This is a good trail system to ride when the foothills and mountains are covered in snow. Located just to the south of Green Mountain, it provides a close-in alternative for riders to get some exercise in the winter months. I rode it in late December and was practically the only person in the entire park. The trails are generally singletrack, although a few are shared with horses (with associated issues). There is one minor hill climb but many ups and downs throughout the park. There are a variety of trail options and directions, but given the size of the park, it is impossible to get lost here. Ridden at high speeds and high energy, you can still get a good workout on this system. Most of the trails are well kept and the ones I hit were very low on the technical scale. Probably similar to the trail that goes around the western base of Green Mountain. Nonetheless, it made for a nice change. I believe the park also hosts a MTB race - which is what got me curious enough to check it out.
Good for beginners or for more advanced who don't want to travel further. Plenty of distance and options to keep from getting repetative on a ride.
| ThankEasy access from 470 or Bear Creek bike paths.
No access fee to the park for bikes.
Don't tell anyone about this gem tucked near the foothills outside Morrison! Miles of delicious single track from easy to strenuous and usually no crowds.
| ThankGreat for beginners like me. Small climbs and switch backs. Fun trail.
| ThankFun trail
| ThankNot horrible for a suburban trail system, but still not much of interest here. Some trails closed to bikes and the others you'll be sharing with lots of hikers and equestrians. No tech at all and only one sizable climb on the south side of the dam (coming from either direction). Certainly not worth the park fee if you drive in either.
| ThankGreat trail system. Nothing tough and not much climbing but it's a great place to get in some fat hard miles.
| ThankThis is a great beginner trail. I'm brand new to Mountain biking and I felt very comfortable on this trail, just taking my time. Parking to get into the park has gone up. It is now $10! The park is beautiful and full of friendly riders.
| ThankBear Creek Lake Park is a great place for new riders to the sport to learn and expand their skills. The trails are mostly smooth hardpack and the climbs and decents are varied enough to keep it fun. The trail markers could use a bit of updating as some are missing and others are so faded/soiled that you almost have to stop to read them (not good if you're flying past...which might be a sign that you're ready to move on to other, more challanging trails). If you're new to MTB, or just coming back to ths sport and don't want to deal with rock gardens, this is a great place to start.
| ThankThis is the first actual mountain bike trail I have ever ridden! All I will say is riding the Mount Carbon Loop was great. There is a section that is closed due to flooding and the mud is deep. I turned back & there are plenty of other side trails to make it around the closed portion. The last 100 yards of the climb up Mount Carbon I hiked the bike, otherwise, everything else was manageable as a beginner. The downhill was fun with lots of clear (visually) straights. I was nervous to bomb around some of the blind corners because I wasn't sure if there would be traffic coming up. I spent 2 hours here today and it was awesome! Definitely fun after spending the past 2 weeks working on basic skills.
| ThankAwesome trails, I had a great time on these trails. great for a quick ride with still some difficult trails.
| ThankGreat beginner track for the front range. Plenty of dirt and some longer straight aways. Take your time and look at the maps easy to get lost in all the bandit trails off the main loop.
| ThankHad a good time with friends
| ThankThis a fun place to ride that is close to town and covenient for when time is short. The trails aren't very difficult, but a good workout is easy to get with a few fairly short climbs. Plenty of trails make it easy to add a few miles to your route or cut it short if needed. Remember that rattlesnakes live here - a couple have reminded me this year.
This is a Lakewood city park, not a state park, so the Coloradodo parks pass won't get you in.
| ThankGreat way to increase your endurance at a lower altitude before heading up to the high country. Mount carbon is a fun loop and cottonwood has a nice flowy singletrack section through the woods. Just make sure to go when it's not blazing hot since most trails are exposed and you don't get the lower temperatures of being up in the mountains. This is definitely going on my list for rides to do in a time crunch as the location is very convenient and you can really clock some miles if you want. Just make sure to park somewhere outside the park so you don't have to pay the 7$ (yikes) fee. And I believe they had a sign up that said Colorado Parks passes aren't valid there (didn't find verification on their website so if you're a pass holder, you may want to call to confirm this).
| ThankThere is some pretty fun singletrack all around the Bear Creeak Lake area. Its close to Denver and if you live in the SW and can bike to it from your house its pretty cool. There are just some side trails that are pretty fun for close to Denver. Not very steep but Fun to Explore.
| ThankThis was my first ride as a recent transplant. Having come from Delaware where I rode just a little above sea-level, the altitude is a huge obstacle. That being said, you guys and gals have it made out here. I'm going to ride this trail until my lungs stop feeling like they are on fire before I move on to some of the more interesting and technical trails. There is a nice view of the park from Mt. Carbon, prairie dogs galore, and I even ran into a gaggle of geese near the lake that hissed and flapped at me. Final summation; Great trail to get used to the altitude. Little to no shade, but cool views of wildlife. Fun little downhills!
| ThankMost of the reviews here don't do justice to just how pretty this park is. Yes, this trail is pretty easy. No real technical challenge except for the uphill section on mt. carbon. There are a lot of loose rocks too so maneuvering through can be a little challenging for a beginner. The downhill part overlooking the reservoir is pretty neat. Just off Mt. Carbon is the Cowen trail which is the perfect place to spot prairie dogs, birds and even coyotes. You can either take the larger dirt packed road on the left or follow bear creek trail all throughout for some pretty scenic single track. Lots of people come to the park on the weekend, so avoid it if you can. Overall, when you are bored of riding through this trail there are so many other activities this park has to offer. Bring a fishing pole or have a barbecue and a picnic with family and friends or head out to the nearby Morisson town for a few margaritas and just have fun.
| ThankMost of the reviews here don't do justice to just how pretty this park is. Yes, this trail is pretty easy. No real technical challenge except for the uphill section on mt. carbon. There are a lot of loose rocks too so maneuvering through can be a little challenging for a beginner. The downhill part overlooking the reservoir is pretty neat. Just off Mt. Carbon is the Cowen trail which is the perfect place to spot prairie dogs, birds and even coyotes. You can either take the larger dirt packed road on the left or follow bear creek trail all throughout for some pretty scenic single track. Lots of people come to the park on the weekend, so avoid it if you can. Overall, when you are bored of riding through this trail there are so many other activities this park has to offer. Bring a fishing pole or have a barbecue and a picnic with family and friends or head out to the nearby Morisson town for a few margaritas and just have fun.
| ThankAll the variations seem pretty similar. Fun riding if you're local and don't have much time on your hands, or if you're a beginner. Singletracks are wide and in great shape; all junctions are well-signed. Lacking shade. In its favor, I'll say it's a good place to see deer and prairie dogs...
| ThankThis is a nice trail close to home. Ride it a couple times for a good workout. Very little climbing but there are some fast little downhill sections. Great if you're just starting out and want to get into a little bit of riding shape and familiarity with your bike.
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