I began my ride from the lower trailhead off W. 56th
Avenue. I prefer climbing early then
ending the day with the descent. White
Ranch has another trailhead up higher with the parking areas accessed by
Crawford Gulch or Drew Hill Roads.
Attempting this ride from the W. 56th trailhead with no real endurance training
during the winter was my first mistake.
Planning my route with no inquiry was another.
White Ranch will require a number of different skills to
complete safely. I would not recommend
this route to a novice rider; an intermediate rider would also have some
difficulty with this route and some sections I can’t imagine even the most
advanced rider passing without dismounting.
The first section up Belcher Hill Trail is quite
pleasant. There is a very short rock
section that is certainly passable with the proper skill set but it’s so short
that dismounting and walking your bike will get you back on your way without
much fuss. Most of the first mile is
climbing but the trail is well groomed and for most fit riders it shouldn’t be
too difficult. A beginner or someone
from low altitude may have some difficulty through this section. The sights are ok if you don’t mind views of
luxury living in the foothills of Golden Colorado. Personally, if I’m setting out to explore on
a mountain bike I would prefer views of rugged wilderness but White Ranch will
provide some atmosphere along the way.
You reach the first trail junction at 1.13 miles. You have the option to go left and continue
up Belcher Hill Trail or you can go right up Whippletree Trail. Now if I had done any preparation it would
have been recommended that I go left but since I am always too anxious just to
get on the trail I have to learn for myself.
Whippletree turned out to be quite a treat. The trail was in fine condition with a mild
climb at first then a juicy rolling downhill section, sure to put a smile on
your face. There are a few blind turns
so keep your speed in check and look out for other trail users. The thrill is relatively short and at about
1.7 miles you reach the Longhorn Trail.
You can either climb to the left or descend to the right. If I could do it all over again….. I took the trail right and continued
downhill. For the next 0.2 miles you
will rollover a few water bars or if you’re brave enough you can jump off them
but be very careful because you can gain a lot of speed here and they don’t
call these the Rockies for nothing.
The trail comes to an abrupt about face at 1.95
miles. The next 0.81 miles is absolute
torture. I’m certainly no advanced
rider but I’m also not a beginner but this section was almost impossible for me
this early in the season. Some parts are
just too rocky to roll over so you are forced to carry your bike. When you are able to ride, the climb can be
so strenuous it almost-ALMOST-takes the fun out of it. I was determined so turning back was out of
the question. I’m not too proud to admit
that I had to walk the bike a good portion of the way. By the way, you know it’s steep when you lay
your bike down and it starts to slide down the trail.
So I finally reach the junction of Longhorn and Shorthorn
trails. Thankfully a couple of White
Ranch veterans were taking a break and set me straight. Impressed as they were at my attempt up this
leg of Longhorn Trail, they clearly recommended riding this in the opposite
direction-thanks guys, I’ll remember that next time. They point me towards Shorthorn and describe
a delectable treat and what a tasty treat it was. From about the 2.66 mile mark to about the
4.04 mark you will be treated to some of the finest rolling sections White
Ranch has to offer. The dirt was nice
and damp and very tacky. A couple of
high bank turns hit the spot. This
time of year you’re bound to hit some snowy spots but today only a couple. A little climbing along the way and some
obstacles like rocks and roots but nothing you can’t step over. My route peaks again at 4.04 miles then the
speedy track home.
This section is very rocky so keep your eyes on the trail
and watch your speed-mountain bike helmets are a must on this section. If your bike has full suspension, let it travel
because without it this will be a bumpy ride.
There are many trail users and most mountain bikers will take this route
so always yield when rolling downhill-don’t worry you’ll get back up to speed
in no time.
The ride back down Whippletree was awesome. Here’s a tip for all you mountain bikers. Say Thank You to all you pass; hikers,
horseback riders and other mountain bikers – this will help build a positive
image of us. As always, follow along at connect.garmin.com/activity/294191192 and use my Garmin page to plan your next
trip.
Snow on the way, which means mud will follow –
yummy! Hope to see you on the trail.
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