The Kokopelli Trail system offers some of the most scenic riding you can find anywhere in the Southwest. If you enjoy slickrock riding, epic river canyon views, and ride options ranging from casual to advanced, you will love your time at the Kokopelli Trail System in Loma, Colorado.
Most folks out riding at Kokopelli are doing day rides on one of the many loops in the network.
Rustler’s Loop – 3.5 miles, Mary’s Loop – 8.5 miles, and Steve’s Loop – 2.9 miles, are all excellent choices for less technical riding. Try Rustler’s as your first loop and go from there!
Horsethief Bench Loop – 3.6 miles, Wrangler -3 miles, and Hawkeye – 3 miles, all offer a step up in technically challenging trail features and bigger climbs.
Mack Ridge Trail – 7.1 miles and Moore Fun Trail – 4.3 miles are the most difficult trails in the network, with Moore Fun often referred to as the most challenging trail in the whole Grand Valley. Combine these two trails for the Ridgeline Tour.
The trail system’s namesake, the Kokopelli Trail, is a 142-mile bikepacking route that weaves together rugged jeep roads and technical singletrack to bridge the gap between two legendary dirt capitals: Fruita and Moab.
The Kokopelli Trail isn’t just a ride, it’s a piece of mountain biking history. This route was pioneered by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) before full-suspension bikes were even a thing!
But the vision didn’t stop there. By linking the Kokopelli with the Paradox and Tabeguache trails, COPMOBA engineered the “Grand Loop.” This massive circuit through Southwest Colorado and Utah allows riders to bypass the logistical headache of a shuttle and pedal their way right back to where they started.
The most recent trails to get laid in the Grand Valley have been a continuation of COPMOBA’s efforts, adding new sections of singletrack to bypass steep doubletrack climbs. These great additions make the network even more fun to ride, while keeping bikes and cars off of shared doubletrack.
Tips from the locals:
Rustler’s Loop is one of the best “Intro to MTB” rides in the Grand Valley. It is accessible, with some small technical sections that are not overwhelming for beginners. There are also small signs along the route that offer tips to newer riders on form and technique. The trail provides a few fantastic views of the Colorado River as it flows through Ruby-Horsethief Canyon. The best part is, you end with a fast, flowy descent that will have you smiling ear-to-ear as you arrive back at the parking lot.
Things to do after your ride:
Get your creaky bike tuned up at Over the Edge.
Grab a slice of pizza at the iconic Hot Tomato.
Get your morning fix from Bestslope Coffee.
