Prime Cut
Level: Intermediate
Length: 3 mi (4.8 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +305/301 ft
Total: 265 riders
Mountain Biking Prime Cut
#61 of 1,345 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#418 in the world
Sweet singletrack that you can ride as an out and back, or combine it with Joe's Ridge, Chutes and Ladders, or the Kessell Run. Ridden as an out and back, it's a good gradual climb that will get you warmed up for the long downhill run back to the jeep road. This trail has something for everyone: narrow flowing singletrack, some rocky steps, boulder crossings, and more.
First added by Rebus on Sep 25, 2005. Last updated May 8, 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.
Take 17.5 from town to N 3/10 road and hang a right. Turn left on 18 road and go until the pavement runs out, then stay on the dirt road for 4.3 miles and the trailhead is on the left. From the trailhead, ride on up the dirt road and take the jeep road on the right for about 100 yards down a hill, then hit the singletrack going back to the left.
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This is primarily used as a climb to some fun downhill lines at 18 roads. It's nothing special, but a good way to get to finer things.
| ThankCombined this with PBR, very nice.
| ThankPrime Cut is a trail with a wicked sense of humour! It's a climbing singletrack that is easy at the bottom and gets harder - much steeper - near the top! Apart from Kessel Run, (which is two way but you don't want to ride up it unless you're there at 5 in the morning!) Prime Cut is the only singletrack from the trailhead to the upper junctions. If you don't like it's humour, you can always ride up the road.
| ThankRode up Prime Cut which was a good warm up trail ascending ~120m. A dirt singletrack with a couple of short bouldery sections. One difficult bit up a boulder slab ~4 foot at 45 degrees but easily walkable. After 30 an hour arrive at the trail intersection to take either the two right paths or the short left link path to the top car park for two further trail options. Opportunity to see lots of small and brightly coloured lizards along the trail.
| ThankMy least favorite thing to do in Fruita. Get a buddy and shuttle to the top.
| ThankMuch better than the rode ride to get to higher trail heads. Nicely made to make it seem like an effortless climb.
| ThankPrime Cut is uphill only. If you don't want to ride the road, this is the best way to get to the top of 18 Roads Trails. You should do it at least once. It's pretty gradual and fast.
| ThankThere is no official designation as an uphill only trail but almost everyone uses it that way. It makes for a great alternative to climbing the road to get to the other trails in the area.
| ThankGood little climb to get up to PBR, nice smooth singletrack
| ThankFirst time i rode this trail it was down hill and it was great, although some other riders did not approve. Now it is strickly an uphill to get to all the other trails.
| ThankNothing special. This trail is just a climber that allows you to get off the road while accessing all the other amazing 18 Road trails.
| Thank* Review edited 6/17/2012
| ThankThis trail is a great way to climb up to the top of the trail system, and grab another trail to descend back down!
| ThankThis trail is a great uphill to the trails in the area. Gradual climb up, tight single track. Most riders were going uphill on this trail.
| ThankGreat trail. Usually used for the way up to the upper parking area for those that choose not to shuttle, but it is also a very fun ride down if it is a slow day on the trails. You can really get alot of speed on this trail.
* Review edited 6/1/2009
| ThankGreat trail! Tons of fun for all abilities. If the bottom parking lot is full on 18 road, then avoid going down - take Kessel run or Chutes and Ladders instead, but if your there in the middle of the weekday when traffic is slim - then taste the fruit and ride it both ways at least once. This is a REALLY fun trail.
| ThankGood clean fun. Most people will use this trail to ride up to Chutes, Kessell, Joe's, Frontside and Zip rather than riding up a flat boring washboard road. Amen. It is still worth every pedal stroke to turn around and hit it up with some speed. It's not a hard trail at all but those who love great singletrack will not be dissapointed with this original 18 Road gem.
| ThankThis is the best way to make the uphill leg to Chutes and Ladders, Kessel Run, Joe's Ridge, or Zippity Doo Dah. It's entertaining and really the only viable singletrack up. I suspect it would be a rip-snortin' good time on the downhill, but I've never tried it that direction because 1. I'm always using it to get to a downhill on the other trails and 2. everybody else is using it to go uphill, so you'd spend all your time yielding to uphill riders, thus destroying your flow on the downhill. I think the big rock is a hoot--it's a real test of most peoples' self confidence. It's fun to watch the people who don't know it's there freak out when they turn the corner and see it.
| ThankIf your gonna go uphill, this is the way to do it!! Yes, that boulder does suck, but after riding down Kessel run (by far the best way to go down), it feels like you've got a climb ahead of you, but riding Prime cut just feels like smooth cross country trail riding. Great way to start the day!!
| ThankWAHOO!!! This thing is just plain old freaking fun! It's not technical. It's not epic. Heck, it's not even all that scenic imho. But holy @#&Y$#*@&# it is just TOO FREAKIN' FUN! I don't know how else to put it. This is one of the most funnest trails I've ever ridden! I don't believe that it is physically possible to ride this trail without hooting and whooping. You just can't help yourself. You will shout and laugh out loud when you ride this.
| Thank