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Mount Falcon: Castle Trail West Loop

Morrison

Family-friendly biking loop on Mount Falcon, featuring "The Castle" ruins and mountaintop views..

Mountain Biking Easy

Distance
3.4 km
Ascent
83 m
Descent
83 m
Duration
0-1 hrs
Low Point
2.3 km
High Point
2.4 km
Gradient
Mount Falcon: Castle Trail West Loop Map

Mount Falcon is known for quality trails, great views, and interesting history. This easy loop near the top of the mountain gives a taste of all that. It begins from the Mount Falcon Park West Trailhead, which is nearly at the same elevation as the mountain’s summit. A wide and mostly flat trail leads along a sparsely treed ridgeline, granting wide-open views over the valley below and Rocky Mountain peaks in the distance.

Description

Make a loop with Meadow Trail, which rides the perimeter of a grassy valley fringed with pine forest. Where Meadow Trail reconnects with Castle Trail, a short spur leads to The Castle itself. These ruins are what’s left of a 100-year-old home built by a Denver-area entrepreneur. When you look around the site, you’ll see why he wanted to live here. Mountain breezes keep the air cool all summer, and from the Castle’s windows he could have seen all the way to the city, far below.

Castle Trail leads back to the trailhead. There are a number of other, more difficult trails in the area as well. If you want a longer and more challenging loop, try adding any of the blue (intermediate) trails that connect with Castle and Meadow trails.

Sources: https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/9378/Mount-Falcon-Park-Map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JohnBrisbenWalker

Difficulty

Easy

Mostly smooth and non-technical singletrack with unavoidable obstacles 2in/5cm tall or less. Avoidable obstacles may be present. Ideal for beginner riders.

Low Exposure

1 out of 4

The path is on completely flat land and potential injury is limited to falling over.

Remoteness

1 out of 4

Close to help in case of emergency.

Best time to visit

between April and October

Features

  • Picturesque

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area