After finishing the first 6 miles of a project that’s set to create a total of 18 miles of newly developed bike trails, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Grand Hogback Trails is slated for Saturday…
But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun out there right now.
With seasonal closure lifted April 15 (riding is not allowed until June 1), outdoor adventurers can still park their vehicles at the newly developed drive-in parking lot and bike 6 miles of the first phase of what will be an 18-mile project.
The Grand Hogback Trails at Rifle Arch are located 9 miles north of Rifle, on Colorado Highway 13. The parking lot is on the east side of the road.
Work, however, is still underway.
Avid mountain biker and trail builder Ben Mays rides a new portion of the Grand Hogback mountain biking trail that he helped build within the last couple of days.
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A new trail system at Rifle Arch is nearing the completion of 6.3 miles of trail, according to a Rifle department head.
Rifle City Planner Nathan Lindquist reported to the city council Feb. 3 that the first phase, which will likely cost $80,095, is scheduled for a spring completion. The second phase of the project includes the construction of a new parking lot, added signage and relocation of the existing hiking trail, among other improvements.
The second phase is estimated to cost $113,097.
In 2020, the city signed a contract with Gumption Trail Works to complete the first phase. Delays caused by Bureau of Land Management permitting issues, however, only allowed for 5.7 miles of trail to be completed before wintertime at $70,045, Lindquist said.