West Magnolia Mountain Bike Loop

Located just outside the town of Nederland, Colorado, West Magnolia is a storied mountain bike ride that is very popular with the locals. Nederland is the Dutch name for the Netherlands, and the town is so named because the Dutch bought the largest mine in the area in the 1870s. Although it is poorly marked and difficult to find, this trail is a marvelous maze of singletrack that snakes through pine forests and recent clearcut areas. The loop described here will take you on the outside perimeter of the park, and there are many other trails nearby to make shorter loops in order to extend your ride. Most of the ride is relatively flat and easy to navigate, and the trail is fairly buff and smooth with little technical rocks to negotiate.

The West Magnolia Loop is a great endurance ride if you're looking to get some miles in but want to keep the elevation gain to a minimum. After you've finished your ride, stop at Nederland and check out it's eclectic and unique vibe. Home of the Frozen Dead Guy Days, which occurs every year in early March, it's one of the most down-to-earth places to visit in the mountains.