Sky Pilot rates a black diamond on the trail map, thanks to some fairly substantial jumps, gaps/step downs, and a few burly ledge drops mixed into the flow. Hitting all of the features requires advanced-level jumping skills. However, if you just want to enjoy the swoop and flow of this purpose-built mountain bike trail, it's fairly easy to roll over all the table tops and avoid the mandatory drops. You'll have to be diligent about spotting and avoiding the features, but it's very possible for an intermediate rider to have a fun time on this trail without sending all of the jumps.

Still, Sky Pilot rewards you if you clear every single hit. Since the jumps are stacked so close together, it's necessary to hit all the transitions close to perfect in order to carry enough speed for the next jump or drop. If you lose your rhythm, it may take you a little while to pick it back up again.

One of the biggest challenges on this ride is keeping your eyes on the trail. Sky Pilot is situated on a stunningly beautiful ridge with wide-open views of Lake Dillon Reservoir directly below you and towering mountains in the background. Be sure to at least pause at the top to appreciate this incredible location and the opportunity to ride such a fantastic trail in a beautiful locale!

The route shown here is a figure-8 loop that accesses Sky Pilot as quickly as possible, utilizing the newly built (in 2022) Queen of the West trail. Queen of the West is itself a fantastic ride, with entertaining jumps, drops, a few berms, and fantastic views! After Queen of the West crosses Sky Pilot, the route climbs steeply up a switchbacked trail (Switchback -> Crossover -> Crown Pt) to gain the ridge and the top of the descent.

After finishing Sky Pilot, you can easily pedal straight back up to the top for another lap! Look for the lower section of Switchback to begin the climb.