MTB Project Logo

Double-black rated Powder Keg is steep, technical and high consequence.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

4.7

Miles

7.6

KM

100%

Singletrack

9,195' 2,803 m

High

8,201' 2,500 m

Low

1,010' 308 m

Up

1,009' 308 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

48%

Max Grade (26°)

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Drops/Jumps · Views

One Way Only: This is designated as a directional trail.

Overview

Ore Chute is like no other system trail on the Front Range. Designed for advanced and expert riders, it's a hand-built, double-black trail that traverses from the northern peak on Maryland Mountain roughly 1,000' feet down to the creek. It is steep with many sections of fall-line trail and a steep slab ride before the halfway point.

Description

Three bike-only downhill trails start from the saddle just below the summit of Maryland Mountain. Fast Money is a ripping blue intermediate downhill, Hard Money is steeper and more technical with optional gap jumps and rock features. And then there's Ore Chute. If you haven't ridden Hard Money yet, try that first and know that Ore Chute is a true double-black and is twice as difficult as Hard Money. If you think you are ready for Ore Chute, read on.

Start from the Maryland Mountain trailhead and cross the bridge. Take the first right on Millsite Trail and then hang a left on Easy Money. You'll climb all the way to the saddle.

The first move on Ore Chute is a "squirrel catcher" or filter designed to give riders a taste of the trail. If you need to walk this feature, think twice about continuing on, it doesn't get any easier. If the first move went well, then carry on. You'll go through 4 more steep rock features and then you'll come to a bailout on your left. Again, if you've been walking more than you've been riding, take the bailout. No shame and it's quick climb back to the saddle to hit Hard Money or Fast Money.

Past the bail-out you'll come to the signature feature - a steep rock slab on the right. There's a black-level ride around to the left. A few more moves and you'll come to an intersection with Hard Money. This interchange was designed so you can mix and match Ore Chute and Hard Money - and also have one last bailout.

If you continue on Ore Chute, you are about half way down until the trail terminates at Millsite Trail. Go left for another lap, right to get back back to the trailhead.

History & Background

Maryland Mountain has played a vital role in the history of Black Hawk since the City was founded in 1864. Located directly northwest of the Black Hawk central business district, it is bounded on the north and east by Hwy 119, Chase Gulch to the south, with private ranch lands to the west.

Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area was a bustling industrial site filled with mines, mills, roads, and tramway railroads. The mining scars have since transformed into a re-forested mountain landscape and in 2020 became home to a world class trail system.

Contacts

Shared By:

Wendy Sweet with improvements by Nicholas Norris

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 3 votes

#1082

Overall
  5.0 from 3 votes
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#216

in Colorado

#1,082

Overall
535 Views Last Month
934 Since Sep 15, 2022
Very Difficult Very Difficult

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%

Photos

#followcamfriday Nate Hills and Dacre Dunn check out Hard Money
May 26, 2021 near Central…, CO
Sweeping turns below sweeping views
Nov 27, 2021 near Central…, CO
Steep berms!
May 26, 2021 near Central…, CO
All jump features are optional
May 26, 2021 near Central…, CO
Getting air on an optional jump line.
May 26, 2021 near Central…, CO
Ledge feature on Powder Keg.
Sep 15, 2022 near Central…, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.