Top of Shoshonite Trail loop from West Pleasant View
Top of Shoshonite Trail loop from West Pleasant View
3.0
(29)
92
riders
Top of Shoshonite Trail loop from West Pleasant View
01:07
11.4km
190m
Cycling
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: June 8, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through protected areas
Please check local regulations for:
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
7.82 km
Top of Shoshonite Trail
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
9.47 km
North Table
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
11.4 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
5.88 km
5.41 km
< 100 m
< 100 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
9.67 km
1.52 km
103 m
< 100 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Highest point (1,900 m)
Lowest point (1,770 m)
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Today
Saturday 18 July
31°C
18°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
Description
The Top of Shoshonite Trail loop from West Pleasant View, despite being listed for touring cycling, is actually a challenging 7.1-mile (11.4 km) route with 614 feet (187 metres) of elevation gain that takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. Rated as difficult for touring bicycles, this trail is truly designed for mountain bikes, e-bikes, or gravel bikes, and is generally not suitable for traditional road or narrow-tired hybrid touring bikes. If you're looking for a technical ride with rewarding views near Golden, this loop is worth considering, but leave your slick tires at home.
What to expect on Top of Shoshonite Trail loop from West Pleasant View
This route takes you up South Table Mountain, offering a dynamic ride through varied terrain. You'll encounter singletrack sections with moderate switchbacks, some smooth, others loose or with exposed rocks, especially as you ascend. The trail's namesake, Shoshonite, a potassium-rich basalt, forms the caps of the mesa, and you'll ride over it. Once you reach the mesa top, some areas transition to crushed gravel roads. The real payoff comes with the panoramic views from the top, stretching across the Golden cityscape, the foothills, and the distant Denver skyline. While it's rated 'Green' (easy) for mountain biking, attempting this on a touring bike will certainly feel difficult due to the technical sections, making it best suited for riders with appropriate bikes and some off-road experience.
Planning your visit
Access to the Top of Shoshonite Trail loop is from the West Pleasant View area in Golden, Colorado. This multi-use trail is shared with hikers and e-bikes (Class 1 and 2), and dogs are allowed, so be mindful of others. Given its technical nature for anything other than a mountain bike, ensure your equipment is suitable for loose and rocky sections. For touring cyclists seeking routes in the Golden area, it would be more appropriate to explore the many dedicated paved and smoother gravel routes available, as this trail is not integrated into a recommended touring cycling loop.
Trail details
- Distance: 7.1 miles (11.4 km)
- Elevation gain: 614 feet (187 metres)
- Difficulty: difficult
- Estimated time: 1 hours and 6 minutes
Comments
Want to know more?
Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.
Sign up for free