more stats
1,680 ft
Distance
17 ft
Climb
-41 ft
Descent
00:03:07
Avg time
-26 ft
Altitude change
8,703 ft
Altitude min
8,747 ft
Altitude max
8,729 ft
Altitude start
8,704 ft
Altitude end
-1.5%
Grade
-11.9%
Grade max
7%
Grade min
407 ft
Distance climb
942 ft
Distance down
331 ft
Distance flat
00:03:07
Avg time

Short Stack Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Magnolia
    Nederland, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #167762 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #95839 in Trail Running
    • #113490 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #3,172 in Mountain Biking · Colorado [+]
    • #2,737 in Trail Running
    • #3,240 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Connector trail between Observatory and the middle of Hobbit 2. While short in length, this singletrack offers several playful rock features and is a great option besides the jeep road 355.

Tags

Trail Supporters

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 12 miles average
6 Months
  • 107 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 479 rides
  • Last: Oct 29, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jul 29, 2025
Ideal
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      Directions to short-stack-212104 trailhead (39.947420, -105.524800)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      4 more »
      mtb
      466 |
      Sep 23, 2019 @ 1:11pm
      Sep 23, 2019
      mtb
      220 |
      Sep 23, 2019 @ 1:09pm
      Sep 23, 2019
      Views 4

      Videos

      1 more »
      Observatory and Short stack
      mtb
      5:45 | 44 | Sep 25, 2025 , Nederland

      Routes with this trail

      23
      West Mag Flow Tour
      ★ 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...
      42
      West Mag to Kinglet (High Point) Featured
      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...
      42
      West Mag to Eldora and Back Featured
      ★ 2.5 • 17 miles • 2,260 ft • 10 • Out & Back •
      Ride from West Mag to Eldora and back! Getting to Kinglet is a ride in and of itself with the closest...

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      Nearby Trails

      Magnolia

      • By WendyBMATF Pro BMA & contributors
      • #212104 - 2,035 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Short Stack located?
      Short Stack is located in Magnolia, Nederland, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Magnolia trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 39.94742, -105.5248.
      ▼ How hard is Short Stack?
      Short Stack is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 1.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Short Stack?
      Short Stack has 17 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 41 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 8,703 ft to 8,747 ft.
      ▼ Is Short Stack a point to point trail?
      Short Stack is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Short Stack?
      Short Stack is 1,680 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Short Stack?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Short Stack. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Short Stack? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Short Stack are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Short Stack?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 minutes to ride Short Stack. The trail is 1,680 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Short Stack?
      Short Stack is a very popular trail. There have been 2,177 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,426 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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