Best Loop Trail in Boulder County
First there was the iconic Bismarck Loop Bike Ride. It was the route for many famous bike races dating all the way back to the 1970s. But, yuck, it’s on a road. So then came the Dirty Bismcarck Loop Trail. It runs inside the Bismarck Loop ride and is all mountain biking trail. It’s a lot of fun, but for some people, it may not provide enough trail miles. Normally it’s plenty for me, but I’m trying to get in shape for a mountain bike ride on segment 8 of the Colorado Trail, so I need to gradually add miles to my daily ride.
Route of the Beyond Bismarck Loop Trail
The map below is not showing the entire route for some reason, but it’s not hard to imagine how the loop is completed. For my purposes, I started the ride in Louisville, CO following the Coal Creek Trail. Then, I crossed under highway 36, then McCaslin Blvd. After riding through the old-town part of Superior, CO I turned left and I started climbing. This is the clockwise route, but it can just as easily be done counter-clockwise. When you get to the Marshal Mesa parking lot, you would normally turn right for the regular Dirty Bismarck Loop. Instead, cross over highway 93 and follow the trail until you reach the fun downhill trail into the valley. When you get to the next trail intersection, you can add on yet another loop and more trail miles or, as I did in this instance, turn right and head for the Highway 93 underpass.
Trail Map
Photos
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- Beyond Bismarck Loop Trail
