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Engle Loop

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Skill level:
Elevation: 4704 - 4745 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: East Entrance
Fee: $7/vehicle
Attractions: Fun MTB trail




The Engle Loop is located in the Highline Lake State Park west of Grand Junction, Colorado. The trail begins and ends off of the Highline Lake Loop and East Bluffs trails. For a route the trail crosses various small adobe hills and runs a course through multiple shallow washes. As one of the last trails to be constructed in the Highline Lake State Park it has been made part of the 18 Hours of Fruita mountain bike race held every year during the Fruita Flat Tire Festival.


For this post we are beginning at the northern end of the trail where it departs at a junction with the Highline Lake Loop and East Bluffs trails.


The trail starts out by picking a course above Mack Wash that takes it laterally around the contours of the hillside. The adobe dirt make for a nicely packed trail when it is dry but when it gets very much moisture it can become a slimy mess.


When the trail drops into Mack Wash it passes through concealed by some 6-8 foot tall big sagebrush.


The trail whips its way through the more shallow washes in much the same manner as the very popular Prime Cut and Kessel Run trails that are nearby in the 18 Road Area of the North Fruita Desert.


As the trail cuts through the washes heading south the only hill that it crosses that is of any significance comes into view.


After crossing the hill the final stretch of the trail heading back towards the lake is laid out before you.


Near the trails end it cuts across the Highline Lake Loop.


Almost immediately after that it comes to an end at the East Bluffs trail. Both the East Bluffs trail and the Highline Lake Loop can be used in combination with Engle to make a loop out of it. When the Engle Loop is ridden during the 18 Hours of Fruita event riders are beginning at this end of the trail and doing it in the opposite direction. We rode our mountain bikes when we did the trail for this post and the only problem we could see with it was that it ended way too soon. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is grab your bike or 'Take a hike'.