A scenic dirt trail winds through a grassy area, flanked by trees on either side. A cyclist rides down the path, approaching a signpost that appears to indicate trail rules or directions. The sky is partly cloudy, and the landscape features rolling hills in the background. Flying J Ranch mountain bike trail.
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Tags:
Level: Beginner
Length: 4 mi (6.4 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +88/ -86 ft
Total: 145 riders
 

Mountain Biking Flying J Ranch

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#71 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#522 in the world

Super easy singletrack with a couple of very short challenging sections. Very possibly the best beginner's trail on the Front Range and just a lovely little park. Going clockwise on the Shadow Pine loop, the downhill section just seems to feel longer than what you earned on your climb. Adrenaline junkies should go past the first entrance and then go past the second entrance and then just keep driving until you find a different ride.

First added by arnolda14 on Jun 7, 2007. Last updated May 1, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: yes
  • 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.
Getting there
From Denver, head south on Hwy 285 to Hwy 73 in Conifer. Head north on Hwy 73 for 1 mile to the parking area on the left at the first entrance. Ride the connector trail up to the main loop.
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cobeartown (Sep 18, 2019)
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Trail conditions

Good (Jun 14, 2019)
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Reviews

  • ColoradoKids
    *****

    It was our family's first mountain bike ride! My wife and I had our 10 year old son with us, he did great! We had an awesome time! Some small patches of snow, but very doable. No huge climbs and some fun flowing downhill sections!

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  • GAdam
    ****

    Really enjoyed the trail. Went early to avoid busy times.

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  • sarah47
    *****

    I am a total beginner and this was a really good start as well as a good confidence boost. Everything is clearly marked except one hairpin turn. It was a complete blast! There were a few points where we had to walk through because it was a little to difficult, but nothing that was hard.

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  • EricD
    *****

    Tons of fun for beginners.

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  • bigAD
    ***

    A pretty easy trail on the summer time. A great lunch time ride. Super fun fat biking in the winter.

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  • Gary Schomberger
    **

    Cross country Loop. If you need to learn to ride or build base endurance this is your place. Watch for heavy foot traffic.

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  • Ben Jendrek
    ****

    Flying J is small, but a great place for a quick ride. The park should not be a destination for anyone, but is a good spot to check out if you are in the area and want to get in a couple miles.

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  • Michelle Murphy
    ****

    This trail is fun. Easy enough for a beginner, you could take kids on this trail.

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  • Lindsey Ames
    ****

    This trail is so much fun. If it were closer, it'd probably top my list to run laps on. The technical spots are great for beginners to build up some confidence. Unfortunately, the only time I can justify riding this trail is when I'm already up in that area. If you're close and you're a beginner, I definitely highly recommend this ride.

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  • tikigoddess
    ***

    This is my second visit to flying J. Tried it once before in the winter and it made an impression of being easy to get to and flowy and short. It's a convenient trail to get some miles en route to somewhere else. We were off paddle boarding to the platte and it was along the way.

    On a wednesday afternoon and with an impending storm looming, it was a little busy. There were families with kids, dog walkers and joggers running around the trail. I guess they were there due to the same reason we were-- convenience. Given the relatively short and somewhat busy trail conditions- we did all the loop combinations twice. It is not challenging at all. It will be great to bring any beginner to test out a new bike out here. The trail is not intimidating to kids or less experienced riders. The pine loop section has an eerie beauty to it. It is a nice relaxing ride overall. I recommend it for a cool down ride after you visit Meyer's or maybe 3 Sisters which is in the area, but it is not a destination trail for one who is more experienced. It is still worth a try just to check it off your list.

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  • cobeartown
    *****

    Walked this trail with the family today just before the rain and snow. This is a great area.

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  • cobeartown
    *****

    Even though this is a very easy trail, I love the area. Great for newbies and just a relaxing quick ride.

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  • sarahmae2920
    ****

    This is a great trail for a newbie. Passed a few hikers with dogs and some horses. Perfect for a new rider, someone from lower altitude or a family ride.

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  • tetontom
    ****

    I went knowing that it was a rolling, non-technical trail, so I won't bash it like some have. I finished riding 3 Sisters earlier than I thought, so hit a couple new trails on my way back to Lakewood, this being one of them.
    I'll go back again someday with my wife; I'm sure she'll love it.
    Nothing at all wrong with it; good trail surface, nice forest, some cool bridges and raised trail sections. And a couple tricky rock sections for beginners (I actually dropped a foot in an awkward spot...).
    More interesting than some of the other rookie trails like Bear Creek Lake, Flatiron Vista, Hildebrand Ranch, etc... The only other rookie trail as good as this one [that I've ridden] is Dawson's Butte in Castle Rock.
    LOTS of walkers, even on a Wednesday in December...

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  • John Fisch
    **

    You're not going to get much of a workout here, nor will you find any technical fun. It's probably a good trail for a first-timer, but nobody really beyond that unless you're looking for a casual stroll through the woods. It's not just that it's easy, it's also just not very interesting (scenery, flow, etc) compared to other rides in the area. Jeffco has numerous better options.

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  • ScipioAmericanus
    ****

    This is a very smooth trail that's not too steep. It would be perfect for the family or a beginner. I like it because I can go ride a few laps after work if I want to take it kinda easy, and it's usually very quiet and serene. I used to ride it on my old Schwinn, so if you don't have a great bike but still want to get off road, then this would be a great choice; just nice, rolling hills.

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  • bpoll329
    ***

    A good beginner trail. rode counter-clockwise the clockwise, making for a nice bit a variation

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  • Greg Heil   ✓ supporter
    **

    SUPER EASY is true. This trail is so easy, it's almost laughable.

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  • BetterThanAliens
    ****

    Great beginner's trail. I like the fact the loops are short – easy singletrack at 8000+ ft is no joke. The winding section through the trees is great, and it smelled rather fresh.

    I was here on a Sunday morning around 8:00 and there was plenty of walker/dog traffic. It would be a fun trail to do laps on during the week. Recommended if you're new to the sport or area.

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  • jkovaly
    ****

    I parked at the first entrance and rode up the 'Junction House' connector to the main 'Shadow Pine' loop, highly recommend doing this to add 1mi to the ride. This trail was fast and fun, only 2 minor technical sections but the rest is all beginner stuff, really fun though. I rode the loop in one direction and then back around the other direction. I wish it was 20mi long instead of 3, fun stuff but just enough to get me warmed up to go ride some more over at Meyers Ranch just down the road about 6mi.

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