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Great singletrack with some elevation in a beautiful natural setting.


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Map Key

6.8

Miles

11.0

KM

88%

Runnable

6,998' 2,133 m

High

6,158' 1,877 m

Low

1,175' 358 m

Up

1,177' 359 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildlife

The section north/northwest of Whippletree on Longhorn Trail is BIKES ONLY.

Overview

Great winding singletrack through the foothills outside of Golden. Views of Denver and Golden, with some climbing and speedy descents. Feels remote and generally quiet.

Need to Know

Mostly wooded, but some exposure in summer. Plentiful parking. Note that there are two parking areas for White Ranch, this starts at the lower one off of west 56th ave.

Runner Notes

This climbs the first section of Belcher Hill and has some semi-technical ups and downs, but is overall very runnable.

Description

Start out at the lower trailhead for White Ranch park in Golden and begin up Belcher Hill. The first section winds through a valley, crossing a short rocky area, leading up to the Belcher Hill climb about a mile up.

Follow Belcher Hill on a rough washed out 4wd type road. Pass Whippletree on the right and continue up to Longhorn Trail on the right about 0.25 miles further up.

Take Longhorn to Shorthorn Trail. Stay left at Shorthorn. This is really nice singletrack winding and climbing through the foothills. There are some rocky sections, but mostly the trail is manageable. Follow Shorthorn for about a mile until it meets with Longhorn again. Longhorn can no longer be accessed to the right, heading down, as this is now BIKES ONLY.

From this junction, head back the way you came, only this time, head left down Longhorn Trail. As you get towards the bottom of Longhorn, there will be one short, steep climb back up to Whippletree.

Head back on Whippletree to rejoin with the Belcher Hill trail for the last mile back to the parking area.

Contacts

Shared By:

Jeffrey Williams with improvements by Val Schwebach

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 34 votes

#508

Overall
  4.0 from 34 votes
5 Star
32%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#111

in Colorado

#508

Overall
32 Views Last Month
8,276 Since Mar 29, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

3%
0%
76%
0%
21%
0%

Photos

Looking north
Mar 27, 2019 near Golden, CO
First mile of the trail
Mar 27, 2019 near Golden, CO
Denver and Golden in the background on Shorthorn Trail.
Nov 24, 2015 near Golden, CO
The start of the shady part of the trail.
Aug 5, 2017 near Golden, CO
More rocks on Shorthorn!
Nov 9, 2015 near Golden, CO
Some great running on Longhorn Trail.
Nov 9, 2015 near Golden, CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 93 days ago
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