5.5 mile Loop 8700-9300 Elevation

This is one of the few trails that's right in Woodland Park, and it's surprisingly scenic. The north half follows a ridge with big views and the south half follows a creek in a bushy green valley.

From the dog pound just north of Woodland Park, head west and through the big gate. The trail runs west then north around the perimeter of the maintenance yard. It's quickly into the forest where it starts an easy climb over the ridge and into Lovell Gulch.

Cross the creek in Lovell Gulch and the trail forks, with each fork being opposite ends of a big loop. Bikers will have the most luck going right, to avoid a steep uphill in the gravel a little later.

Heading east, is a beautiful trail in a narrow valley following the creek. The heavy rains of the last few years have turned this valley into a veritable rainforest, thick with tall grass meadows and bush clogged forest. Mounds of car-sized boulders dot the valley, adding some character to the dense green.

As the trail climbs the valley it gets a bit steep in spots, but is bikeable except at a few rock piles. It peaks out at Rampart Range Road, right under some tall powerlines. Follow the powerlines west and after a while they disappear, providing clean views of the valley below.

The views from the ridgetop are impressive. Badger and the Tarryalls seem just a stone's throw to the west, and the nearby valley is a sea of forest with smaller peaks poking up through the treetops.

It's a fun ride weaving through the trees as the trail follows the ridge toward the valley floor. After a mile and a half it bends back east and then makes the connection with the original fork. Turn right and cruise a mile back to the car.

To find the Lovell Gulch Trail, turn east (then north) on Bennett at the Mcdonalds stop light, on Woodland Park's east side. Drive two miles to the dog pound and maintenance center and turn left into the driveway. The trail is marked at the road. There is only space for about eight cars, so weekends could be risky.