Trail difficulty
Green
Elevation Gain
10.00 ft (3.05 m)
Trail type
Shuttle
Distance
2.24 mi (3.60 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The 18 Road Mountain Bike Trails are a wonder of western Colorado nestled at the base of the Bookcliffs just outside Fruita. Nowhere else can you find a trail system so accessible to all levels of riders, from young to old. Race down the slalom style course and feel the speed as it sticks you to the trail and pushes you to go even harder. Get ready for an amazing ride with tight banked corners and fun straight-away sections that blaze through the juniper and desert scrub. Brag to your friends about how you completed the Kessel Run in record time, and then ride back to the top to do it all over again. 

This trail inspires confidence in new riders wishing to go faster and push their trail handling abilities, and it makes experienced riders feel like a kid again as they whip around without a care. Locals say you can ride this trail both ways at 18 Road; on busy days, however, there are so many riders coming down it might as well be a one way.  Don't let this stop you, though, because Kessel Run is a trail that is not to be missed.

If this run has you wanting more, Joe's Ridge and Zippity are more challenging and well-worth exploring. And there's no closer spot to camp than the North Fuita Desert Campground.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Best trails in the Fruita area. Easy to find and navigate. Riders of all ages can navigate. Camping onsite.

Cons

Can be busy on weekends. Rough road to the parking area.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Trailhead Elevation

5,480.00 ft (1,670.30 m)

Features

Bird watching
Wildlife
Big Game Watching
Big Game Watching

Suitable for

Hiking

Location

Comments

11/05/2015
Looks like great family fun with enough challenge to keep it interesting!
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