more stats
2.3 miles
Distance
92 ft
Climb
-935 ft
Descent
00:21:11
Avg time
-842 ft
Altitude change
5,861 ft
Altitude min
6,707 ft
Altitude max
6,707 ft
Altitude start
5,866 ft
Altitude end
-7%
Grade
-38.1%
Grade max
18.9%
Grade min
1,430 ft
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
942 ft
Distance flat
00:21:11
Avg time

Howard Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Lory State Park
    Fort Collins, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (2 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    35 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in E-Biking
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #135833 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #49865 in E-Biking
    • #142920 in Trail Running
    • #101622 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #2,795 in Mountain Biking · Colorado [+]
    • #534 in E-Biking
    • #4,186 in Trail Running
    • #2,922 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary[+]
    • Both Directions for E-Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Double Black Diamond
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 2
  • Land Owner
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Howard is difficult to access, loaded with low-speed tech and tight switchbacks, and has next to zero flow; consequently, many riders will hate it. You’ve been warned. Strong riders who like a challenge will appreciate the relative solitude and the improbable, but entirely rideable nature of this trail. Howard is a gem under the right set of wheels.

Tags
Tight and twisty

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 11 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 91 rides
  • Last: Oct 10, 2026
update trails status or condition

Howard Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 14, 2025 @ 9:24pm (America/Denver)
Sep 14, 2025
 Very narrow entry to big rocky sections throughout this trail.
Nov 10, 2023 @ 5:42am
Nov 10, 2023
 Clean and nice, but this is NOT a MTN bike trail.
Apr 23, 2022 @ 7:25am
Apr 23, 2022
Apr 9, 2022 @ 3:53pm
Apr 9, 2022
Apr 9, 2022 @ 2:31pm
Apr 9, 2022
more » 4 social media mentions
Status:
on Sep 14, 2025
Dry
Avg: 3.56 (10 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to howard trailhead (40.568830, -105.189430)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      2 more »
      mtb
      217 |
      May 28, 2021 @ 3:51pm
      May 28, 2021
      mtb
      277 |
      May 28, 2021 @ 3:51pm
      May 28, 2021

      Videos

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      Trail Products

      3.3 ★★★★★
      10 Ratings
      5 ★ 20%
      4 ★ 30%
      3 ★ 20%
      2 ★ 20%
      1 ★ 10%

      3 Reviews & Comments

      Tnbblue
      Call me crazy, but if there’s a sign that says, get ready to dismount because the switchbacks are so intense, I really think this should be a double black Trail! It was fun but very tough.
      Lonewolfrider
      Not impressed. Very tight switchbacks/hairpins that double back almost on the same trail. Nice views all along.

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      Nearby Trails

      Lory State Park

      • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #13587 - 3,415 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Howard located?
      Howard is located in Lory State Park, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Lory State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 40.56883, -105.18943.
      ▼ How hard is Howard?
      Howard is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 7%. The climb difficulty is rated Double Black Diamond.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Howard?
      Howard has 92 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 935 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 5,861 ft to 6,707 ft.
      ▼ Is Howard a point to point trail?
      Howard is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Howard?
      Howard is 2.3 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Howard?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Howard. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Howard? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Howard are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Howard?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 21 minutes to ride Howard. The trail is 2.3 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Howard?
      Howard is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 790 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 791 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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