If you’re planning on participating in the Grand Junction Off-Road series this May, get ready to ride some brand new singletrack. Three new trails have been added to the course series which offers participants the option to ride 15, 30 or 40 miles. The new trails come at the hands of a collaboration between the Grand Junction Bureau of Land Management Office, the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, the Motorcycle Trail Riders Association and race organizers Epic Rides — who utilized money raised through their “Hail The Trail” program to fund the project.
“It’s extraordinarily gratifying to work with the community of Grand Junction and the local BLM Field Office staff to install trails that were wanted by the community for sometime,” said Todd Sadow, president of Epic Rides.
Riders can expect to see changes to Good Vibes to Second Thoughts on the outgoing route and Second Thoughts to Snake Skin on the approach back to the Gunny Loop. While the course will still climb out of downtown Grand Junction and into the Uncompahgre Plateau, the new trails will help remove two miles of pavement from the course, reducing moments in the race where riders and vehicles are forced to share the road.
“They were a missing link that will make accessing Butterknife and the backcountry portions of the course more fun,” explained Sadow. “It’s great to know these trails are now a part of the trail quiver for Grand Junction to enjoy year around.”
Registration for the 2018 Grand Junction Off-Road Series (May 18-20) is currently open. Along with amateur and professional races, the event will feature three days of free live music, a beer garden and an industry expo.
Click here for a sneak peek of the new trails.
