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Lory State Park Small Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Difficult Difficult
 3.8 (29)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Fort Collins
  5. Lory State Park
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“Grueling uphill leads to some insanely good technical downhill and flowing singletrack! ”

Bryan Vernetson
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8.5

Miles

13.6

KM

80%

Singletrack

6,745' 2,056 m

High

5,444' 1,659 m

Low

1,519' 463 m

Up

1,515' 462 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

28%

Max Grade (16°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Overview

This is a great link up in Lory State Park with some very technical spots and some good downhill that can be intimidating. Great singletrack toward the middle and end that rides really well. This ride is Mill Creek Link to Howard Trail to Timber Trail to Kimmons Trail to East Valley Loop.

Need to Know

There is a fee to enter the state park, whether by car or on bike.

There is some considerable hike-a-bike on Howard Trail if you do this ride in the clockwise direction. This is the norm as it is a very technical uphill!

There is a lot of equestrian use in Lory so be ready for horses and their bread crumb trail!

Description

Park at the far south side of the park and head out on the Mill Creek Link. You split off on Howard and the uphill is grueling while on this trail. There are significant portions where hike-a-bike is considered "the norm".

Once you summit behind Arthur's rock, the downhill is fairly technical with tight switchbacks, but good riding. Kimmons trail near the bottom is amazingly flowy and rides incredibly fast before you hit the East Valley Trail for a cool down back to the car.

Another option would be to ride West Valley Trail for a different (but similar) finish.

Contacts

Local Club: Overland Mountain Bike Club

Jan 10, 2024: Mountain Biking in Northern Colorado this Winter

Dec 11, 2023: Action Alert: Your Input Needed for Larimer County Recreation

Land Manager: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Shared By:

Bryan Vernetson with improvements by Mojie Nixon and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 29 votes

#1

in Lory State Park

#999

Overall
  3.8 from 29 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
41%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
10%
1 Star
3%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Lory State Park

#225

in Colorado

#999

Overall
24 Views Last Month
13,504 Since Jun 28, 2013
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80%
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Photos

The scenery is awesome on upper Timber Trail, but you better get off your bike first before looking at it.
Mar 23, 2017 near Bellvue, CO
Coming down some of the less technical downhill!
Jun 28, 2013 near Laporte, CO
Enjoy the ride, but don't forget about the view!
Jun 30, 2017 near Bellvue, CO

5 Comments

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Check-Ins

Jul 1, 2024
Tyso Rawrkasse
Went up Mill Creek / Howard, ended up coming back down the same way. Uphill sucked, downhill was hard AF but fun 10.5mi — 2h 30m
Sep 3, 2023
Jonathan Wallace
May 31, 2023
Marc Mandel
Don't go up Howard or mill creek ever. This route is I'll advised. Go backwards it's way better. Mill and Howard uphill you'll be hiking your bike 8.5mi — 1h 23m
Apr 10, 2023
Josh Thayer
i got hurt 8.4mi — 3h 45m
Aug 6, 2022
Jeremy Orr
10.1mi — 2h 00m
Aug 14, 2021
J VR
Very difficult. Hike a bike going up and techy switchbacks down. Kimmons is fun. 8.6mi — 1h 55m
Aug 3, 2021
Jeff E
Definitely expert. I did it on a 2009 Rockhopper and it was tricky at times. You'll definitely hike (push/carry) your bike up and down the trail. 7.6mi — 2h 05m
May 29, 2021
Tom McKim
8.7mi

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