Holy Cross
Level: Advanced
Length: 7 mi (11.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +538/518 ft
Total: 104 riders
Mountain Biking Holy Cross
#128 of 1,345 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#878 in the world
This is possibly the funnest/most challenging technical ride around. Start by riding up Pet-a-Kes. At the top, look to the east for the marker to the Holy Cross Trail. You should see the "Widowmaker" climb above you--fortunately you're not going there. Then, prepare yourself for the best ride you may ever see (if you're an advanced technical rider). The ride starts with some fun, flowy desert singletrack with a few small obstacles. Then, you get into the rocks, and over them, around them beside, them, and even under them. Some of the ride may feel like a trials course--few can complete it without walking. But the trail was well-designed, with great flow, and if you learn the course, it can become a real ruch to complete any of the challenging technical sections. Be careful when you hit the marked intersection with Gunny trail--go left. Pass by the entrance and exit to Miramonte, ride the top of the ridge, and finish with the switchbacks down to the parking area.
First added by John Fisch on Feb 24, 2008. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
See the Pet-a-Kes trail for directions to the trailhead.
I wish I had the ability to ride this trail. Even though the Holy Cross trail sucked the soul out of me, this is a 5 star designed trail! It really is a wonder.
IF I had the ability to ride it out, my 1 issue is the trail designers must be horse jockeys, as at 6'4" (riding a 29er/XL), you just don't fit under the juniper (and a few other spots).
| ThankI live in the area and this is my favorite ride. Challenging, Techy, but still flows well. If you like rock problems you will love this trail. Great reviews below.
| ThankMy favorite trail in the Tabaguache and in my top 3 in Fruita/GJ. A technical delight!
| Thankone of my top 10 trails, u must check it out if you are in the area!
| ThankA great trail in the Lunch Loop section. This trail is most definately for the advanced rider, although intermediate riders can take it. They just have to dismount a little more. Best ridden as a downhill from Tabegauche.
| ThankSome hairy technical sections on the way down from the TH trail. Rode it after a rain storm, which made the trail quite a bit more challenging. Great views. Nice over the bars tumble in the rocks. Got to love it!
| ThankHoly Cross is everything all the reviewers said. After riding extensively throughout the East and West I'd say this is in my top 5 rides anywhere in the U.S.
| ThankGreat technical riding
| ThankThis is my favorite trail at the the tabeguache trail system
| ThankAn automatic 5 stars for Holy Cross. It is the best trail in the area. Lots of non-stop, doable technical sections. Depending on your skill level, you may not like it the first time, you may find it tolerable the second time, but you'll love it the third time.
| ThankThis is my favorite trail in all the Fruita/Grand Junction area. It is an absolute technical feast from top to bottom. Despite being chock full of very advanced technical moves, it has great flow--big time kudos to the trail designers. Even if I can't clean it all, I still love it. This is one of the reasons I chose to make a pilgrimage to Fruita every spring no matter where I'm living at the time. * Review edited 9/25/2010
| Thank