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Climbs, flow, jumps, and rocky tight trails. This is a great tour of west Glenwood Springs trail system.


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Map Key

12.1

Miles

19.4

KM

75%

Singletrack

7,430' 2,265 m

High

5,758' 1,755 m

Low

2,168' 661 m

Up

2,175' 663 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

24%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Grandstaff Trail is signed as pets on leash.

Overview

First time riding in west Glenwood Springs? Look no further than this great sampler and guide to the area's trails. You'll enjoy a big dirt road climb, an epic singletrack descent, a bit of flat and fast mileage, and some traditional rocky trails at Wulfsohn Mt. Park.

Description

Park at the Glenwood Springs Community Center / Recreation Center. Start your ride at the corner of the parking lot where you'll see the community garden plots. Take Wulfsohn Trail - South TH a short distance south and make a left onto the Olsen Trail (you'll be coming back on this flat and fast ditch trail after the first half of the ride).

At the end of the Olsen Trail, climb the bottom 50 yards of the Grandstaff Trail, and then make a right onto Red Mountain Jeanne Golay Trail, aka Red Mt. Road, which is paved for the first few hundred yards, and then dirt the rest of the way. Settle in for a big 1,500'+ climb, but at a pretty steady grade. The road is gated, limiting most vehicle traffic. This is good social climbing time if you're riding with a friend or a group.

Near the top of the climb, continue a few hundred feet past the top of Grandstaff Trail to go enjoy the big views of Glenwood Springs, the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork River, Glenwood Canyon, Mount Sopris, and plenty more horizon in the distance.

From the top of Grandstaff Trail, it's time to enjoy the big 1,500'+ descent! The trail includes a few original rocky segments, a few tight switchback turns, and increasingly more flow, big berms, rollers, and optional jumps as you get further down the mountain. Most of Grandstaff is a two-way trail, and it has numerous intersections with the adjacent hiking-centric Cross Trail. Enjoy your descent, but yield to uphill bikes and all foot traffic.

The Lower Grandstaff Trail is signed as "Downhill Direction" only! Enjoy the final segments of berms and features without uphill traffic around the corner! At the bottom, cross Red Mt. Road, and retrace your route back on the Olsen Trail.

At this point, you can return to the trailhead, or continue on the ride, climbing Wulfsohn Trail - South TH a short way until it's time to make a left onto the Defiance Trail. Defiance starts as a climb, steep and rocky at times, before dropping back down at its northwest end. Continue the ride by making a left onto Wulfsohn Trail - North TH, taking some care to stay on the trail to the left at a confusing intersection that you'll revisit soon. At this 'trails' end, you'll find the Wulfsohn Mt. Park northern trailhead, and the start of Stevie Bob Trail.

For a full tour of West Glenwood, as an option, ride paved paths to the north a few hundred yards to visit The Wave on the Colorado River - you might catch some kayakers or paddle boarders surfing on the man-made feature.

To finish the ride, take Stevie Bob Trail to the southeast. You'll cross over Wulfsohn Trail - Lower once, and then meet it again at the end of the trail. Take the wide cinder Wulfsohn Trail - Lower (if you're in a rush) or Wulfsohn Trail - South TH (if you want a final bit of singletrack) back to the trailhead.

Contacts

Shared By:

Mike Pritchard with improvements by Brian Muller and 1 other

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 31 votes

#579

Overall
  4.4 from 31 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
29%
3 Star
16%
2 Star
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1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#142

in Colorado

#579

Overall
14 Views Last Month
8,999 Since Nov 9, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Styling out some grade reversal air-time on the upper slopes of Red Mt. on Grandstaff Trail.
Sep 26, 2017 near Glenwoo…, CO
Big panoramic view near the cross on Red Mt. above Glenwood Springs
Sep 26, 2017 near Glenwoo…, CO
Rider heading northwest on the Defiance Trail.  Lookout Mountain & the Scout Trail are in the distance. Photo credit: Two Rivers Trails.
May 7, 2015 near Glenwoo…, CO
Fresh berm on lower middle Grandstaff Trail, with Roaring Fork River and Mount Sopris in the distance.
Sep 26, 2017 near Glenwoo…, CO
Looking towards the city of Glenwood while the valley opens up in the background hiding Aspen behind fog and mountain faces
Apr 20, 2021 near Glenwoo…, CO
Mount Sopris in the back
Jul 14, 2019 near Glenwoo…, CO
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