Centennial Cone on Thurs.

In the video, they must be doing an out and back, because in parts they're going CW, in other parts, CCW.
If I do the whole loop, I've always gone CCW for some reason.
But, I like to ride it from the Mayhem lot (in Clear Creek canyon), and as of now, it's still open, but may be closing any day for construction until fall. If it's open, I like to do the climb, then CCW on Travois to the upper parking lot and back. Add in the climb to the west parking lot if you haven't had enough (it's not much further anyway), and then back.
Bottom line, I like the out and back better than the loop. To close the loop, it's just an old fire/4wd road. It's fun to do sometimes too though.
Congrats on the job.

Agreed..out and back is best. Usually go from Mayhem.

ok. Thanks for the input fella's. I just checked the jeffco site and they are listing:

"Mayhem Gulch Trail closed June 22, 2009 for trailhead parking construction along Highway 6."

So it looks like Mayhem is out ... damnit, just the name makes it cool. So that kinda changes things a bit. I am guessing the second option would be an out and back from the west lot? Whats the difference in doing and out and back from the north vs. west? I am guessing one has a climb in the beginning and the other the climb at the end? If that's the case, I would rather earn it straight out and reap the rewards on the way back to the car.

Thanks for helping me make the best of it.

sleestak said:

I just checked the jeffco site and they are listing:

"Mayhem Gulch Trail closed June 22, 2009 for trailhead parking construction along Highway 6."

Click to expand...

The large rocks that used to line the north side of the Mayhem Gulch parking lot are now lined up along the front of the lot, blocking access from US-6. There's also heavy equipment there, it appears ready to re-grade the area behind where the rocks were. The lot and trailhead are both closed.

sleestak said:

I am guessing the second option would be an out and back from the west lot? Whats the difference in doing and out and back from the north vs. west? I am guessing one has a climb in the beginning and the other the climb at the end? If that's the case, I would rather earn it straight out and reap the rewards on the way back to the car.

Click to expand...

I would suggest riding an anti-clockwise loop from the west lot. You start downhill on the Travois Trail and loop out past the north lot, and back. This way you finish on a flat stretch (fire road) rather than an uphill stretch. To my way of thinking, this maximizes the singletrack fun when looping and allows for a fast descent on the fire road, rather than climbing on the road. Want more singletrack? Then go out and back, longer and you end on an uphill stretch, but no roads.