From the gate, pedal up the dirt road for about .6 miles where you will see a distinct dirt path headed up the mountain on your right. If you make it to the hard left hand turn on the dirt road you have gone too far. As you head up the trail take the first possible hard right. You will follow this trail up through pine trees on some great single track that includes some great views, a series of switchbacks, and minor rock and root obstacles to go around or over (it really isn't too technical going up - although it is fairly narrow). Eventually, (after about 1.4 miles of nearly all up) you will come to a T intersection. Take a right for this description (if you go left you can link into Trail 666 - see Bear Creek Loop description). Once you take the right your climb is almost over. Continue on this trail to the top of the mountain for some really nice views. Once the trail starts to drop, it goes fairly fast. Watch out for loose gravel due to the moto bikes that are allowed on this part of the trail (unlike the previous section). Once you hit the dirt road (High Drive) you take a right and ride the mountain road for about a mile back to the parking lot. Before you hit the parking lot make sure you look off to your slight left and catch a glimpse of the top of Silver Cascade Falls. That describes the loop, which is best if you're alone or short on time. I recommend linking this trail into one of the other nearby trails to make a longer ride. Also, if you decide to ride the trail in the opposite direction, be prepared to yield to the uphill riders (who may flip you the bird for going the "wrong" way). This trail makes for some really fun down hill if done in the opposite direction, but be sure to only do this during low traffic times (early morning during the middle of the week, and definitely not on a holiday) to avoid angry up hill climbers and hikers.
The description of this trail is pretty much spot on. Follow those directions. It is a tough ride, not killer. After I learned the trail it usually takes me about 27-30 minutes to get to the saddle (just before the summit, when you finish the climbing) from the car parked above Hellen hunt on gold camp and high drive. It's maybe a half mile or so of flat warm up on gold camp, then solid one mile climb up to buckhorn. Make sure you climb the very last bit and to the boulders on the peak. There's a log up against the back of the rocks acting as a ladder (basically the only way to get up). Getting on top of the boulders gives you an awesome view and is definitely worth it. Then the descent down to high drive is somewhat technical and lots of fun. In the description it says take high drive down, but that would be a huge mistake because you would be missing out on captain jacks. Continue on to captain jacks, it's worth it.
| ThankI've been riding this trail some of late as an out and back (or up and down). It is a nice climb up, very rideable with nice little technical spots and also steep challenges along the way. After you get to the T intersection on top, instead of going right towards High Drive, go left and head towards Trail 666. Turn around at the top which is not too far up the trail and then head back down. This adds a fun extra section of DH to the ride. All in all, its a fast fun narrow DH back to Gold Camp Road. Also, I have never experienced any complaints or anger about going back down Buckhorn "in the wrong direction" as the initial write up describes. I have only met a ton of nice people on Buckhorn. This is not a directional trail. Just make sure if you are going down that you are courteous and slow down and clear the way for those coming up. In many places it is narrow and exposed to the point of being a bit dangerous. After completing an out and back of Buckhorn, I head over and do Jacks by climbing up High Drive from the parking lot. And most of the time I add the Chutes and Stratton. As many here know, there is a lot of good riding to be found around the Cheyenne Canyon - Stratton Open Space area.
| ThankIt's a short ride, but I think it is a really good ride up or down. Good burn up, and tight and fast down.
| ThankIf you go up it, Buckhorn is a super stiff climb that's quite gravelly, but it's all high-quality bench-cut singletrack. This climb is a great one to test yourself on!
| ThankNot a bad trail, great coupled with Capt Jack's and the chutes.
| Thankthis trail is a leg burner of a climb for a short downhill unless you are riding cpt. jacks as well
| ThankThis trail is short, but very steep. I like to go up the dirt road and down the singletrack. It's more fun.
| ThankJust rode this tral today after a long hiatus. Good stuff. The trail was narrower in places than I recalled, but still doable with few if any touches.
| ThankExcellent climb on the smoothest of smooth singletrack thanks to the no moto clause in the uphill's contract. I had an absolute blast singing down the one love to the right at the T. To the left you're looking at Upper Cap'n Jack's, or Lower Jones Downhill depending on who you ask. You could ride clear to Mt. Baldy reservoir or so the legend goes.
| ThankWhen you link this with the lower section of Captain Jack's, it makes for a killer downhill guaranteed to lift your spirits, and rattle your front-end. Add The Chutes by heading down the dirt road from the end of Cap'n Jack's and you can ride clear back into town on some of the best singletrack out there.
This is a great climb--warm up for the first half mile on the non-motorized dirt road, then hit the singletrack for another couple miles on a significant grade with a few technical spots thrown in. Combine with Captain Jack's for a great loop.
| ThankWe rode this trail two weeks ago and itís in great shape! I really enjoy this trail in either direction.
| ThankThis trail is great is awesome. Either way that you look at it you will have a climb, but the downhill it awesome. The trail also links into pretty good trail system. If you plan it out well you could make it into a long ride with alot of downhill.
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