Review Date
March 12, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: chad1433 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The experience was a bit diminished with the closure of two west facing loops, but that's now changed. As of Feb 1, 2007, the west loop of "Laughing Horse" is now open to bikes again. This gives riders a somewhat less technical option when traversing to Blue Sky and onwards.

Recommended Route:
I like to ride west on Laughing Horse out to Blue Sky and beyond and head back on the east half of Laughing Horse (in the valley). I find that I can flow a little better with less of the short, steep climbing. Once you learn it both ways, though, it's about the same and it's nice to be able to once again have a choice.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Coyote Ridge, Horsetooth Mountain Park, Lory State Park.

Review Date
January 25, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: subliminalshiver ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Ok.. So the western side of both loops have been closed to cyclists. I'll admit, those were the better halves. But not all is lost! IN concession of these sections (about 1 mile..) we now have access to Blue Sky trail, and from that access to Rim Rock, Coyote Ridge, and Horsetooth Mountain Park/Lory/Soderberg. Granted, the path there is technical, but this is how we improve our skills. That said, the Devils Backbone is a nice little twisty-turvy singletrack with only one real lung-buster climb. It isn't very long, but it sits above a highly-concentrated deposit of gravity making it more difficult than it looks to be. The backside is mostly an odd-angled rock garden intermixed with a couple nice flowing sections of singletrack that will make that evil lactic acid high-gravity climb worth it. Not to mention the Happy Ending roller coster that ensues when you turn around to get back to the trailhead.

Recommended Route:
Start down the trail, the tracks and signs will guide you. No worries of getting lost here!

Review Date
July 14, 2006

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: minouchi ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Okay, I used to go about once a month, but they have recently closed off half of each loop to cyclists. WHAT??? Yeah, so that first loop is now restricted to that boring, hot section to the south and then the really rocky part of the 2nd loop (forget the names of the trails right now.) I know there's a lot of people who like the rough rocky crap and don't mind 3 foot drops with a 90 degree turn at the bottom. Not me. I ended up walking most of the 2nd loop (or should I say semi-loop)...what's the point of closing off all but the unrideable sections? Oh yeah, that's so that the cyclists just go away!!

At the end of it, you get to hop on the blue sky trail, which I know is pretty nice near Coyote Ridge, but after I fell over while WALKING my bike down some rocks, I gave up.

Basically, if you are rock-crazy and very experienced, it's all yours. Stay far away if you are a beginner or intermediate.

Recommended Route:
Not much of choice anymore!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Coyote Ridge is a lot more fun and rideable and has more climbing opportunities and a few technical sections to keep you on your toes.

Review Date
March 10, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Kona Rider ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Devil's Backbone is a great trail! It has a little of everything in it. Since it is only 7 miles long, I do a couple loops on the far (one each way) north loop, then a couple loops on the south loop.

I ride a hardtail and it rattles me to the core, but it s a great ride. On the far north loop, I snapped the bolt holding my saddle to the seat post and had to ride/walk without a seat or post (put it all the way down) back to the trailhead, then ride back to Loveland. That is why we ride - the adventure of it!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If you have not been to Coyote Ridge Open Area, I encourage you hit it up also. It is halfway between Loveland (north on Wilson about 4-5 miles) and south on Taft Hill (about 3-4 miles) in Ft. Collins. Please be courtious to the hikers, especially on downhill back to the parking lot. Busy, fun trail, let's keep it open - also please don't ride on it when it is wet or snow/ice is melting. It is tempting, but please don't do it. The horses have tore it up good and bikers don't need to be blamed for the erosion of the trail.

Review Date
June 20, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: nca777 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
FUN trail.

Just enough climbing and conveniently placed steps and tech sections make this trail such a fun ride. The trail starts out rolly or flat and windy and starts to climb over some steps and short steep sections. The figure 8 loop at the top is really sick with some nice tech sections and some tricky climbs. Coming down feels like your riding motocross (if I knew what motocross felt like) with rollers, curves, step downs and little jumps.

Recommended Route:
Start from the parking lot, across the eastern edge of the spine. Around the firt loop counterclockwise, around the second loop clockwise.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I have no idea.