Riding the 18 Road Trails in Fruita, Colorado
First impressions from riding Fruita’s fastest and most talked-about desert flow trails
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
I rode Kokopelli first. Then I headed to 18 Road because my new friend Mike was camping up there and kept talking about it.
If Kokopelli is exposed, route-driven desert riding, 18 Road is about speed, rhythm, and repeating laps until your legs give out. You bike to the top and ride down whichever trail you choose to hit. It’s the side of Fruita that gets filmed the most — smooth desert singletrack, sculpted rollers, berms that carry momentum, and trails built for fun.
This post covers what 18 Road feels like to ride, the trails I rode, and how it fits into a Fruita mountain biking trip alongside Kokopelli.
18 Road trail access — once you pass the BLM boundary, it’s just dirt, sage, and rollers.
Where the 18 Road Trails Are Located
The 18 Road trail system sits northwest of downtown Fruita, accessed by driving north out of town and climbing up 18 Road toward the Book Cliffs. Parking is straightforward and clearly signed, with a large main lot and camping nearby. You’ll pass working farms and open fields on the way up. Once you pass the BLM boundary sign, the landscape shifts — no more farms, just open land.
Approximate main 18 Road trailhead coordinates: 39.1583° N, 108.7359° W.
Unlike Kokopelli, which spreads across mesas above the Colorado River, 18 Road climbs gradually into the rolling desert hills of the North Fruita Desert. The cliffs in the backdrop are the Book Cliffs, which is where I initially thought the trails were. Instead, the riding sits in lower desert terrain — soft, dune‑like hills of packed dirt and sagebrush. The trailheads sit higher than town, but the landscape feels less remote and more contained.
It’s open desert terrain — sagebrush, dirt ribbon singletrack, and wide views back toward the valley.
Trail Management & Local Support
Like Kokopelli, the 18 Road trail system sits on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and is supported heavily by COPMOBA (Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association), the local trail organization responsible for building and maintaining many of the Fruita and Grand Junction mountain bike trails.
If you ride here and love it, consider supporting their work. You can find official trail information on the Grand Valley Trails here: COPMOBA Kokopelli Loops.
North Fruita Desert trail map showing Prime Cut, Zippity Do Dah, PBR, and the full 18 Road network.
What the Terrain Feels Like
To me, 18 Road is a giant adult sandbox to play in with your mountain bike.
Expect:
Smooth desert singletrack
Berms that let you carry speed
Rollers you can pump for momentum
Sandy sections that can feel loose, especially when it’s dry
Climbs that are steady and manageable
Descents are built for rhythm rather than technical problem-solving
A lot of the riding is true singletrack — the trail is narrow, cut cleanly into the hillside, and not wide at all. You’re riding a defined ribbon of dirt rather than a broad path.
The surface is mostly hard-packed dirt mixed with sand and small embedded rock, but nothing like the ledge-heavy terrain at Kokopelli. You’re not picking your way through rock features as much as you’re focusing on maintaining speed, staying light through corners, and letting the trail carry you.
Trails I Rode at 18 Road
I didn’t ride as many trails as I would have liked to. I kept it simple and stuck mostly to green trails this first time out.
Prime Cut
Prime Cut is the main climbing artery of the system. It’s a steady, gradual climb that connects to most of the descents. Nothing dramatic — just a consistent grind that makes the downhills feel earned.
See Prime Cut on Trailforks.
Chips and Salsa
Chips and Salsa is pure fun. Smooth, quick, and built to keep you moving. It’s the kind of trail where you settle into a rhythm and just let the bike roll. Watch my video of my first ride on this trail.
See Chips and Salsa on Trailforks.
Kessel Run
Fast and playful. Kessel Run is the kind of trail where braking less makes it better. It encourages you to stay loose and trust the line. There are a few sections where you roll down a berm into a shallow ravine and then climb right back out — and then do it again. Watch my video of my first ride on this trail.
See Kessel Run on Trailforks.
Even sticking to greens, the common thread is flow — climb, descend, repeat. You climb up Prime Cut, choose your descent, and repeat until your legs are done.
Trails I Want to Ride Next Time
PBR (Pumps, Berms, and Rollers)
The name alone makes it hard to ignore. From what I’ve watched and heard, this one is all about carrying speed — rollers you can pump, corners you can lean into, and sections where it feels more like surfing dirt than riding a trail.
See PBR on Trailforks.
Zippity Do Dah
This is one of those classic Fruita descents that keeps coming up in conversation. It’s known for being fast and exposed in sections, with tight singletrack along the ridge. The kind of trail that looks mellow from a distance but probably deserves respect once you’re on it.
See Zippity Do Dah on Trailforks.
Chutes and Ladders
More movement, more variation. I’ve heard this one mixes in a few punchy climbs with playful descents, giving it a bit more texture than the pure flow lines.
See Chutes and Ladders on Trailforks.
Prickly Pear
If I’m being honest, I want to ride this one partly because I like the name. But it’s also supposed to be a fun connector with a little character — not just filler miles, but something you actually remember.
See Prickly Pear on Trailforks.
The Trails People Come Here to Ride
Even if you spin a few greens as I did, there are certain 18-hole trails that have a reputation. These are the ones riders talk about in the parking lot and build entire laps around.
Zippity Do Dah
This is probably the name you hear most. Zippity runs along the ridge with exposure in spots and tighter singletrack than you expect from a “flow” system. It’s fast but not mindless — you stay engaged. From what I’ve watched and heard, it’s one of the signature descents at 18 Road.
See Zippity Do Dah on Trailforks.
