Centennial Cone Park

If there is a more beautiful place for trail riding, I don't want to hear about it. This is close to my house and I don't need to spend more money traveling to support my sports habits.

"The Cone", as the locals call it, is a wonderful ride. I also call it "No Country for Old Men" because of the technical sections at the top which do have some exposure (i.e. you could end up seriously injured in a fall).

A great loop. Remember to take your time and look around. Don't be afraid to walk the spots where an endo could result in a 300 foot downhill roll.

Remember, parts are closed for Elk Breeding season and it's every other day on the weekends for mountain biking. Check the web site to make sure before heading up.

Did this yesterday for first time. I enjoyed it because the climbing was always short sections and nothing that made me want to sell my bike and quit. However, I heeded the reviews and went counter clockwise on Travois. My partner, who loves climbing, went clockwise. When he finally made it to the car, he looked like he'd been hit by a truck and said he felt like he might have a heart attack. He also never wants to return to this trail. (However, going counter-clockwise I also got sick of climbing and made it an out-and-back.
The downhill was super sweet, but not for my friend, who was so exhausted he could barely hang onto the bars). Unless you're a hardcore masochist, go counter clockwise!

(Also, yes, it's very busy (we went on Labor Day) but everyone is very polite about making room so I didn't mind as much as I thought I would)

A great ride close to Denver. Be sure to go on EVEN NUMBERED DAYS on the weekends. Will be closed to bikes odd weekend days. The views alone are worth the trip out.

Great ride - amazing views with manageable distance. I prefer the "counter clockwise" route with the country road finish.

Fantastic trail that is in good shape. We went counter-clockwise and liked our decision. It will be a hard, uphill end to your ride if you go clockwise.

The fields of wildflowers were stunning!

Go clockwise-better be in shape because it's going to kick your a..s. 80% uphill which is a great workout. Fantastic views. Anytime

High quality trail with great views. A good ride for an intermediate or adventurous beginner a few technical sections and some water-barred switchbacks. Features several challenging climbs, providing a pretty tough workout for someone of average fitness.

For someone in moderately decent shape like myself, I was hating life several points on this trail.

The initial climb was soul sucking to me, and I was joyous once it was over.

There were some pretty decent descents, but they weren't really interesting. For me, this trail just wasn't worth all the climbing.

Some really nice meadow views, though. I took a fantastic picture of my bike as well at the top.

This is a wonderful trail! Full of gorgeous views of Clear Creek. I rode this trail Counter Clockwise and there was more downhill then climbing for sure. The Elevation gain/loss seems about right if you go counterclockwise. There is days that only hikers are allowed and vice versa so plan a little. Its a solid ride and there aren't many rocks although there is this one section that is pretty technical and fun. They rest is gorgeous views and flowy single track. Its a must if you live in the front range.

This ride had a lot of climbing, but it was a fun moderate ride.

Great views, in a natural setting

Some long climbs, though all rideable

- Not a lot of trail variety
- Only one main loop
- Reasonable number of hikers on weekdays

Rode this trail the first year it opened and never went back. They might as well have paved it for how non technical it was. If I want smooth and flat I'll go for a road ride.

Fun trail. Not super technical, so this is a good one to bring the significant other along.

Most under-rated trail in the front range.

Great climbs, great descents, fun short technical sections and varied landscapes.

The only knock against this trail is that many of switchbacks are deeply eroded, sharp, and possess railroad ties placed in all the wrong places.

This is a few too many switchbacks to be my favorite, but its great. The Elk Range Trail is pretty boring, but the rest is pretty amazing. I ride clockwise from the Mayhem Gulch lot. I bêt it would be a fun out and back if you just avoid the Elk range trail. But certainly a lot more effort.

Great Ride, perfect intermediate trail.

The primarily smooth terrain make this one fast ride! I did the loop clockwise from the north trailhead (Travois and Elk Range Trails). The route constantly fluctuates between climbing and descending. No extended technical sections--just a couple of rocky sections and a handful of hairpin switchbacks with water bars that require advanced skill to clean. There are steep climbs, however they are short. Climbs exceeding 5% grade are 2 miles or less. The loop route is diverse overall (singletrack, double track, forested areas, and exposed areas).

I'm an older rider, in my 50s and while abit overweight, I consider myself to be in pretty good condition riding 3 times a week. Rode this from Hwy 6 at Mayhem Gulch, Clockwise through Elk Range Trail, Travois Trail, and back down Mayhem Gulch to Hwy 6. As someone else stated, this is a tough ride. Its not technically tough, but its a good test of your physical conditioning. It was a good reality check for me. The climb out of the parking lot is a good indication of what you are in for. While the trail is not technically difficult it does have some technical sections and the fist sized rocks throughout the entire loop does require some "torque" to get through on the climbs and a bit of attention on the downhill. Some have commented about the steep drops in some sections that could cause serious harm should you fall. While thats true, I never felt that any sections were dangerous, scary or that if I made even a slight mistake I would fall to my death or be injured. I could see not paying attention to what you are doing could potentially cause you harm... But you'd have to be pretty "unaware".

IMO, what made this ride tough was the elevation changes. Its not like some rides where you grind to that top and wind your way down, this is a bunch of climbs and descents. Not shallow either, check the elevation profile. Very much "interval" training style". I felt it was definitely an "intermediate" ride because of the degree of conditioning needed, but I don't see why a physically fit beginner couldn't do it. (Of course I'm not talking first ride)

I can see why some folks like this trail. I must be getting old. I rode the whole thing clockwise from US 6 [mayhem] and found it way too long. The views above Clear Creek were unreal but be under no illusion this trail is a hard ride from start to the end. A rider I was talking to 'up top' was almost bit by a rattle snake which was sunning his ass on a rock. Bring your A game here and BE PREPAIRED. it would be a long lonely walk outta there.....

I can't believe I waited so long to ride this trail. This is the best trail in the JeffCo parks that I've ridden. We did the single track both ways from Mayhem Gulch, and there wasn't a bad mile all day. It was great to ride 22 miles and never have to even drop a foot!