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Kessel Run

Intermediate Intermediate
 4.4 (196)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Western Colorado
  4. …Fruita
  5. 18 Road Trails
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“Fast & fun - see if you can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs! ”

Nick Wilder
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2.1

Miles

3.4

KM
Singletrack

5,490' 1,673 m

High

5,051' 1,539 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

440' 134 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

8%

Max Grade (5°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

Description

Starting at the upper parking lot next to the campground, you'll start out riding through trees with gentle sweeps. It's a bit rocky with a couple of short steep sections and probably not a beginner run.

There are a few small drops and rollers, and some rocky sections that pop up and force most riders to hit the brakes, but everything can be bypassed or easily rolled over.

The trail gets progressively more and more banked and flowy as you descend. Near the end it gets smoother and faster, and advanced riders might flow aggressively through the sweeping turns with no brakes and a big grin.

This trail is very popular, and is a bit more rutted then others.

Several trails intersect this one, but they're all well marked. At the bottom you'll hit Western Zip; take a left and you'll be back at the parking lot in 2 minutes.

Contacts

Land Manager: BLM Colorado - Colorado River Valley Field Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder with improvements by Kristen Arendt and 2 others
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 196 votes

#5

in 18 Road Trails

#47

Overall
  4.4 from 196 votes
5 Star
51%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
1%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#5

in 18 Road Trails

#21

in Colorado

#47

Overall
60 Views Last Month
14,765 Since Mar 31, 2013
Intermediate Intermediate
17%
17%
65%
1%
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Photos

There are jumps everywhere on MoJoe.
Jan 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
Ride the spine!
Jan 17, 2020 near Fruita, CO
Upper Joe's Ridge... some of the most fun you can have on a mountain bike.
Nov 16, 2015 near Fruita, CO
Flow for beginners but still fun for more advanced riders. If you want someone to learn to love mountain biking, Kessel Run is your trail!
Jan 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
yeeee hawww!
Apr 3, 2013 near Fruita, CO
Kessel Run is as fast and fun as you want it to be.
Apr 25, 2013 near Fruita, CO

3 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 7 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Dec 23, 2025
Jake Albright
Nov 23, 2025
Jason Epling
Started at lower p lot. Paved road up. Stop to stretch. Kessel Run down. 3.4mi — 29h 08m
Nov 8, 2025
Trena Hunt
Nov 8, 2025
Justin Hunt
Atlas rode on his own.
Nov 7, 2025
Trena Hunt
Atlas rode for first time
Oct 21, 2025
Samantha Mitchell
Fun but not as fast and flowy as PBR! Took Prime Cut up. 2.1mi — 0h 15m
Aug 4, 2025
J Grubes
Fast flowy downhill run, not technical. Great smooth curves with nice berms. Mostly out in the open but some of the course runs through Junipers
May 31, 2025
Carly M

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