PBR (Pumps, Berms, and Rollers)
PBR is what people picture when they think of 18 Road. It’s built for momentum — rollers you pump instead of pedal, berms that feel like they’re shaped to carry you through. It looks playful, but ridden fast, it takes control and good line choice.
See PBR on Trailforks.
Joe’s Ridge
Joe’s Ridge adds a little spice. It rides higher along the ridge with some narrow sections and real exposure. Not extreme, but enough to make you pay attention. It seems to be the trail riders point to when they want flow with consequence.
See Joe’s Ridge on Trailforks.
Chutes and Ladders
This one blends movement with a bit more variation. From what I’ve gathered, it mixes quick direction changes and short punchy efforts with the system’s trademark flow. Not just downhill — more of a ride that keeps you working.
See Chutes and Ladders on Trailforks.
Trailforks Map & Route Planning
If you’re planning laps at 18 Road, Trailforks is the easiest way to see how everything connects.
You can zoom the full 18 Road network, check trail status, download offline maps,
and plan your climb-to-descent combos before you roll out.
Difficulty and Who 18 Road Is For
18 Road is one of the most approachable systems in Fruita.
It works well for:
Intermediate riders who want to ride fast
Confident beginners building speed and cornering skills
Advanced riders looking for high-speed laps
Anyone who prefers flow over technical rock features
The climbs are manageable. The features are predictable. The trails are well-built and intuitive.
That said, speed adds its own challenge. If you’re not comfortable carrying momentum through berms or staying centered over rollers, it can catch you off guard.
Conditions, Weather, and When to Ride
Like most desert riding in Fruita, spring and fall are prime time. Summer can get hot quickly with very little shade, and winter riding depends on recent moisture.
Because 18 Road is mostly dirt, it can be vulnerable after rain. If the trails are muddy, it’s best to wait. Desert soil doesn’t bounce back quickly from ruts.
Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal in warmer months.
Camping Near 18 Road (Campgrounds + Dispersed + BLM Rules)
Driving up 18 Road toward the Book Cliffs — farms fade out, desert takes over.
There are a few different camping setups at 18 Road, and where you stay changes your proximity to the trails.
North Fruita Desert Campground (Main 18 Road Campground)
This is the established BLM campground most riders mean when they say they’re “camping at 18 Road.” It sits right at the base of Prime Cut, so you can roll straight from camp to the climb.
Approximate campground coordinates: 39.3340° N, 108.7040° W
Cost: typically around $20/night (check Recreation.gov for current pricing)
How it works: a mix of reservable and first‑come sites depending on the loop and season
Vault toilets, picnic tables, and defined sites
Camp here and you’re essentially on the trail system.
Upper Camping Area (Top of 18 Road)
There is also camping higher up near the top of 18 Road. These sites feel more open and spread out, and you’re closer to the upper trail access points rather than the base climb.
Approximate upper area coordinates: 39.3425° N, 108.7065° W
It’s quieter up top and gives a different perspective on the Book Cliffs and the desert hills below.
Lower / Base Camping & Dispersed Areas
Dispersed camping near 18 Road — desert sunset, van parked off the grid, trails waiting in the morning.
Near the base and along portions of 18 Road, you’ll see additional camping spots. Some are designated pull‑ins, and some are dispersed‑style areas on BLM land outside the developed campground.
Dispersed camping is allowed in many BLM areas around Fruita, but not everywhere within the developed recreation zone. Always follow posted signs and use existing sites rather than creating new ones.
The 14‑Day Rule (BLM)
BLM camping limits apply in this part of Colorado:
You may camp no more than 14 days within any 30‑day period at one location
After 14 days, you must move a significant distance away (BLM guidance in this region is generally 30 air miles before returning)
Always double-check posted signs and current BLM guidance before settling in, especially during busy spring and fall seasons.
How 18 Road Fits Into a Fruita Mountain Biking Trip
If Kokopelli is long-form desert riding and Lunch Loops leans technical and steeper, 18 Road sits firmly in the flow category.
It’s the place you go when you want:
Fast laps
Predictable trail design
Big smiles without heavy consequence
A system that rewards repetition
It pairs well with Kokopelli. Ride Kokopelli when you want distance and exposure. Ride 18 Road when you want speed and rhythm.
Both are distinctly Fruita — just different flavors.
First-Ride Takeaways
18 Road is fun in a way that’s hard to overthink.
It doesn’t demand constant technical focus. It invites you to ride fast, trust the trail, and repeat sections until you dial them in.
If Kokopelli made me feel small in the landscape, 18 Road made me feel fast on the bike — two very different kinds of reward.
See More Fruita Mountain Biking Articles & Videos
If you’re planning a Fruita mountain biking trip or mapping out your next ride, you can find more trail write‑ups, gear reviews, and trip breakdowns here on Overland Girl. I also share full-ride videos and POV footage on YouTube so you can see what the trails actually look like before you roll out.
Browse more mountain biking articles on the site and head over to YouTube for full trail videos, route breakdowns, and ride days from Colorado, the Ozarks, the Northwoods, and beyond.
Riding the Kokopelli Trails in Fruita, Colorado
Horsethief Bench — Kokopelli Trails, Fruita | Slickrock & Ledges (YouTube)
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares the mountain bike gear she actually rides with—from Western Colorado desert trails to the Ozarks, the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and everywhere in between. She rides all over, not just out West, and her gear choices reflect that range.
She values quality and durability in what she buys, whether it’s a helmet, shoes, tires, or everyday layers she lives in on the road. Some pieces cost more upfront, but she believes in buying less and buying better. Longevity matters—both in performance and in design.
Some of the links in this review are affiliate links, which means she may earn a small commission if you purchase through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps support her work. She only recommends gear she rides herself or would confidently bring on her own trips.