Hermit Park Open Space

With bicycles permitted only on the road within Rocky Mountain National Park, one must look outside the national park to find trails for mountain biking near Estes Park. Riding at Hermit Park Open Space just minutes from Estes is an amazing opportunity to enjoy some flowy, rocky, and root-filled trails that see little biking traffic.

This expansive 1,362-acre open space provides over 8 miles of trails with connectors to extend your ride to Homestead Meadows for approximately 15 miles of additional riding. The only trail in the area that isn’t open to mountain bikes is the Kruger Rock Trail. The Limber Pine Trail starts after the entrance to the park and is well worth the $9 entrance fee. Passing through the twisty, pine-laden trail with breathtaking views of the meadows below, you’ll soon see why this is rock-filled playground is a ride not to be missed.

On the far end of the park, the 5.2-mile Limber Pine Trail connects with the Moose Meadows Trail, and at this point the ride can be extended to include the many miles of the Homestead Meadows trails. There are several unmarked side trails throughout the park, many of which feature rock drops and more adventurous jumps and obstacles, so be sure to bring your GPS if venturing off the main trails. If time is an issue, the easiest way to return to the start is to take the road back to the park entrance. Locals often make this ride a shuttle run from the Limber Pine Trail all the way down to the end of Lion Gulch past some of the historic homesteads of Homestead Meadows. It’s not only a stop for great hiking, biking, and equestrian riding, but a fantastic place to camp or rent cabins for your stay near Estes Park.