Blue Dot | Bubblicious

Lollipops, Dots, Star Wars; to some this might sound like movie night with the kids but for a Boulder County fat tire junkie this can only mean one thing: sweet single-track.  Lollipop Loop, Red/Yellow/Blue Dot, Bear Down/Star Wars, just to name a few, are part of a network of classic mountain bike trails affectionately known as the Dot Trails.  Located just outside the town of Nederland Colorado here you’ll find everything from grueling technical climbs to manic chutes through tight single-track, all under the cover of Rocky Mountain landscaping. 

My ride began at the Nederland Park-n-Ride.  From here I rode up the Peak to Peak Hwy to Magnolia Road.  I took a quick detour down Boot then back to Magnolia for a little flavor, kind of like sneaking a few kernels of popcorn while pouring your soft drink.  I entered Blue Dot just off Magnolia Road at mile 4.18 of my ride.  From here it is a mild descent on double-track through towering pines.  The trail narrows gradually to fine single-track on a mixture of Dirt and small rocks, classic Ned tread.  The climbs are gentle by Colorado standards but you will encounter some rather technical sections that will require strong legs and superb rock-hopping abilities.  Threading through the forest is definitely a highlight and the aspen groves will brighten up this trail deliciously in the fall.

You’ll reach the Red Dot/Yellow Dot loop at the 6.4 mile mark.  This section can get a little rocky in areas with an occasional steep climb and descent, one in particular can be a bit precarious with jagged boulders and exposed roots but don’t despair the soft center of the tootsie pop is not far off.  The mountain vegetation gets thick in parts which makes this section that much sweeter.  This loop ran for 1.7 miles and may add about half an hour to your ride.

The whole route from Blue Dot to the Front Range trailhead took me roughly an hour to complete and ran approximately 9.25 miles.  The elevation gain and loss was minimal for a high country ride although there are a couple of areas that rise and fall pretty steeply.

The Front Range road is wide double-track all the way to the trailhead and Magnolia Road and it’s here that I ran into a couple of guys who convinced me that the ride back down to Boulder is Red Hot.  The ride down was intense, reaching speeds in excess of 40 miles an hour on fat nobby tires is not for the fearful.  Mountain bike tires get squirrely on pavement and the fast approaching hairpin turns at high speed are extremely hard on your brakes.

The afternoon went down like sugar; Click here for the trail profile and next time you get a craving head out west for a little sweetness.  Thanks for clicking in and I hope to see you on the trail.

Dirt Life

Fourth of July | Some Summer

Looking for a good off-road workout up in the mountains but you aren’t in the mood for obstacles then I’ve got the ride for you; Fourth of July in old town Eldora.  Fourth of July is actually a Dirt road (County Road 111) that leads up to the Fourth of July trailhead and the Buckingham Campground.  The road is quite popular on weekends and parking at the base and at the top is very limited.  If you’re out for a hike you can catch the shuttle at Nederland High School to the Hessie trailhead and Fourth of July road.  I chose to start the timer at Nederland High School.

From Nederland High School it’s almost 4 miles west to CR 111 road and the Hessie trailhead.  The climb is steady all the way to Fourth of July trailhead with nothing bigger than softball sized rocks to contend with, perfect for a hardtail but may be a bit bumpy on the way down.  The views are amazing as you travel deeper into the Indian Peaks wilderness.  On the way you’ll pass some unbelievable stream shots which are only surpassed by the scented mountain air and if you’re lucky you might even get a little rain.

Once at the top (approx. 10,100 feet) if you have any energy left you can hike up the Arapahoe Pass 904 trail to the Continental Divide (11,900 feet) or if you’re feeling even more adventurous try some backcountry camping for that true mountain experience.  The ride down can get a little bumpy at times and fast if you lay off the brakes, just be careful because the rocks are loose and the shade can hide some endo-makers.

I’d like to pay special thanks to Mark and Pat of Illinois for the pleasant conversation and Big Fallacy stout; drive safe and maybe we’ll see you next year.

After a long ride in or around Nederland Colorado don’t forget to make your way to the Backcountry Pizza and Subs for a slice of heaven then to the Very Nice Brewing Co. for some fine craft brew.  Summer is Colorado’s best kept secret so dust off that mountain or road bike and head for the hills.  Click here for the ride profile.

Thanks for clicking in and I hope to see you on the trail - Dirt Life