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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 15 mi (24.1 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +2,659/ -1,076 ft
Total: 173 riders
Mountain Biking Blue Sky
#162 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
Great trail interconnecting Horsetooth Mountain Park, Coyote Ridge, and Devil's Backbone trail systems. Multiuse. Not too technical foothills terrain along hogbacks. Can be sandy in spots. Well signed. Watch for rattlesnakes. Larimer County website: http://www.larimer.org/parks/bluesky.htm .
First added by dauw on Jun 18, 2006. Last updated May 11, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Devil's Backbone Trailhead
From Loveland:
Take Highway 34 west of Loveland to just past mile marker #88 (2 miles west of the K-Mart). Turn right (north) onto Hidden Valley Drive just east of the old water tank. The trailhead is on your left.
Soderberg Trailhead (via Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay)
From Loveland:
From Highway 34 (Eisenhower) go north on Wilson. Wilson becomes Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins. Turn left (west) onto County Road 38E and continue west to the reservoir. Continue west on County Road 38E approximately 4 more miles to the entrance at the south end of the Reservoir. The entrance to South Bay (including campground, restaurant, group use area, and swim beach) is at the south end of the reservoir. Watch for signs. To get to Inlet Bay (including Inlet Bay Marina and Inlet Bay Campground) continue west on 38E 1 3/4 miles past the South Bay entrance. Watch for signs and turn right on Shoreline Drive. Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay entrance. Turn right on Shoreline Drive, continuing 1.2 miles to the Soderberg Open Space and trail head on the west side of the road.
From Fort Collins:
From Harmony and Taft Hill Road turn west onto County Road 38E.
Continue west on County Road 38E approximately 4 more miles to the entrance at the south end of the Reservoir. The entrance to South Bay (including campground, restaurant, group use area, and swim beach) is at the south end of the reservoir. Watch for signs. To get to Inlet Bay (including Inlet Bay Marina and Inlet Bay Campground) continue west on 38E 1 3/4 miles past the South Bay entrance. Watch for signs and turn right on Shoreline Drive. Follow the directions above to the Horsetooth Reservoir Inlet Bay entrance. Turn right on Shoreline Drive, continuing 1.2 miles to the Soderberg Open Space and trail head on the west side of the road.
Coyote Ridge Trailhead
From Loveland:
From Highway 34 (Eisenhower) go north on Wilson for approximately 5.5 miles where the entrance is on the west side of the road.
From Fort Collins:
From Harmony and Taft Hill Road go south on Taft Hill Road for approximately 4 miles where the entrance is on the west side of the road.
(Directions from Larimer County, Parks website: http://www.larimer.org/parks/driving_bluesky.htm)
System trails (2)
Great trail, especially for beginners. This was my first official mountain bike trail that I've ridden and it gave me a fantastic first impression of trail riding!
| ThankNot a bad trail. Plenty of blind corners and a couple good hills for cardio
| ThankSuper sweet flowy smooth dirt. I got out early and only saw a few bikers, 2 hikers and no horses. You can do the 15 mile out and back or take a right onto the Indian Summer loop for a challenging climb and awesome descent. Overall the trail is easy, I rated it intermediate because of some climbing, but no hike-a-bike. I ride in Boulder so it was a real pleasure to ride smooth dirt with only a few rocks. There are a variety of other trails that link from this area as well.
I was thinking while riding that it's almost a mini version of Buffalo Creek. Yes, it's that good.
| ThankQuick fun add on to blue sky. The dirt pack is great and def go clockwise way better downhill but go early it's sunny and busy!
| ThankIts rolling hills and a couple technical features if you're a beginner. A great ride but has no shade so do it early. Also had tons of traffic.
| ThankA good cruiser, if you are in the area. An out and back.
| ThankI'm easy to please. Loved the ride. Took Blue Sky from Horsetooth Inlet Bay. Took Rimrock east for a while then had to get back to camp. Great quick ride. Beautiful views. Loved the technical aspect of Rimrock. Can't wait to get back and re-try some of the technical rocky climbs I failed on. Was fun coming back down.
| ThankFast and fun! It's an out and back which is a little annoying but still a good ride.
| ThankQuick and fun trail with excellent views as you climb to the top. Totally exposed so hit this one early in the day or late in the evening on hot days.
| ThankFun, easy mountain biking
| ThankThis is a good addition to Blue sky if you want to add a couple of miles that are relatively more technical and involve more climbing than the rest of Blue Sky. Adding this loop makes Blue Sky much more worth while in my mind. it is very exposed which means sun and nice views of FoCo.
| ThankFinally had a chance to ride this all the way from Devil's Backbone to Horsetooth. Fun ride! Throw in Indian Summer for a little extra challenge! I didn't see any rattlers, but heard one buzzing in the bushes as I rode by. Be careful out there!
| ThankA great technical challenge. I can ride all the obstacles, but cannot ride them all at once. I prefer the lolipop in the CCW direction, but it's fun both ways - if you're only here once, do both directions!
| ThankA great technical challenge. I can ride all the obstacles, but cannot ride them all at once. I prefer the lolipop in the CCW direction, but it's fun both ways - if you're only here once, do both directions!
| ThankI had read this was a fun little addition to Blue Sky. I didn't enjoy it. It puts you out in the open which is hot and seems like almost constant climbing. It is rocky and has several switchback sections. The tail end is a series of winding downhill switchbacks.
| ThankThe most important thing I can say about this trail is the watch for rattlesnakes. I came upon one that was kind of aggressive and did not want to leave the trail. There are also blind corners so these two factors will have you wanting to watch your speed. Mountains do provide some shade in morning. If you go to Indian Summer, you quickly realize how hot it is out in the open.
| ThankThis is an easy up one way and a cool roller coaster coming back down.
| ThankGreat trail and when joined up with other trails in the area it can be a great day of riding.
| Thankthis is a must ride if you're in the area.
This is a relatively easy singletrack adding mileage to a ride on the Blue Sky trail.
| ThankI rode from coyote ridge to blue sky. It was a fantastic single track that wasn't too technical. If you get there early enough (before 8) you'll be able to enjoy the shade. It was too crowded when I went (5pm) but I did have to stop for some runners. Other wise, my new favorite ride.
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