On the northwest corner of Gunnison is a low hill festooned with a
"G." This is the site of a trail system, new in 2023, with 6.5
miles of singletrack. The trails are easy both aerobically and
technically. The expected riding season will be mid-April through
November.
Looking northeast toward the hill as we ride the main
loop counterclockwise. Trail review by Bruce
on May 1, 2023.
The trails were purpose-built for mountain biking. The
system has a two-way trail leading from the trailhead over the ridge to a
loop in the valley to the west. The loop seems designed to be done
counterclockwise. A downhill trail leads from the ridgeline back to the
parking area. More trails are planned.
Turns are nicely banked. Many soft areas have been
reinforced with crushed rock.
Elevation change is minimal, with 100 feet of climbing to
get over the ridge and 100 on the way back. At this time, the trails do
not have official names. There are no trail signs.
Unfortunately motocycles discovered the western side of the loop and
have already done considerable damage through irresponsible riding.
Hopefully, trail signs and education will stop this.
About as close to technical as this area gets. We're
dropping down through a rock outcrop on the eastern side of the loop,
heading north.
Trailhead
At US-89 (Main Street) in Gunnison, go west on 300 North.
Turn right (north) on 200 West. The road will turn to gravel, and a short
bit later (0.4 miles from 300 North), a road turns left into a gravel
parking area. The outgoing trail is just up the dirt road from the parking
area, on the right as you go uphill from parking. The trail that crosses
the wash into the west side of parking is the returning downhill trail.
At the trailhead parking, looking west. You can make
out the uphill trail to the right of my car.
Ridge Trail (not the official name)
The "Ridge Trail" will take you across the hill to
the main riding loop. In the parking area, go uphill (west) on the dirt
road for around 50 feet and spot the outgoing trail on your right. The
trail will wind back and forth across the slope as it gradually climbs to
the ridgeline. It will be 0.6 miles to the top, where you'll hit a dirt
road.
The trail leading to the loop is across the road, slightly uphill.
Around 30 feet up the dirt road, the downhill trail forks off to the left.
Heading uphill as we begin the ride. No shade here,
so in the summer, pick your riding time wisely.
The descending portion of the ridge trail starts at the dirt
road on top of the ridge and descends 0.6 miles to a trail fork with the
main loop. The orientation of the fork suggests that the trail-builders
intended for you to keep straight and ride the loop counterclockwise.
Descending to the west after crossing the ridge.
Main West Valley Loop (not the official name)
At the trail fork where the "Ridge Trail" ends,
keep straight. The singletrack will head north and east before looping
back to the west and southbound. At mile 0.9, there's a soft new trail on
your right (see below). For now, keep straight and cross the dirt road
just ahead.
Looking south as we ride past a few rocks.
The trail will turn downhill and wind around until it drops
you onto a dirt road at mile 2.2 of the loop. Keep straight and left on
the dirt road.
After just 1/10th mile on the doubletrack, turn left onto a smaller
dirt road that climbs toward the hill. After another 0.4 miles, fork right
on an even-smaller dirt road. In another 1/10th mile (mile 0.7 from the
singletrack, mile 2.9 of the loop), turn left onto singletrack.
Doubletrack heading back toward the hill. Looking
east. (This photo is of an alternate doubletrack that will take us up to
the main loop near where the northern alternate loop forked away.)
The loop singletrack will now turn back to the north. In 0.2
miles it will cross a dirt road at the base of the mountain. (This is the
dirt road you were climbing before you forked to the right.) You'll now
enter the most technical terrain of the ride, but it's none too techy.
Looking southwest at a slope we just descended on the
eastern side of the loop.
Keep working north on the singletrack, and cross a second
dirt road at mile 0.7 from the doubletrack, mile 3.6 of the loop.
Nice fast banked turn!
At mile 4.1 of the loop, you'll arrive back at the loop
fork, where keeping straight give you another lap, and a hard right turn
takes you home.
Heading north toward the loop fork to complete the
loop.
Northern Loop Option (not the official name)
This trail is still new and hasn't had the riding lines and
finish work completed. It's soft, but is rideable. At mile 0.9 of the main
loop when riding clockwise (see above), this trail forks away on your
right, just before the loop crosses a dirt road.
You'll make a backwards "S" ride down and to the north for
1.4 miles. The singletrack will then end on a dirt road. If you keep
straight and left, this road will take you to where the main loop dumps
onto doubletrack in 0.7 miles, forming an alternate version of the loop
ride.
Westbound. In this photo, you can see how crushed
limestone/dolomite has been added to firm up the riding surface of an area
of soft soil.
Son of a Gunnison DH (not the official name)
This easy downhill flow trail starts at the doubletrack on
the ridgeline where the outgoing trail from parking crosses. It's just 30
feet uphill from the trail crossing, on your left.
Ready to drop into the downhill.
The downhill is technically easy, with around 120 feet of
elevation loss over its 0.5 miles. You'll finish at the western edge of
the parking lot.
Cruising on down.
A look at the G Hill trails
(before they even have names)...
If the above video does not appear on your
browser/device, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking
here.
Getting there:
At US-89 (Main Street) in Gunnison, go west on 300 North. Turn right
(north) on 200 West. The road will turn to gravel, and a short bit later
(0.4 miles from 300 North), a road turns left into a gravel parking area.
The outgoing trail is just up the dirt road from the parking area, on the
right as you go uphill from parking. The trail that crosses the wash into
the west side of parking is the returning downhill trail.
Note! The names shown on the map are NOT
official. Names (and trail signs) are still pending.
No bathrooms, water, or services at trailhead.
Commercial campgrounds in Gunnison.
