COMMENTS: IMBA describes this ride as "epic" but its just a long road grind for half of it. Many people say this is a must ride when you visit the area. While the bookcliff views into the grand valley are cool, overall there are many rides we would recommend before this one. Washes can be overgrown and sandy in the spring. Be careful of the mud and water in the wash if there has been rain.

STARTING POINT: From Grand Junction drive west on I-70 to Fruita Exit (#19).  From the off ramp travel .1 mile then go right to the roundabout.  Continue straight through the roundabout, travel 2 blocks and turn left on Maple Street.  Travel 4 miles north on Maple St. (17 1/2 Road).  Turn right at   N. 3/10 Road, travel .5 mile to 18 Rd.  Go north on 18 Road for 7.5 miles to a parking area on the left.  A carsonite post across the road directly across for the parking area is where the single track begins.

RIDE TYPE: LOOP

TRAIL TYPE: SINGLE TRACK 50%, DOUBLETRACK 50%

ELEVATION CHANGE: 3500 feet

DISTANCE: 27.8 miles

APPROXIMATE RIDE TIME: 5-6 hours

DIFFICULTY: Advanced with a long hills and very technical sections. You must be in good biking shape for this ride

KEY WAYPOINTS FOR GPS:

Parking Lot	0 miles	39º 18.630' N	108º 42.355' W
Kessel cutoff	2.5 miles	39º 20.074' N	108º 42.082' W
Joe's Ridge cutoff	2.9 miles	39º 20.256' N	108º 42.208' W
Zipity cutoff	3.8 miles	39º 20.140' N	108º 42.824' W
Wesertn Zipity cutoff	5.1 miles	39º 20.655' N	108º 43.696' W
Imporved Road	5.9 miles	39º 21.106' N	108º 43.860' W
Frontside cutoff	7.8 miles	39º 21.490' N	108º 41.888' W
Road Forks (go right uphill)	12.1 miles	39º 20.816' N	108º 37.812' W
Continue straight uphill	13.7 miles	39º 20.848' N	108º 36.394' W
Hunter Canyon Compressor	15.8 miles	39º 19.773' N	108º 35.375' W
Road Forks (go right)	16.0 miles	39º 19.622' N	108º 35.377' W
Green Gas Tank	16.3 miles	39º 19.362' N	108º 35.214' W
Road Forks (go right)	16.8 miles	39º 18.965' N	108º 35.168' W
Begin Singletrack at Carin (right)	19.4 miles	39º 18.635' N	108º 37.205' W
Waterfall	21.2 miles	39º 19.341' N	108º 37.584' W
Singletrack begins from wash	22.2 miles	39º 18.978' N	108º 38.069' W
Doubletrack	24.6 miles	39º 19.202' N	108º 39.634' W
Corral cutoff (go right)	25.6 miles	39º 18.470' N	108º 40.269' W
Corral (go left around fence)	25.9 miles	39º 18.659' N	108º 40.515' W
Parking Lot	27.8 miles	39º 18.630' N	108º 42.355' W

RIDE DESCRIPTION: Begin riding up Prime Cut (north) bearing left at the top of the trail. ------------- Now you're on Coal Gulch Road at mile 5.9 heading northeast into the Gulch. Stay right at the only fork and begin climbing the ridge. Stay on main road along the ridgetop, passing several spurs and natural gas wells. Still on the ridge, just past the last gas well, the road turns to doubletrack and begins descending. After one steep uphill there's a rolling section before a steep downhill. Make sure to stop at the viewpoint as the ridge opens up; a great stopping point is just to the left .

From the viewpoint descend two steep hills (now on the very front of the Bookcliffs) on an old road. Cross a small rise and descend a third very steep hill. Only a quarter mile later, as your momentum slows, turn right on singletrack at a large carin. This amusement-park descent is a free ride all the way into the canyon below. Remember how much fun the descent was as you turn left in the wash and curse the sand for the next mile, seemingly 10. Portage around a small waterfall up a trail to the right and continue down the wash. The trail leaves the wash as the canyon opens up, sparing further anguish.

Easily followed technical trail, with several steep grinds, meets a road at mile. Turn left on this doubletrack for one mile then right on marked trail to an old wire fence corral at mile 25.9. Bear left at this corral and follow a fast, well-marked trail (west) back to cow pond at start, just below your car.

MAP OF RIDE: [HIGH RESOLUTION MAP (7.5 minute)] [HIGH RESOLUTION MAP (100K)]

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