definitely intermediate 10.6mi — 1h 33m
Jun 18, 2023
Keith Hay
10.9mi
May 6, 2023
Joseph Sellers-Geiger
There are still patches of snow on the lee side of the loop making it take an hour longer. Overall, was a lot of climbing for not so much downhill. 10.9mi — 3h 01m
Nov 1, 2022
Ryan Vogelsberg
Too much snow on the north/northwest sections to judge. Wait for next season.
Oct 19, 2022
Brian K
1h 45m
Oct 16, 2022
ChrisG George
Cold day two endos. Tired. — 2h 43m
Oct 2, 2022
Elizabeth Dee
11.2mi

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