Video

Trail Snapshot

Trail Surface:

Rocks

Distance:

3.5 miles - About 3.5 miles of soft surface trail. Reservoir Ridge is the northern end of the 6.8 mile Foothills Trail. The Foothills Trail connects Pineridge, Maxwell and Reservoir Ridge natural areas. Trail markers show you the way. Biking on the Foothills Trail is for the experienced cyclist- the trail is challenging.

Outdoor Travels Rating:

2.5 out of 5 bikes

Thumbs Up

• Nice scenery
• Loops are fun
• Trails well marked

Thumbs Down

• Climbing counter clockwise is really not fun at all
• Some of the terrain seems to be designed more as a hiking trail than a mountain bike trail
• Just a few available miles without connecting to other trails via road, etc.

Lessons Learned

• Ride the loop CLOCKWISE
• Don't like climbing or rocks, don't ride here

Nuts & Bolts

Location:

North of Fort Collins, Colorado, at the the end of Michlaud Lane

Trailheads and Directions:

Parking lots on Centennial Drive/ CR 23 and at the west end of Michaud Lane.

Take Oveland Trail North to Michlaud lane, turn onto Michlaud Lane, drive to the end.

Activities:

Mountain biking, walking, trail jogging

Admission:

None

Contact:

Website

Maps and Stuff

Trail Map for Foothills trail and Reservoir Ridge

Useful Links

Trail photos

Lots of great photos to give you a good idea of what riding here is like!

Lake at trail head

Single track at the trail head

Looking back at the trail head (and the bikini girl)

Rocky rough climb

Ass = Kicked near the top

The other side of the ridge

More of the other side

Tough, rough trail

Going down

Mountain Biking

Reservoir Ridge Natural Area - aka Michaud Lane Trails

Just north of Fort Collins, Colorado

Heat exhaustion hallucinations and rocks

Dana Farnsworth, Outdoor Travels

Standing in the trailhead parking lot of Reservoir Natural Area, I complete an "ass check" (grabbing it). The two handfuls of gluteus seem to confirm that my ass is still attached to the rest of me. After the butt kicking I had just received, I am surprised at my results, I figured it was back there on the trail somewhere. I had read about this small trail network and it seemed promising. Some climbing, some downhill, technical rocky terrain - all good things. THe review that had read mentioned that the single track loop found here is best ridden counter-clockwise. Let me be the first to tell you that is really wrong.

I followed the counter-clockwise suggestion. After a nice warm up with a shallow grade climb, it was time to choose left or right for the loop. As mentioned previously, I chose right. Almost immediately, the trail increases in grade substantially and loose rocks start appearing. I am in good shape, but my "sea level" lungs were feeling like two little lima bean sized lungs failing in an attempt to pump fresh oxygen through my body. I continued. Nearing my limit, but feeling resolute, I continued. I continued until I was certain that I was hallucinating. I took my eye off the trail for a moment only to be greeted by a women walking down the climb, clad in a two piece bikini, hiking shoes and a smile. I had to stop. For a brief moment I thought to myself that I had cooked myself and that I was out of it. "Have a nice ride" she said. In my confusion, I mumbled something back. It might have been, "Am I dead?" What I didn't know was the worst was yet to come.

After gathering myself, and taking a picture of the trail fairy for proof, I started the climb again. But now there were more rocks. I grabbed for lower gears that were not there and realized that I wasn't going to clean this climb. In fact, I would love to watch someone who could. It would be a great thing to watch. Finally reaching the top, I rewarded myself with a little rest. I was looking forward to the reward - I wanted to go downhill! The trail flows nicely the top and backside of the mountain for a bit before a short climb took me back to the top of the ridge. After a fun, technical twisty downward section, The trail splits into two options, riding the southern section or returning back to the trailhead lot. I figured that I would try out the southern trail for a bit. What I encountered was a rocky very technical and tough descent. All I could do is think about trying to ride, er, walk my bike back up. So after a short bit, I turned around and headed back to the trailhead.

The descent on this side of the loop is less rocky, and seemingly easier to climb than the initial section I encountered. As I said before, I would suggest climbing this trail and descending the first section I rode. Climbing clockwise is the way to go. Bombing through the clear and fast lower section, I arrived back at the trailhead. Bummed that the ride was sort of short, but happy that I still had my bum.

Official Description

Visitors to this foothills natural area enjoy its rugged trails, access to the 6.8 mile Foothills Trail, wildlife viewing opportunities and a feeling of remoteness- all close to Fort Collins. You’ll see dramatic rock outcroppings, grasslands, mountain mahogany shrubs and a few ponderosa pines. Views of the city and Horsetooth Reservoir are great from the trails!