MTB Project Logo
Climb
MTB
Hike
Trailrun
Ski
Limited Time70% OffonX Backcountry

East/West Regional Trail (EWRT)

Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
 3.2 (31)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Ken Caryl
  5. Chatfield State Park
Explore MTB in 3D
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Previous Next

“A 20-mile cross county trail with more mileage planned to be added! It also has some singletrack... ”

Casey Shuster
Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List

19.8

Miles

31.8

KM
Doubletrack

6,407' 1,953 m

High

5,545' 1,690 m

Low

1,662' 507 m

Up

1,168' 356 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

The first portion can be closed from early April to late June for bird nesting between rocky heights and Cabela's.

Description

After parking near Cabela's, head up the doubletrack trail on the Mesa and follow it. After descending, cross McCarthur Ranch Road onto the singletrack and hook that up with the East/West from Rocky Heights.

From Rocky Heights, take the gentle climb to the monarch parking lot and continue under the road and follow that to Daniels Gate. Once at Daniels Gate, take the doubletrack almost to Mountain Vista High School. Take the well-marked turn-off and you'll get some great flowing singletrack that eventually turns into doubletrack with gravel down by highway 85.

If taking any of the turn-offs to some of the great other trails along the way, make sure you are prepared to show that you have highlands ranch identification or you can be kicked off of the trails.

Contacts

Local Club: Highlands Ranch Cycling (Rock Canyon)

Land Manager: Douglas County, CO - Parks, Trails & Building Grounds

Shared By:

Casey Shuster
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.2 from 31 votes

#1

in Chatfield State Park

#7820

Overall
  3.2 from 31 votes
5 Star
13%
4 Star
16%
3 Star
52%
2 Star
16%
1 Star
3%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Chatfield State Park

#726

in Colorado

#7,820

Overall
49 Views Last Month
14,147 Since Jun 29, 2015
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
52%
19%
23%
3%
3%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Gate entrance at the North end of the Cowboy Up trail. It can be easy to miss from the Douglas County East/West trail.
Sep 9, 2015 near Highlan…, CO
Well marked trail intersections with mileage
Sep 9, 2015 near Highlan…, CO
Bend with a view
Sep 3, 2023 near Highlan…, CO
Gate entrance at the North end of the Rocky Gulch Trail
Sep 9, 2015 near Highlan…, CO
Ridge Line High Point lookout. Background is downtown Denver and foreground is the Tech center.
Jul 14, 2016 near Carriag…, CO
Map of the Highlands Point Trail System.
Jun 13, 2020 near Highlan…, CO

3 Comments

Sort by: Oldest Drop down
Newest Oldest Popular
loading

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 78 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 8, 2025
Tim Lane
This is probably the best beginner mountain/gravel bike ride in Denver's Front Range. Fantastic scenic views on mostly smooth doubletrack. 18mi — 4h 00m
Apr 18, 2024
Private User
Sep 3, 2023
Garrett Andrews
10mi — 1h 20m
Apr 4, 2022
Private User
Jul 30, 2021
Matt Smedberg
11.1mi
May 27, 2021
danny o
May 15, 2021
Ryan Townsend
May 1, 2021
Private User

Nearby Recommended Routes

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started