Wow, I am surprised at the review of this trail. The people reviewing this trail probably ride their Walmart mountain bikes around their neighborhoods or something. This trail is pretty lame, there is cow crap everywhere and virtually no technical until about mile #5. At that point, it's a loose rocky downhill that really sucks.

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If you were to do this ride I would recommend starting at the Brush Creek parking lot and riding up Ferris Road 536. Then riding the Ferris Creek trail in a counter clock wise loop. Keep left at all trail junctions, and you will stay on the recommended trail.

You can add some distance and technical if you ride up Strand Hill Bonus on the right, and then ride down Strand Hill.

Here is the route I took:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101813948

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Strand Hill and Strand Hill Bonus...Don't waste you time on Ferris Creek trail, unless you are taking your 6 year old son or daughter mountain biking for the first time!

I think that the reviews below may be out of date. I road Farris (without 402 option) on July 4th weekend and loved it. The climb from Brush Creek road is a grunt but not at all technical. The romp across the meadow and up to the the start of the downhill is mellow and beautiful. I really enjoyed the downhill, it is more technical that reno/flag/deadmans, not as steep as the final part of Doctor's Park but probably a little more technical. All in all I loved this ride as a good shorter ride to do one afternoon or morning.

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Climb doubletrack from Brush Creek road as if you were doing Strand. At the junction at the top continue on the double track towards 409 and 402. Stay on the double track trending left whenever you have a choice. Descend the awesome somewhat technical singletrack down to Canal Trail. Blast the tight hardpacked singletrack across 1 1/2 miles of open sage brush until you reach the canal crossing and Brush Creek road again

Farris Creek is no longer a beginner trail. Just after the first easy climb in the description the trail has been re-routed to avoid private property. The trail as it is now is difficult, mainly a steady uphill climb with miles and miles of rock problems if you ride from Brush Creek to Cement Creek. If you are in the mood for a very challenging uphill ascent with some sections of hike-a-bike this trail has some sick spots. Weekend warriors and people just looking to get a feel for Crested Butte biking should try something easier. (I know dirt bikers that hike a lot of this trail as it is now.)

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For very techincal downhill ride from Cement Creek and save yourself some wind, or ride from Brush Creek first and then turn around when the trail intersects Walrod Gulch Trail.

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All

Just wanted to give this trail some props as the other two reviews did not seem to do it any justice. Rode it this spring during an early morning ride. I was the only one on the trail so if you like the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere, you can get that here. The initial climb will get your heart rate pumping...not more than a mile though. After that, lots of double track in the middle of a huge meadow with great views and cool breezes to make the gradual climb (several miles) unnoticeable. It was rutted out some and quite wet in some sections but I like the mud. The downhill portion through the aspens was fun and technical enough to get your but over the rear wheel. Two creek crossings that at the time were knee deep. Even spotted several deer throughout the ride. Took me less than two hours inclusive of a couple photo ops and I am not in that good of shape. Take it for what it is worth, but I like the ride because if you are getting into CB or leaving that day (as I was), you can ride it that same day.

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Start at trailhead off Brush Creek just south of CB. It's beyond a golf course along a dirt road near a bunch of horse pastures.

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Upper Loop for the colors and Teocali just because

Good little grunt up from Brush Creek, rolls for a while and then descends steeply through the trees. Can be pretty swampy later in the fall and seems to get ripped up by motorcycles. If it is dry, the downhill is great, otherwise, you can spends lots of time sliding down roots. Often dead quiet, I have been all alone once I pass the turn for Strand Hill.

For CB, it is a middle of the road trail, nowhere the climb that 401, Teo or other require, but steep enough to keep your attention.

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Up from Brush past Strand and around the mountain

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Strand Hill, 401, Teo

We rode it in late summer and honestly, it wasn't worth the effort. If you are from CB and NEED some variety, then by all means, check it out. But if, like us, you only go to CB once a year, you'd be much better off riding Strand one more time, or go for the gusto and hit Teocalli again.

The trail started with a long slow grunt up some double track, which I would estimate at about 5 miles. It took a long time, was torn up by the cows and wasn't all that fun. Of course, the meadow valley was beautiful, but not exciting in the least. Once the trail turned to single track, it was alright, but like I said, not worth the effort. A little rolling and then a descent, similar to Strand, about 1.5 -2 miles long.

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Do Strand instead.

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401, Teocalli, Strand...