Alderfer / Three Sisters

A highly trafficked trail system with great views.

Mountain Biking Difficult

Distance: 20 km
Ascent: 671 m
Descent: 670 m
Duration: 2-3 hrs

Low Point: 2.2 km
High Point: 2.6 km
Gradient: 7˚

The Alderfer / Three Sisters trail system is a popular Front Range trail network that attracts hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers looking to escape from the city. Due to its easy access from Denver, it's a highly trafficked trail system, and the trailhead can be completely full on the weekends. If you can, riding during mid-week is highly recommended.

Photo from Alderfer / Three Sisters — Photo: Photo: Brian Wolski, Shutterstock

Description

Alderfer / Three Sisters is known for its incredible views. There are several elevated lookouts throughout the park that provide spectacular views of the nearby rolling mountains, with jagged peaks in the distance. The route shown here reaches the summit of Evergreen Mountain—the highest point in the trail system.

This 12.6-mile lollipop loop makes the most of this small trail system with minimal amounts of doubling back. The majority of the trails in this network are fairly easy, on the low end of intermediate, but a few sections do exceed with some challenging rocks.

Sources: https://www.jeffco.us/980/Alderfer-Three-Sisters-Park https://www.jeffco.us/facilities/facility/details/AlderferThree-Sisters-Park-1 https://dayhikesneardenver.com/alderefer-and-three-sisters-park/

Difficulty

Difficult

Mostly stable trail tread with some variability featuring larger and more unavoidable obstacles that may include, but not be limited to: bigger stones, roots, steps, and narrow curves. Compared to lower intermediate, technical difficulty is more advanced and grades of slopes are steeper. Ideal for upper intermediate riders.