more stats
1.7 miles
Distance
105 ft
Climb
-145 ft
Descent
00:12:37
Avg time
-38 ft
Altitude change
6,100 ft
Altitude min
6,222 ft
Altitude max
6,178 ft
Altitude start
6,138 ft
Altitude end
-0.4%
Grade
-17.7%
Grade max
9%
Grade min
3,596 ft
Distance climb
3,786 ft
Distance down
1,588 ft
Distance flat
00:12:37
Avg time

Lava Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    South Table Mountain Park
    Golden, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Green (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 50 in E-Biking
    • 70 in Trail Running
    • 35 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #80048 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #61320 in Trail Running
    • #117304 in Hiking
    • #1575 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Year Opened
    2020

Fun and flowy U-loop. A few fun mini drops if ridden CW. Look for a spur leading to a lookout over the valley between NTM and STM.

Disclaimer

Closed annually Feb 1-July 31 for habitat protection!!

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 11 rides
  • 11 miles average
6 Months
  • 59 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 449 rides
  • Last: Sep 22, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Lava Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 1, 2026 @ 2:05pm (America/Denver)
Sep 1, 2026
 Just a few small mud patches.
Aug 1, 2026 @ 11:23am (America/Denver)
Aug 1, 2026
Apr 28, 2026 @ 5:31pm (America/Denver)
Apr 28, 2026
 Closed for bird nesting
Dec 14, 2025 @ 10:55am (America/Denver)
Dec 14, 2025
Aug 29, 2025 @ 10:49am
Aug 29, 2025
 Some light muddy spots
more »
Status:
on Sep 1, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.32 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to lava-loop trailhead (39.753630, -105.193870)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      No photos have been added for Lava Loop yet, add a photo.

      Videos

      3 more »
      Lava Loop (counterclockwise) - South Table -...
      mtb
      3:40 | 68 | Sep 5, 2025 , Golden
      Lava Loop - fatty flow at South Table - Golden...
      mtb
      3:55 | 191 | Aug 27, 2024 , Golden
      DON'T MESS UP! Mountain Biking at South Table...
      mtb
      9:17 | 515 | Apr 12, 2023 , Golden
      5.0 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 100%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      3 Reviews & Comments

      BearsMTB
      South Table Mountain is AWESOME for beginner mountain bikers. Nothing is too scary, but there are some features that will push a beginner. I have an MTB video featuring the Lava Loop (and all of STM) on Youtube if you want to check it out! https://youtu.be/6Rt9w8Jm5I8

      If you are even an intermediate rider, I'd probably recommend going to North Table or Green Mountain instead. South Table mountain is flatter and less rocky than other trails in the area. However, biking is biking, and STM is good for fitness and simply getting out on the bike. The view from the southwest of the mountain is pretty cool too.
      NickLaves
      definitely one of the more fun trails at STM
      Spacejunk
      This is a decent trail but sadly had the potential to be much better. STM has been mismanaged for years. Hire trail builders who know what they are doing or we will continue to see overcrowding and overuse of the better trails in the area

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      Nearby Trails

      South Table Mountain Park

      • By monkytrick & contributors
      • #319516 - 3,030 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Lava Loop located?
      Lava Loop is located in South Table Mountain Park, Golden, Colorado, United States. It is part of the South Table Mountain Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.75363, -105.19387.
      ▼ How hard is Lava Loop?
      Lava Loop is rated as Green difficulty. The average grade is 0.4%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Lava Loop?
      Lava Loop has 105 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 145 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,100 ft to 6,222 ft.
      ▼ Is Lava Loop a point to point trail?
      Lava Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Lava Loop?
      Lava Loop is 1.7 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Lava Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Lava Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Lava Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Lava Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Lava Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 12 minutes to ride Lava Loop. The trail is 1.7 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Lava Loop?
      Lava Loop is a moderately popular trail. There have been 3,144 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,463 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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