Bikes not allowed on Canyon and Benjamin Loops on Wednesdays & Saturdays. Betasso Link Trail is open 7 days as week.
Betasso Preserve is a great intermediate area close to downtown Boulder. Because of its popularity, bikes are not allowed on Wednesday and Saturdays. This ride is rated blue due to small technical rocks and roots features, moderate climbing and many sections of exposure.
Start at the main parking lot at the Canyon Loop trailhead on the left side of Betasso Rd. If this lot is full, there is more parking up the road. Both loops are directional for bikes and change monthly so please make sure to follow the arrows. You'll follow Canyon Loop around to the Loop Link trail. This trail is NOT directional for bikes and is narrow with lots of blind corners so ride with caution (and maybe a good bell). The low point of the Loop Link trail crosses a creek, it's a great time to appreciate you are only 3 miles from Downtown Boulder but it feels like you are in the middle of the Rockies.
Next, you'll come to Benjamin Loop. This trail is directional for bikes so check the arrow. Half way around, you'll come to another intersection to the Fourmile Link trail. If you want to add this trail as an out-and-back, it's about a mile long and has 2 short staircases that are hike-a-bike in both directions for most riders. Finish the Benjaimin Loop (if it's running the "good way", aka clockwise you may want to take another lap), then retrace your path on the Loop Link. Now you are back to Canyon Loop and you'll continue around in the direction you started.
Local Trail Association
International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) (www.imba.com)Trail Products
-
Boulder Area Trails AppPhone App
27 Reviews & Comments
We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!
Create a FREE account to view route comments and much more.
Trails in Route
295 ft | |||||
1 mile | |||||
3,783 ft | |||||
2 miles | |||||
3,783 ft | |||||
2 miles | |||||
295 ft |
Details
- Featured
-
Riding area
-
Primary ActivityMountain Bike
-
Other Activities
- Horse
- Hike
- Trail Running
-
Difficulty ratingBlue
-
Route TypeLoop
-
eBike Allowed
-
DirectionOne Direction
-
Physical ratingModerate
-
Ridelogs
More Stats for Betasso Loops mountain bike route
-
Avg time1 hr 19 min
-
Altitude min6,178 ft
-
Altitude start6,562 ft
-
Altitude end6,562 ft
-
Grade-0%
-
Grade max-28.6%
-
Grade min29.5%
-
Distance climb3 miles
-
Distance down3 miles
-
Distance flat2,480 ft
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Inadequate
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
- mountain biking recent
- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
- Downhill Ski
- Backcountry Ski
- Nordic Ski
- Snowmobile
Save the current map location and zoom level as your default home location whenever this page is loaded.
SavePhotos
Recent Trail Reports Along Route
- By WendyBMA
BMA & contributors
- #23304 - 2,940 views