Round Trip Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 5002 - 5145 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Tabeguache/Lunch Loop
Fee: none
Attractions: Downhill MTB only
Pucker Up is located in the Lunch Loop Trails System in Grand Junction, Colorado. The trail was designed as a downhill only route for advanced skill level mountain bikers that takes advantage of natural features to create some very technical challenges for riders. A few manmade bumps and jumps were thrown in for good measure. Loose gravelly scree near the lower section of the trail adds to some of the difficulties that are found in that area. Because of the dangerous nature of the trail it is closed to hikers.
Pucker Up begins at a junction with the Tabeguache and Lemon Squeezer trails.
A well purposed Warning sign points out the hazardous nature of the Pucker Up and Lemon Squeezer trails and advises to use the area at your own risk.
The trail takes a moderate route as it starts out.
Some of the features at the top of the trail have alternate routes. The really technical stuff later on doesn't and it is more of a do or die nature. The trail in this picture is coming upon a nice little jump that has a good runout to it.
Here's one that can be taken as a jump or a bump that you can roll over the top of.
The Pucker Up and Lemon Squeezer trail rejoin each other for a short distance near the midpoint.
That intersection marks the beginning of the more technical part of the trail.
Large boulders and rocks become the courses biggest obstacles to work through.
Riders with hard tails should get extra points on the drops.
This is a look back at the drop that shows some traffic taking an alternate route around it.
The crumbling conglomerate of the Morrison Formation provides a layer of scree to the next section of the trail.
The route becomes very confined near the very end of the trail where it might be a good idea to get off and inspect the drops that are coming up to pick a good line on them and to look for bodies or hikers that may have strayed onto the trail. After giving any other riders that are with you a chance to clear out of the way it is time to 'pucker up'.
This is a look back at the first big drop that is mostly a rough route over big rocks.
This is looking back at a drop that goes over a big boulder that is a little further down the trail.
The Pucker Up trail comes to an end at the High Noon trail near the point where it ends at a junction with the Moto and Raven Ridge trails. That creates plenty of options for what to do next. Pucker Up might be short in length but it is one mondo adventure. Don't be too surprised if you come across a hiker. If they don't read the sign at the top, which they might think was put there only for mountain bikers to read, they could end up on the trail. Other mountain bikers could also end up going the wrong way over the top section if they get on at the Lemon Squeezer. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Grab your bike'.