Hiking Project Logo
Climb
MTB
Hike
Trailrun
Ski
Limited Time70% OffonX Backcountry

Shorthorn - Longhorn Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.0 (34)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Golden
  5. White Ranch Park
Explore in 3D
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Previous Next

“Great singletrack with some elevation in a beautiful natural setting. ”

Jeffrey Williams
Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Google Map
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

6.8

Miles

11.0

KM

Lollipop

6,998' 2,133 m

High

6,158' 1,877 m

Low

1,175' 358 m

Up

1,177' 359 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildlife

The section north/northwest of Whippletree on Longhorn Trail is BIKES ONLY.

Overview

Great winding singletrack through the foothills outside of Golden. Views of Denver and Golden, with some climbing and speedy descents. Feels remote and generally quiet.

Need to Know

Mostly wooded, but some exposure in summer. Plentiful parking. Note that there are two parking areas for White Ranch, this starts at the lower one off of west 56th ave.

Description

Start out at the lower trailhead for White Ranch park in Golden and begin up Belcher Hill. The first section winds through a valley, crossing a short rocky area, leading up to the Belcher Hill climb about a mile up.

Follow Belcher Hill on a rough washed out 4wd type road. Pass Whippletree on the right and continue up to Longhorn Trail on the right about 0.25 miles further up.

Take Longhorn to Shorthorn Trail. Stay left at Shorthorn. This is really nice singletrack winding and climbing through the foothills. There are some rocky sections, but mostly the trail is manageable. Follow Shorthorn for about a mile until it meets with Longhorn again. Longhorn can no longer be accessed to the right, heading down, as this is now BIKES ONLY.

From this junction, head back the way you came, only this time, head left down Longhorn Trail. As you get towards the bottom of Longhorn, there will be one short, steep climb back up to Whippletree.

Head back on Whippletree to rejoin with the Belcher Hill trail for the last mile back to the parking area.

Contacts

Land Manager: Jefferson County, CO - Open Space Dept.

Shared By:

Jeffrey Williams with improvements by Val Schwebach
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 34 votes

#1

in White Ranch Park

#532

Overall
  4.0 from 34 votes
5 Star
32%
4 Star
38%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in White Ranch Park

#115

in Colorado

#532

Overall
32 Views Last Month
8,276 Since Mar 29, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
3%
0%
76%
0%
21%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Looking north
Mar 27, 2019 near Golden, CO
First mile of the trail
Mar 27, 2019 near Golden, CO
The start of the shady part of the trail.
Aug 5, 2017 near Golden, CO
Shorthorn off of the Belcher Trail
Apr 30, 2015 near Golden, CO
Denver and Golden in the background on Shorthorn Trail.
Nov 24, 2015 near Golden, CO
More rocks on Shorthorn!
Nov 9, 2015 near Golden, CO

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 16, 2023
Jeff S
Did not include the out and back — 1h 40m
Jun 28, 2023
Carlie Ransom
May 28, 2023
Elizabeth W
6.9mi — 2h 06m
Sep 17, 2022
Kim W
All clear and dry 2mi
Sep 5, 2022
Daniel Anderson
Jun 19, 2022
Tarita Fisher Boersma
Lollipop 4.8mi — 1h 51m
Apr 17, 2022
Matt Culpepper
Lollipop from East TH (4.8/800) 4.8mi — 3h 15m
Jan 23, 2022
Alicia Tom
6.8mi — 2h 30m

Nearby Recommended Routes

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started