- Created: May 26, 2021 6:25 pm
- Updated: June 1, 2021 6:56 pm
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 10.821 miles
- Time 4 h 14 min
- Speed 2 mph
- Min altitude 5,757.874 ft
- Peak 7,434.383 ft
- Climb 2,431.102 ft
- Descent 2,437.664 ft
To many local riders, the Grandstaff Trail is Glenwood Spring's flagship ride. With a gentle road climb and 1,500 feet of rocky flow descending, the Grandstaff loop is hard to top. As for riding the Grandstaff alone, its pretty straight forward. Ride up the road and drop into the ripping descent. Once at the bottom and pumped with adrenaline, one has to decide whether to do the climb all over again for a repeat or cut the day short and hit the nearest watering hole.
If one chooses to quit riding after a Grandstaff loop, that's ok. After the adrenaline rush of Grandstaff, it's hard to find anything to compare. But anyone who wants to get in a longer ride might be feeling a little unsatisfied. That's where Wulfsohn comes in.
Often overlooked is the fun technical riding of the Wulfsohn Trail system located to the Northwest of Grandstaff. The Wulfsohn system offers a great 30-minute loop that one can use as a warm up to the Grandstaff Road climb. Or as a quick lunch loop. Or even as a ride to choose if weather is threatening and a rider wants to be close to the car in case of a cloudburst.
For this week's ride, we have combined a great techy warm up loop in Wulfsohn with the epic ride of Grandstaff. Its a figure-8 course with plenty of action and great views. Enjoy!
Directions:
Park above the Glenwood Community Center to the southeast of the Glenwood Meadows shopping complex. The trailhead is in the southeast corner of the parking lot. Climb out of the parking lot and continue up and onto the Defiance trail. Defiance climbs to the west over rocky twisting terrain. Continue west on Defiance. On the Western edge of the loop there is a short and narrow spur loop that adds a little spicy rocky riding to the full ride.
After the western loop, go east on Stevie Bob trail and loop back to where the ride began on Defiance. But instead of going left to the parking lot or right and up defiance, continue northeast onto the Olsen Trail which wraps around the ridge to the bottom of the Grandstaff Trail which is up and to the right.
At the pavement, turn right and climb the road. Do not climb up the Grandstaff Trail. Climb the road approximately 20 switchbacks up. There are three or four midway drop ins into Grandstaff. We recommend going to the top most entrance on the left of the road about 75 yards from the giant cross overlooking the city of Glenwood Springs. Check out the overlook if you like.
Before dropping in, be sure to batten down the hatches and get your gear in line because you're about to have one heck of a wild ride!
Link Sharing
To many local riders, the Grandstaff Trail is Glenwood Spring’s flagship ride. With a gentle road climb and 1,500 feet of rocky flow descending, the Grandstaff loop is hard to top. As for riding the Grandstaff alone, its pretty straight forward. Ride up the road and drop into the ripping descent. Once at the bottom and pumped with adrenaline, one has to decide whether to do the climb all over again for a repeat or cut the day short and hit the nearest watering hole.
If one chooses to quit riding after a Grandstaff loop, that’s ok. After the adrenaline rush of Grandstaff, it’s hard to find anything to compare. But anyone who wants to get in a longer ride might be feeling a little unsatisfied. That’s where Wulfsohn comes in.
Often overlooked is the fun technical riding of the Wulfsohn Trail system located to the Northwest of Grandstaff. The Wulfsohn system offers a great 30-minute loop that one can use as a warm up to the Grandstaff Road climb. Or as a quick lunch loop. Or even as a ride to choose if weather is threatening and a rider wants to be close to the car in case of a cloudburst.
For this week’s ride, we have combined a great techy warm up loop in Wulfsohn with the epic ride of Grandstaff. Its a figure-8 course with plenty of action and great views. Enjoy!
Directions:
Park above the Glenwood Community Center to the southeast of the Glenwood Meadows shopping complex. The trailhead is in the southeast corner of the parking lot. Climb out of the parking lot and continue up and onto the Defiance trail. Defiance climbs to the west over rocky twisting terrain. Continue west on Defiance. On the Western edge of the loop there is a short and narrow spur loop that adds a little spicy rocky riding to the full ride.
After the western loop, go east on Stevie Bob trail and loop back to where the ride began on Defiance. But instead of going left to the parking lot or right and up defiance, continue northeast onto the Olsen Trail which wraps around the ridge to the bottom of the Grandstaff Trail which is up and to the right.
At the pavement, turn right and climb the road. Do not climb up the Grandstaff Trail. Climb the road approximately 20 switchbacks up. There are three or four midway drop ins into Grandstaff. We recommend going to the top most entrance on the left of the road about 75 yards from the giant cross overlooking the city of Glenwood Springs. Check out the overlook if you like.
Before dropping in, be sure to batten down the hatches and get your gear in line because you’re about to have one heck of a wild ride!