4 miles
Distance
656 ft
Climb
-656 ft
Descent
00:35:10
Avg time
Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Horsethief Bench Trail
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager

Horsethief Bench Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Kokopelli's Trail
    Fruita, Colorado
  • AKA
    Horsethief
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Trail Usage
    Biking Primary
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Drop, Rock Face, Rock Garden
  • Global Ranking
    #273 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 100 in Hiking
  • Land Manager
    BLM

This trail is a must for riding at the Kokopelli trails. The descent from Mary’s is typically hike-a-bike, or a super-challenge for you downhill junkies. Drop down onto the single track and experience fast-flowy riding with several tricky obstacles. The south side of the bench provides you with incredible red-rock views rising above the Colorado River. There is another section of hiking pleasure along the north-west side of the rim, but the ride through the washes on the north –side are bermed and fun. Ride either direction, but be aware that traffic typically flows clockwise.

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Horsethief Bench bike trail
  • Altitude min
    4,494 ft
  • Altitude max
    4,742 ft
  • Altitude start
    4,742 ft
  • Altitude end
    4,742 ft
  • Grade max
    -43.354%
  • Grade min
    39.486%
  • Distance climb
    2 miles
  • Distance down
    2 miles
  • Distance flat
    761 ft
  • Avg time
    00:35:10
  • Avg reverse time
    00:46:04
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Sep 7, 2019
Dry
Avg: 4.3 (38 votes)

view (2,295)
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  • Layers  w
  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Ridden Direction
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
Trail Last Ridden
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
ContributeDetails
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
  • most popular
  • popular
  • less popular
  • not popular

LEGEND
Trail Difficulties
  • Access Road/Trail
  • White
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Double Black Diamond

Trail Report Status
  • Clear / Green
  • Minor Issue / Yellow
  • Significant Issue / Amber
  • Closed

  • Land Owner Overlay
  • Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
  • BLM (public)
  • USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
  • State land
  • Indigenous
  • Military
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
  • Map Markers
  • trail Trail Head
  • photo Photo
  • place Directory Listing
  • region Riding Area
  • TTF TTF
  • Parking Parking
  • Viewpoint Viewpoint
  • Information Information
  • Warning Warning
  • Directions Directions
  • Sight Sight
  • Restrooms Restrooms
  • eBike Charging Point eBike Charging Point
  • Water Fountain/Source Water Fountain/Source
  • Gate Gate
  • Trail Sign Trail Sign
  • Table or Bench Table or Bench
  • Ladder Ladder
  • Stairs Stairs
  • Bridge Bridge
  • Camping Camping
  • Cabin Cabin
  • Lodge Lodge
  • Bear Cache Bear Cache
  • Dock Dock
  • Ranger Station Ranger Station
  • Summit Summit
  • Other Other
      Directions to horsethief-bench trailhead (39.171820, -108.851250)
      update trails status or condition

      Horsethief Bench Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Sep 7, 2019 @ 2:21pm
      Sep 7, 2019
      		 First time on the trail. Amazing. Hot by 11am but no one else out there. Saw 2 other riders.
      Jun 24, 2019 @ 7:39am
      Jun 24, 2019
      		 All good to go!
      May 19, 2019 @ 10:08am
      May 19, 2019
      May 18, 2019 @ 2:08pm
      May 18, 2019
      May 5, 2019 @ 11:43am
      May 5, 2019
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 53 rides
      • 12 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 564 rides
      • 13 miles avg distance
      All
      • 1,960 rides
      •  

      Photos

      more »
      24 |
      Sep 9, 2019 @ 2:05pm
      Sep 9, 2019
      8 |
      Jul 11, 2019 @ 10:54am
      Jul 11, 2019
      17 |
      May 24, 2019 @ 10:27am
      May 24, 2019
      17 |
      May 24, 2019 @ 10:26am
      May 24, 2019

      Routes with this trail

      titleratingdistance
      Horsethief to Utaline
      		30 miles

      2 Reviews & Comments

      • + 0
      flag wgwestervelt (Apr 15, 2019 at 15:48)
       Spectacular trail. I would rate it a 4.5 for the trail itself and about a 12 for scenery.
      [Reply]
      • + 1
      flag bryanw18 (Oct 15, 2019 at 6:19)
       The famous and infamous. Yes it is gnarly, but if you are like me and like to keep your deductible in check, just walk the bench and enjoy the rest.
      [Reply]

      Post a Comment



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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber I CLIMBED HORSETHIEF BENCH | Shredit VS Reality
      10:09 | 109 | May 30, 2019 , Fruita
      youtuber Dropping into Horsethief Bench.. here's what...
      9:54 | 78 | May 23, 2019 , Fruita
      youtuber Horsethief Bench 2018 (Fruita, CO) Mountain Biking
      11:37 | 220 | May 24, 2018 , Fruita
      youtuber Rock Pile Ridin' - Mountain Biking Horsethief...
      6:31 | 375 | Apr 19, 2017 , Fruita

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