Elephant Skin Road

About

Elephant Skin Road is a 10.5-mile doubletrack mountain biking route located near Montrose, Colorado, on the Western Slope. The trail sits at an elevation of 6,434 feet and offers easy terrain with a total green climb of approximately 1,039 feet. Riders can complete the route in about two hours, though some sources cite a faster 52-minute average for shorter segments. The road is accessible from April through October and features parking at the trailhead. It is pet-friendly and allows hiking, horses, motorcycles, ATVs, and highway vehicles. The surface is generally smooth and gently graded, making it suitable for passenger cars and riders of all skill levels. Some sections between the Elephant Skin Staging Area and Slanty Bridge Trailhead may be rutted. The trail runs through the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and connects to nearby singletrack networks in Peach Valley, including Red Rocks. This makes it a practical option for a gravel grind or as an access point to more technical trails.