Super Betasso route

Betasso is closed to bicycles on Wednesdays and Saturdays

In Boulder, a Super ride is one that starts from town, rather than at the trailhead. So start your Super Betasso ride anywhere that is convenient for you, but this route is written from Eben G Fine Park. The Justice Center on 6th and Canyon is also a great meeting place on weekends and after 5:00pm on weekdays.

Super Betasso starts on the Boulder Creek path, which is 8' wide and paved. Follow it west of Eben G Fine and along the highway for about a mile. Then you'll go under the highway and end up on the north side on a crushed gravel path. The path follows Boulder Creek for a couple of miles, going under the highway one more time. The Boulder Creek path ends at the highway and Fourmile Canyon Dr (but there are plans to continue the bike path to Chapman Drive by 2020). Follow the paved path next to the highway to the crosswalk and cross the highway VERY carefully.

You have a choice here, you can climb Fourmile Canyon Dr a couple miles and access Betasso via the Four Mile Link trail, or continue up the highway (this route). I'm not going to lie, this part sucks. You will ride on the shoulder of the highway for a mile, and sometimes that shoulder is not very wide at all. Pray that drivers on Boulder Canyon Dr are paying attention and keep pedaling. Look for a sign on your right, next to a small pullout and just before the tunnel, pointing you onto the Betasso Canyon Link Trail. The payoff to doing the ride this way is more singletrack - you get to do the full figure eight of the Betasso system. If you ride up Fourmile Canyon, you only do one side of each loop unless you ride each loop 1.5 times or do the full loop from Fourmile Canyon and miss the rowdy Betasso Canyon Link trail descent.

A tough climb begins immediately and is about a mile long. I'm not going to lie, this part sucks, too. Steep grades and rock obstacles test both fitness and skill. It's all rideable (that is, there are people who can ride it), but if you run out of gas or bobble a technical bit you'll have some pushing to do.

Cross the road and continue on singletrack through a meadow. You've reached the Canyon Loop Trail. Be sure to observe the directional sign for bike traffic (which is changed every month), and keep an eye peeled for hikers and equestrians. Give yourself enough room to stop for other trail users, keeping in mind that the trail surface is loose in many places.

Canyon Loop Trail, like the Benjamin loop, rides well in either direction but if the direction is counter-clockwise you just hit the jackpot. Whether you're going clockwise or counter-clockwise, you'll find the Benjamin/Betasso Link trail. This is a fun, twisty trail that's always signed for two-way bike traffic and has poor visibility, so keep your head up, please.

Access the Benjamin Loop and follow the directional sign at the intersection. Again, both directions are fun, though the long descent on clockwise days is hard to beat.

Back to Betasso on the Link, then finish out the Canyon Loop Trail. Descend through the meadow, cross the road, then hold on tight for the rowdy descent of the Betasso Canyon Link Trail. This trail gets blown apart every summer so do your best to live up to the motto "ride it don't slide it." And be kind to anyone who is grinding their way up the hill.

Carefully cross the highway one last time and merge onto Boulder Canyon Dr, returning to Eben G Fine park via the Boulder Bike path.