Grindstone
Distance
3.9 mi
Technical Rating
Moderate
Best Time
Summer
Trail Type
Single Track
Accessible By
Trail Overview
Grindstone is a fun single-track trail in the San Juan Mountains that has a lot of switchbacks up a hillside through an aspen tree forest. There are a few rocky sections on the switchbacks, but not too bad, so it's an intermediate challenge. The trail gains 2,300 feet over 4 miles as you ride west to east. Most of the trail is cut, but there's potential for downfall. There's one downed aspen tree on a diagonal slope that makes it harder to set up to cross it without flying into a tree right after. The trail side-hills through some beautiful mountain meadows on a pretty narrow trail. You have to pay attention to your front tire to not accidentally slide off the trail, but the views are wide open. The trail continues to circumnavigate around the mountain and then comes to an intersection with the Hillside Drive connector trail.