Turkey Hold the Rocks - Mountain Bike Trail

With many of the trails on Turkey Mountain Park being very technical due to the rock gardens, Turkey Hold the Rocks trail is one of the easiest ways to go for a long intermediate-level ride while avoiding most rocky sections. It combines most of the named trails at the park, but you get to bail out before they get too technical. Following this trail, we found that there are some rocky technical sections that you can’t escape. However, you can always get off your bike and hike through them.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

Turkey Mountain has two parking lot options, and you can leave your car at either one before you start exploring the trails. The first is at the Main Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness entrance on Elwood Avenue, about 400 meters from 71st Street. If you’re coming from the north, it’ll be about 100 meters past 68th Street.

The upper parking lot is at the corner of Elwood Avenue near the Turkey Mountain Wagon Wheel Pond. This parking is preferable since it gives you direct access to the trail. However, if you go to the main parking lot, you’ll have to use the Yellow Trail to access the Turkey Hold the Rocks Trail.

You’re better off going through the loop counterclockwise.

From the Upper Parking Lot, you’ll take the Turkey Hold the Rocks Trail headed southeast for about 0.2 miles, then turn left on the Unmarked Connector: This should help you bypass one of the rocky sections on the main trail up ahead.

Stay on the Unmarked Connector for about 0.8 miles, and you’ll encounter one of the unavoidable rock sections on the trail. You can go through it on your bike, or you can opt to get off and hike, depending on your skill level.

Roughly 150 meters from the rocky section, you’ll need to take a right onto the Yellow Trail to Hi Chi Connector. At the next intersection, you’ll need to take a left which puts you on the Hi Chi trail. Here you can have some fun and pick up speed with flowy singletrack for about 800 meters.

At the next trail intersection, take a left onto a relatively skinny trail. It should be just off the Spider to Pink Trail Connector. Ride on this trail until you come across the steepest downhill you’ll encounter on this trail. You can ride your bike through or opt to hike.

Once you’re past the slope, keep going for a few hundred meters, then turn right onto the Pink Trail Alternate. From here, you won’t need to take any turns until you’re about 4.3 miles from the trailhead, where you’ll want to turn onto the Fairy Dust – Pipeline Bypass. You’ll need to ride a steep ascent near the end, or you can get off your bike and hike through.

After the ascent, you should find yourself on the Hairpin Connector, from where you’ll get onto the Pink Trail and ride back to the parking lot.

Additional Trail Features:

1. 1. Extra fees: There are no charges for using any of the trails at the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area.
   2. Obstacles: Plenty of rock gardens in and around this trail and steep climbs are hard to get through.
   3. Shuttles: There is a bus stop on 71st Street near the junction with Elwood Avenue. You can then ride your bike to the main parking lot of Turkey Mountain Park, and from there, you’ll use the Yellow Trail as a connector to Turkey Hold the Rocks.

Sights of Interest, Landscapes, Views

You can take a detour to view the Arkansas River, which should be nearby.

Recommendations and Precautions

There are plenty of intersecting trails at Turkey Mountain, so carry a map or GPS to help with navigation.