I spent a few days on the Royal Gorge Trails last weekend and I've figured out my favorite loop. It goes like this:
Twisted Cistern -> Overlook Loop-Rock Hardy -> Canyon Rim -> Far Out ->Canon Vista -> Smores -> Dream Weaver -> The Maze -> Dark Side of the Moon and Made in the Shade for an encore.
Overlook Loop goes CCW to the top of Rock Hardy then CW out of it. Made in the Shade is slightly more enjoyable CCW with an uber-flow down to start and a beautiful slightly techy climb back out.
I love the Canon City area. Fun trails all around. Sure, it's no Moab or Sedona, but like Hood River, OR or Eureka Springs AR, trails can be reached by riding from your doorstep and there are lots of options not too far away.
The scenery is breathtaking, of course, with a high desert mixture of pinons, junipers, and cacti perched on rock canyon walls with snow-capped mountains for a backdrop. I probably should have snapped a few pics but I was way to zoned in on riding so I pilfered the image above from gohikecolorado.com instead.
Incidentally, Potassium Feldspar makes for an excellent riding surface and its found in abundance at the Royal Gorge. It's not too grippy, not too slippy, not too edgy, not too wedgy. It fractures angularly but not in an exact way. Its imperfect, pink, and there- like a good friend.
