Via Overland Mountain Bike Association:
The Overland Mountain Bike Association has been continually working with Lory State Park staff to improve the mountain biking and trail opportunities within the park. We are happy to announce that a new bike-optimized trail has been approved. Final trail routing is still in progress, but it is expected to be 1-1.5 miles in length, offer tremendous ridge line views of Horsetooth Reservoir and the surrounding valleys and hillsides, incorporate many natural rock features, while creating a new and unique riding experience for the intermediate and above level rider in the Fort Collins area. Construction is planned to begin in early summer 2020. Completion and official opening is still to be determined.
Plans are being made for a complete renovation of the jump lines and old pumptrack area of the Lory Bike Park. Chance Brown with J-2 Contracting (builder of Valmont Bike Park) has offered to donate his time and equipment to help design and build new small and medium size jump lines and a new pumptrack later this year (Phase 1), along with help from staff at Drake Cycles, Trek Bicycles, OMBA and a few others. Phase 2 additional features including a large jump line are being targeted for 2021.
Many of you already know this, but Lory management made a significant change in 2019 to their trail closure policy. As a reminder, during wet and muddy conditions trail closures apply to ALL users on Timber, Kimmons, Shoreline and all valley trails. Only the hiking-only trails remain open at all times. This is a big help with keeping our singletrack single!
Other projects on existing Lory trails are being planned as well and will be announced when able, with the first being targeted for May on Kimmons…with all appropriate social distancing protocols being followed.
We want to give a big THANK YOU to Lory State Park for their efforts and support for bringing some much-needed improvements and expansions to the existing trail system!!! Balancing the increasing demands of outdoor recreation while still protecting wildlife habitat and our natural resources is always difficult…and their efforts are very much appreciated!
