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A tour of lower Emerald Mountain's best singletrack.


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Map Key

8.6

Miles

13.8

KM

95%

Singletrack

7,779' 2,371 m

High

6,711' 2,045 m

Low

1,083' 330 m

Up

1,086' 331 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

This ride links together a lot of great singletrack on the lower half of Emerald Mountain. It would be easy to make a much longer (or shorter) ride if desired, but plan ahead as the trail quality varies (in general, avoid the dirt roads).

This area is a dense network of short trails. They can be confusing, and the signage is sometimes okay, but not great. Plan on using the MTB Project mobile app to keep you on the best trails.

Description

From the parking area, head south of the Howelsen Hill ski lifts and look for wide singletrack heading uphill. This will become Bluffs Loop which climbs up and gently goes up and down around a bench above the Yampa River. Views of the town and ski area abound. There are a couple rocks and slightly steep sections, but this is generally a low-intermediate trail. Take a left on the Overlook Trail for more similar riding with great views.

Veer left on Howelsen Meadows for some easy, flat cruising through more wildflower-filled meadow and left again on Ricky's Ridge. Smooth and fun switchbacks gently climb up the mountain. The turns are a great place for beginners and intermediates to work on switchback skills - they're quite wide and great for practice.

Take another left on the beautiful Lupine Trail and follow it for half a mile until you hit Blackmere Road. Find Larry's Trail directly across. Larry's is a favorite trail and has a little bit of everything: meadows, aspens, flowers, expansive views, and great trail flow. This skinny trail is one of the best in the area.

Take a left on Prayer Flag Road, pass a couple singletracks heading uphill, and you'll eventually find Blair Witch. Enveloped in Aspen and Fern groves, Blair Witch is a beautiful trail. The trail boasts some easy, flowing contour riding as well as a long boardwalk feature.

Blair Witch ends on a different section of Prayer Flag Road, which you take to the right (downhill) a short ways until you find MGM. You are now set up for a great descent. From the top (near a watering trough - make your dog happy!), wind down through aspens and lush fern forest on skinny smooth singletrack. Break out into open meadow and make big sweeping turns with great views of town and mountains to the east.

Finish on Orton Trail with very skinny, and very fast descending until you hit Blackmere Road, which you can follow a short ways back to the start.

Shared By:

Nick Wilder

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 25 votes

#751

Overall
  4.2 from 25 votes
5 Star
60%
4 Star
24%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
4%
1 Star
8%
Recommended Route Rankings

#171

in Colorado

#751

Overall
8 Views Last Month
15,120 Since Jun 24, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
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11%
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Photos

Emerald Meadows is fabulous!
Jun 24, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
Lupine has great views of the Yampa Valley from top to bottom.
Jun 25, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
Elevated ramps on Blair Witch
Jun 24, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
Awesome flow on MGM
Jun 24, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
Beware the Angry Grouse!
Jun 24, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
Larry's - one of our favorite trails in the area!
Jun 24, 2014 near Steambo…, CO
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