Indian Summer Trail - Colorado Mountain Biking, Trail Running

Indian Summer Trail Map and Parking

The Indian Summer trail is part of the Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado trail system that connects Horsetooth Mountain Park, Coyote Ridge Natural Area, and Devil's Backbone Open Space. However, the Indian Summer trail can only be accessed from the Blue Sky trail. For more information regarding trailheads and parking, please visit one or more of the following blog posts: Soderberg trailhead in Horsetooth Mountain Park, Coyote Ridge Natural Area, and Devil's Backbone Open Space. Primary activities on Indian Summer are mountain biking and trail running but horseback riding, leashed dogs, and hiking are also allowed.

Indian Summer Trail

The Indian Summer trail is 2.1 mile horseshoe shaped trail that traverses open landscape at elevations ranging from 5,400 to 5,800 feet. The trail characteristics are very similar to those of the Blue Sky trail in that the trail is single track, is relatively smooth, and only contains moderate climbs. One difference is that Indian Summer is not as curvy as Blue Sky. The subsequent pictures and description are detailing a counter-clockwise mountain bike ride.
The trail starts with some rolling switchbacks and tight corners.
About half way through the ride the trail straightens out for longer stretches and the landscape opens up.
The following picture illustrates a typical Indian Summer ascent which is challenging but only moderate in difficulty. There are only a few technical stretches of trail and one blind corner, which make Indian Summer a suitable mountain bike ride for riders of all skill levels.
The subsequent picture shows the broad views that become available as the trail reaches its highest point in elevation.
The final picture shows the fast and enjoyable zigzag that a counter-clockwise ride ends with and the only stretch of trail that was too fast/bumpy for my fully rigid mountain bike.

The following video shows the steep switchback on the southern end of Indian Summer.

Indian Summer Summit Video

The following video was taken from the highest point on the Indian Summer trail. It highlights the open landscape that is home to strong winds, appealing scenery, and little shade.

In sum, the Indian Summer trail combined with the Blue Sky trail is pure fun (i.e., no dismounts or other headaches) and, thus, a compelling trail for mountain bikers and trail runners of all skills levels. The only catch regarding Indian Summer is the amount of riding or running it takes to gain access to it. Approximate trail distances are 4.5 miles from Horsetooth Mountain Park (recommended approach), 3.7 miles from Coyote Ridge Natural Area, and 4.5 miles from Devil's Backbone Open Space. The following is a list of more mountain bike trails along the northern Front Range:

• Boulder / Lyons - Hall Ranch and Rabbit Mountain
  
• Poudre River Canyon - Hewlett Gulch and Young Gulch
  
• Fort Collins - Maxwell to Pineridge Natural Areas, Maxwell to Reservoir Ridge Natural Areas, Mountain Bike Skills Parks in Fort Collins, and Lory State Park Valley Trails
• Fort Collins / Loveland - Blue Sky Trail, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, Coyote Ridge Natural Area, and Rimrock Mountain Bike Trail