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A technical fitness test that challenges both riding and mental skills. A destination trail.

D L

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Map Key

2.7

Miles

4.3

KM

Singletrack

5,199' 1,585 m

High

4,784' 1,458 m

Low

159' 48 m

Up

511' 156 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Mostly ridden downhill. Don't attempt uphill on weekends or busy days/times

Description

With too much pedaling to qualify as a downhill trail, Holy Cross is one of the finest, and most challenging purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Grand Valley second only to perhaps Moore Fun in technical difficulty combined with physical exertion.

The trail can humble even the most advanced riders with its tight, technical requirements and line commitment. However; the trail can, and should be attempted by those riders wishing to measure their skills against a higher watermark. After all, every mountain bike trail is also a hiking trail!

From the Tabeguache trailhead, climb Tabeguache Trail to the base of Widow maker Hill. Holy Cross begins on the left (east) side of the small plateau at the base of the hill. (There is an excellent, primordial, blessing of a flat rock sticking up out of the ground at the intersection which provides respite from the desert sun).

Begin east on Holy Cross, passing Prenup after a few hundred yards on the right. Holy Cross is uninterrupted from this junction to Holy Bucket. Begin what initially has the feel of a technical flow trail before entering a technical up an down adjacent to a cliff on the right.

After this unnerving section of trail, Holy Cross climbs and descends through a series of unrelenting physical, technical and mental challenges all the way to Holy Bucket trail at a fork on the right.

Continue left at this junction, at which point most of the technical fun is behind and ride to another trail junction with Clunker on the right. Climb left at this intersection to Coyote Ridge Trail near the intersections with Miramonte, Miramonte Rim, Ali Ali Loop, and Ali Alley trails, and the terminus of Holy Cross.

To return to the Tabeguache trailhead, take Ali Alley to Raven Ridge. Go right and descend Curt's Lane.

Contacts

Shared By:

D L with improvements by Steven Schiff and 2 others

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 57 votes

#1

in Lunch Loops

#134

Overall
  4.6 from 57 votes
5 Star
70%
4 Star
21%
3 Star
5%
2 Star
4%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Lunch Loops

#53

in Colorado

#134

Overall
23 Views Last Month
6,599 Since Oct 7, 2014
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
2%
88%
9%

Photos

With rains bearing down on us, we had a narrow window to ride.   We managed to pull it off.  Finished the ride minutes before the rains came.  What a ride.  I love this trail.
Oct 11, 2019 near Orchard…, CO
Climbing a short uphill after the exhilarating Gunny Loop descent.
Jun 2, 2016 near Orchard…, CO
Rock drop on Holy Cross at Lunch Loops in Grand Junction
Nov 24, 2015 near Orchard…, CO
A tight technical switch back on Holy Cross
Apr 2, 2018 near Orchard…, CO
Enjoying classic Grand Jct. riding during 2019 PTBA conference.
Oct 1, 2019 near Orchard…, CO
Holy Cross
Jun 17, 2018 near Orchard…, CO

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 1 day ago
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Check-Ins

Mar 10, 2024
Alex Garhart
Mar 1, 2024
Lost Justpastnowhere
Jul 11, 2022
Mark Paniwozik
Excellent ride on a great trail
May 23, 2021
Matt Carrigan
mack dropped me at pre nup. took that to holy cross to holy bucket to gunny and mack picked me up there. awesome ride! similar to moab riding. abou…
Apr 13, 2021
Paul R
Gunny w / angel bail
Apr 9, 2021
WAGbag
Apr 2, 2021
Conor Felletter
Dec 9, 2020
WAGbag
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