Level: Advanced
Length: 9 mi (14.5 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +386/389 ft
Total: 321 riders
Mountain Biking Zippety Do Dah
#77 of 1,345 mountain bike trails in Colorado
#544 in the world
On my first trip to Fruita, I managed to put tire to trail on most of the Book Cliffs area and a good portion of the trails down by Mary's Loop. By far, Zippety was my favorite because it offered a scenic ride along with some fun, technical, and frankly some scary sections that I just didnít find anywhere else I had ridden. If you get to do just one ride in the Book Cliffs area, I donít see how you could go wrong picking this one. Some may opt to do a shorter loop and not do the western leg of the ìformalî Zippety Loop by taking the road due north from the parking lot, then heading due west to catch the top of the roller coaster part of this trail. If you are pressed for time, this might not be a bad decisionÖalthough we chose to do the whole thing as described below.
The trail starts out from the lower parking lot and heads due west. After some fun ups and downs (1/4 mile or so), you will come to a T intersection which meets up with the main loop of this trail. If you look to your right you may seem some screaming bikers heading your way as they come off the downhill portion of Zippety. That will be you in an hour or so! Instead, take a left and begin a nice level portion of singletrack which dumps you onto the double track road. This service road is an easy, dusty, prelude to the rest of the singletrack.
You will eventually see the trail peel off to the right (north) from the road, as you begin a gentle uphill climb for a couple miles towards the cliffs. This portion is very scenic, and despite the upward trend, the trail is not technical or difficult at all. If you look to your right, you can see the hills which you will soon be exploring. Once you are near the cliffs, you will see the singletrack turn to the east, going downhill. This is a fast, fun section of trail which dumps you into a wash of sorts, and eventually leads to one of the steepest climbs you will probably ever experience! Once you walk your bike to the top, your ride will take a turn from fun to incredible.
You will soon find a sign for this trail, with an Experts Only sign to go along with it. Beginner riders would be advised to avoid this trail. While an intermediate rider could probably do this trail with no problem, there will definitely be points where walking will be necessary either to avoid falling off one side or the other, or to navigate super steep climbs, or perilous downhill sections. This is especially true for your first ride through here, as you will often be amazed at how the trail sticks to the side of the hills, or sits atop a narrow land bridge with steep banks on either side. While I wouldnít classify these cliffs as strictly life threatening (a la Portal Trail in Moab), you will get seriously hurt if you fall off in certain places. For at least your first loop, take your time and know your limits.
The best way to describe this trail is that it reminds you of a roller coaster. The only thing it is missing is the upside down loop! You will often approach a drop off and wonder where the trail goesÖbecause you have to literally get to the edge before you can see it drop down below you. As you watch you will see people bob up and down in the distance as they ride this coaster. There are about 2 miles of ups, downs, sideways trails, insane climbs, even crazier descents, and some super fast (perhaps dangerously fast) singletrack as you go from hill to hill. As you proceed to the south, the trail becomes more ìtypicalî and turns into a fast, gradual downhillÖwhich eventually meets back up at that T junction. This time you will take a left to head back to the carsÖor you can go straight to do another loop. The fun part of Zippety flows much better than similar ups and downs over at Chutes and Ladders, which is why I preferred this trail over that one.
First added by Siberian on May 29, 2005. Last updated May 9, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- 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.
Book Cliffs area due north of Fruita.
A great workout. Challenging for those that are afraid of heights.
| ThankGreat flow and speed. several climbs and great fast down hill sections. Not a beginner trail
| ThankOne of the best trails of 18 road system in my opinion. Intimidating at first glance but pure fun once you get used to it.
| ThankA little mixed on this trail. There are great sections that are fast and hair raising but they are very short and you will be pushing your bike to the next hill because they are so steep, definitely not IMBA trail fall guidelines, too steep making water erode them faster and carzy amounts of brake bumps from beginners braking the entire way down. A great idea but not well implemented.
| ThankThis trail didn't live up to all the hype for me. The downhill flow sections have been eroded or broken up in many places. In my opinion Joes Ridge and PBR were better flow trails.
| ThankVery edgy and exposed! I didn't see the warning sign so the trail scared my pants off. All scares aside, this is a great trail. Descents so steep you can't walk down them, and uphills so steep you can barely walk up them. What that does is makes you push a lot harder on your bike. Lots of flow and fast descent.
| ThankFast fun trail!!! I would have ridden this more times if I had the time. Be ready for some steep descents and climbs. Great way to end a trip to Fruita in my humble opinion!
| ThankSick
| ThankIncredible ride - fast, fun, and thrilling. Made a really nice change after the more constantly technical rides in Moab.
| Thankvery unique - its a bit like slick rock without the perfect traction. From a fun factor, i preferred PBR.
| ThankTechnical sections can make one pucker up a bit, still tons of fun. You'll want a seat post dropper on sections of this trail. Views are phenomenal.
| ThankFunny, my review from 2005 seems to have gotten lost. So, I'll say it again: Great trail! I love the speed and the swoopy turns. Some of the steeps will give you a little pucker which gives it some excitement. Over the years some of the tougher obstacles were routed around, so it has gotten easier but is still a very fun ride.
| ThankThis is probably the most fun trail I've ever been on. Even though the technicality of it is not very high I would still rate it as an advanced trail because you really have to be in control of your bike the whole time. Drop off ledges on either side make for plenty of no-fuck-up zones. That being said, this trail is very fast and flowy and will undoubtedly take its place among your top five favorite runs. Keep in mind that this is located in the North Fruita Desert so it gets HOT in the summer.
| ThankI think this is the hardest trail at 18 Roads. It is doable, but you may have to walk some of the extremely steep ups. The exposure on some of the trail is magnificent and will probably make you squeeze your breaks a little. Be mentally prepared for awesomeness.
| ThankMinimal climbing and super fun downhills with lots of exposure and incredible desert scenery. One of my favorite trails of all time.
| Thankride up prime cut or shuttle to the top to get more rides in on Zippety. as of 8/22/12 the trail was a bit beat up. Some of the drops became a challenge do to the washboard and pot holes. Always a great ride.
| ThankEpic ride, but be prepared to climb in crazy spurts. The views are amazing and the exposure is unforgettable. I think the best way to ride this is just go for it, don't stop.
| ThankAmazing descent! The exposure, steep drops, and crazy awesome views are to die for.* Review edited 6/17/2012
| ThankBest downhill of 18 Road. You can see the trail for miles. 2 Very steep parts that are fun, fast and smooth. A must to do in the area. Watch the videos, they are accurate. Pretty good climbs as well, not all downhill.
| ThankSuper fun run with some great ridgeline descents and flowy tracks
| Thank