Garfield County Mountain Bike Rides: Wulfsohn

Garfield County offers a wide variety of mountain bike trails — smooth dirt and rocky descents; short, rollercoaster funfests; and long, challenging epics. Plus, terrain spans rocky, desert riding to lush, forest scenes.

There are lots of trails close to towns (or in them), and some that require a long drive into national forest land.

See if you can pry secrets from local bike shops, or at least get advice on trail conditions.

GETTING THERE

From downtown Glenwood Springs, travel west on Eighth Street. Turn right onto Midland Avenue at the light, then left on Wulfsohn Road at the Community Center.

TRAIL TALK

Still a fairly new trail system, Wulfsohn trails range from really easy to fairly difficult. Nothing is too long, and trails are close to town for a quick ride. Add a little mileage and an easy warm-up by parking at the Jeanne Golay Trailhead and riding Olsen Trail over to Wulfsohn.

DEFIANCE

Distance — 1.4 miles

Difficulty — Moderate/Difficult

THE DIRT:

Probably the system’s crown jewel, Defiance climbs up the hillside through oak brush with some tight turns, steep climbs and even a few rocks. Ride back on Stevie Bob, or add in Wulfsohn North for the whole experience.

STEVIE BOB

Distance — 1.1 miles

Difficulty — Moderate

THE DIRT:

This is a fun, twisty, rocky, intermediate trail great for making loops with other trails.

WULFSOHN TRAIL — NORTH

Distance — 0.5 miles

Difficulty — Moderate

THE DIRT:

This trail is a good, rocky, intermediate singletrack accessing the park or leading to views at the Wave on the Colorado River.