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3.6 miles
Distance
645 ft
Climb
-1,233 ft
Descent
00:54:33
Avg time
-588 ft
Altitude change
7,629 ft
Altitude min
8,860 ft
Altitude max
8,475 ft
Altitude start
7,887 ft
Altitude end
-3.1%
Grade
-50.6%
Grade max
41.1%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
299 ft
Distance flat
00:54:33
Avg time
Mountain Lion (Upper) Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaGolden Gate Canyon State Park
Coal Creek, Colorado -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (2 votes)
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Local Popularity
-
Global Ranking
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State Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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DirectionBoth Directions
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
One the best descents in the immediate Front Range area. Mt Lion is best ridden in a clockwise direction, parking at either the Nott Creek or Bridge Creek. Climb the single-track along until you hit the 1st intersection, with Burro trail.
Continue straight on the double-track, keeping right at the Buffalo Connector trail. After a short descent & small grind, you'll be greeted with a view of an old homestead.
Keep right on Mt Lion & continue to climb the jeep road, which eventually turns into single-track and gets much steeper & looser. Once you hit the saddle, your reward awaits: 2.2 miles of rock-strewn single-track that descends along Deer Creek, crossing it a several times. Lots of rocks, but nothing very steep on your way down.
At your final creek crossing, the trail changes into an access road for one final grunt. After passing the high point on the road & begin descending, keep an eye on the left for the final bit of single-track leading back to the Nott creek lot.
Access Info
Either pay a $7 daily user fee, or display your CO Parks pass for parking within the park boundaries.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 1 rides
- 8 miles average
6 Months
- 18 rides
- 16 miles avg distance
All
- 151 rides
- Last: Nov 7, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Mountain Lion... Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
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- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
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- > 6 months
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- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Trail Popularity ?
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Directions to mountain-lion-upper trailhead
(39.862860, -105.385940)
Photos
16 more »
Videos
3 more »
mtb
0:18 |
200 |
Mar 19, 2024 , Coal Creek
mtb
11:06 |
1047 |
Jan 12, 2018 , Coal Creek
Trail Lists
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July 4th weekend
5 trails
Routes with this trail
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★ 5.0 • 23 miles • 4,465 ft • 19 • Loop •
This route highlights Mule Deer Trail and Mountain Lion Trail, the parks two best trails. The route is...
7 miles • 1,505 ft • 2 • Loop •
Fun loop that gets you the goods of the 2.5 ish mile Mountain Lion downhill after some steep, occasionally...
13 Reviews & Comments
tsturzl
A lot of the downhill is cool chunky back country type riding, very raw. That doesn't last as long as you'd hope and kind of turns into double track. It's a cool trail, only thing in GG that's really worth riding.
bigmop
This trail is horrible. It’s a hiking trail they allow mountain bikes on.
EvanXZO4lH
This is a super rocky hiking trail that felt like work, not play. Not worth the loose, steep, unpleasant climb. The wooden bridges over the creek are fun though.
This is what mountain biking used to be, when the fun was about the adventure. There are thousands of miles of remote FS trails that are just like this, and they won't be "sanitized" anytime this century. If you like it rough, you've got endless options.
This is what mountain biking used to be, when the fun was about the adventure. There are thousands of miles of remote FS trails that are just like this, and they won't be "sanitized" anytime this century. If you like it rough, you've got endless options.
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Nearby Trails
- Mountain Lion Dt 3 ft
- Buffalo 2,615 ft
- Mountain Lion (lower) 4,738 ft
- Buffalo Dt 4,865 ft
- Snowshoe Hare Access 5,000 ft
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- By todd
Trailforks & contributors - #13545 - 4,748 views
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