more stats
4,406 ft
Distance
35 ft
Climb
-74 ft
Descent
00:06:54
Avg time
-40 ft
Altitude change
8,681 ft
Altitude min
8,737 ft
Altitude max
8,720 ft
Altitude start
8,681 ft
Altitude end
-0.9%
Grade
-16.8%
Grade max
7.2%
Grade min
1,555 ft
Distance climb
2,031 ft
Distance down
663 ft
Distance flat
00:06:54
Avg time

Observatory Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Magnolia
    Nederland, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 95 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #64682 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #96377 in Trail Running
    • #98801 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #1,150 in Mountain Biking · Colorado [+]
    • #2,752 in Trail Running
    • #2,832 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • Land Owner
    USFS - Boulder Ranger District

A loose and fast trail with a couple of quick turns through the woods. The sections between the lot and access road are wide, mostly loose-over-hard with a small amount of baseball sized rocks strewn about and some roots here and there. This eastern section of trail could really be considered "Green" or "Easy". The section of trail west of the access road the trail climbs over a small rise and connects with Lookout Trail. This section is significantly more chunky with some larger boulders and step downs. If you're only interested in riding the easier parts, veer off when the woods open up to the access road.

Tags
DropsLooseRocky
Trail Supporters
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 7 rides
  • 11 miles average
6 Months
  • 136 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 760 rides
  • Last: Oct 13, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jul 29, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 3.57 (6 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (3,512)
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      Directions to observatory trailhead (39.946890, -105.517530)

      Photos

      3 more »
      mtb
      140 |
      Sep 17, 2024 @ 7:00pm
      Sep 17, 2024
      mtb
      489 |
      Aug 9, 2021 @ 8:13pm
      Aug 9, 2021
      report
      mtb
      134 |
      Jul 24, 2022 @ 10:57am
      Jul 24, 2022

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Observatory yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      ★ 2.0 • 8 miles • 739 ft • 2 • Loop •
      Unlike many classic Front Range rides, this one doesn't start with a big climb and end with a downhill....
      ★ 4.5 • 6 miles • 617 ft • 6 • Loop •
      This short ride will hit the flowy parts of West Magnolia. Loop it multiple times or incorporate it into...
      12 miles • 1,649 ft • 9 • Out & Back •
      Ride from West Mag to Eldora and back! Getting to Kinglet is a ride in and of itself with the closest...
      3.2 ★★★★★
      6 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★ 17%
      2 ★ 33%
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #13746 - 3,191 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Observatory located?
      Observatory is located in Magnolia, Nederland, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Magnolia trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.94689, -105.51753.
      ▼ How hard is Observatory?
      Observatory is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Observatory?
      Observatory has 35 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 74 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 8,681 ft to 8,737 ft.
      ▼ Is Observatory a point to point trail?
      Observatory is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Observatory?
      Observatory is 4,406 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Observatory?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Observatory. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Observatory? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Observatory are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Observatory?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 7 minutes to ride Observatory. The trail is 4,406 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Observatory?
      Observatory is a very popular trail. There have been 3,170 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,512 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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