Why? "Two things," writes local mountain bike explorer John Fisch. "First, it is the ultimate technical playground with a huge fun-bang for your effort-buck and second, it sits right smack in the geographic center of the city. It’s an easy drive from anywhere, and a huge chunk of the city’s population can simply ride there from their home."

This 730-acre city park boasts over 20 miles of high-quality rock-strewn singletrack that creates a veritable playground for mountain bikers. While there are a few easy trails and a fair smattering of intermediate trails, many of the lines here are tough, rocky, technical test pieces that will have advanced mountain bikers raving!

Many of these rock features are embedded rock slabs and rippled rock rolls, opening up a multitude of line possibilities and the opportunity to session several zones along the trail. In between the rock slabs, chunky rock gardens predominate, putting your bike's suspension to the test. And in between the rock gardens, you'll find classic Colorado Front Range kitty litter consisting of decomposing granite that has sloughed off the rocky cliff faces and slabs over the eons.

The loop shown here circumnavigates Palmer Park, hitting many of the best trails and connecting them into one logical loop without any backtracking. As you look at the map, you'll notice all of the cross trails that bisect this trail system. As you grow more familiar with Palmer Park, you'll undoubtedly find yourself connecting many alternate segments together, doubling back on yourself, and focusing on your favorite bits of trail. But for the perfect primer loop in this incredible city park, follow this itinerary for a fantastic mountain bike ride!

Sources: RootsRated.com Singletracks.com